The Weeknd and Justin Bieber among artists investing in animated concert-streaming company Wave

The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, and J Balvin among artists investing in animated concert-streaming company Wave

  • The 30-year-old Blinding Lights hitmaker – real name Abel Makkonen Tesfaye – has already had a successful partnership with the up-and-coming company with The Weeknd Exprience which aired on TikTok on August 7
  • The event was Wave’s biggest project so far as it drew two million viewers equating to $350K in merchandise sales for charity according to TikTok  
  • The company had already had discussions with The Weeknd about hopping on as an investor but apparently the partnership was solidified quickly after the virtual event 
  • Bieber, J Balvin, Jillionaire and indie record label Top Dawg Entertainment – which is home to Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Schoolboy Q – have also invested in Wave this year
  • Wave was founded as a virtual reality company in 2016 but gradually turned into animated streaming for music 
  • They also were able to score $30million in funding from moguls including former MLB all-star Alex Rodriguez and Scooter Braun 

The concert industry has lost billions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

And some artists are doing what they can to best entertain their fans.

The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, and J Balvin are all musicians that have invested in four-year-old animated concert-streaming company Wave according to a Tuesday report from Rolling Stone. 

Blinded by the light: The Weeknd (seen in August) is among musicians that have invested in four-year-old animated concert-streaming company Wave according to a Tuesday report from Rolling Stone

The 30-year-old Blinding Lights hitmaker – real name Abel Makkonen Tesfaye – has already had a successful partnership with the up-and-coming company with The Weeknd Exprience which aired on TikTok on August 7.

The event was Wave’s biggest project so far as it drew two million viewers equating to $350K in merchandise sales for charity according to TikTok. 

The show was epic as it featured a digital avatar of The Weekend in his signature red blazer and Vintage Frames company sunglasses which has been his look throughout the music videos for album After Hours.

The company had already had discussions with The Weeknd about hopping on as an investor but apparently the partnership was solidified quickly after the virtual event.

Epic: The 30-year-old Blinding Lights hitmaker - real name Abel Makkonen Tesfaye - has already had a successful partnership with the up-and-coming company with The Weeknd Exprience which aired on TikTok on August 7

Epic: The 30-year-old Blinding Lights hitmaker – real name Abel Makkonen Tesfaye – has already had a successful partnership with the up-and-coming company with The Weeknd Exprience which aired on TikTok on August 7

Heartless: The show was epic as it featured a digital avatar of The Weekend in his signature red blazer and Vintage Frames company sunglasses which has been his look throughout the music videos for album After Hours

Heartless: The show was epic as it featured a digital avatar of The Weekend in his signature red blazer and Vintage Frames company sunglasses which has been his look throughout the music videos for album After Hours

CEO Adam Arrigo told Rolling Stone: ‘Doing the actual show and seeing what our platform can do and the impact it can have is what sealed the deal.’

Bieber, J Balvin, Jillionaire and indie record label Top Dawg Entertainment – which is home to Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Schoolboy Q – have also invested in Wave this year.

Wave was founded as a virtual reality company in 2016 but gradually turned into animated streaming for music.  

Yummy: Justin Bieber (seen on Saturday Night Live this weekend) was also among other artists who invested in the four-year-old company

Yummy: Justin Bieber (seen on Saturday Night Live this weekend) was also among other artists who invested in the four-year-old company

Epic: J Balvin (seen in August 2019) also invested

Epic: J Balvin (seen in August 2019) also invested

Bond: Indie record label Top Dawg Entertainment - which is home to Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Schoolboy Q - has also invested in Wave this year

Bond: Indie record label Top Dawg Entertainment – which is home to Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Schoolboy Q – has also invested in Wave this year

After the global pandemic had destroyed the live music industry in March, the tech company was able to quickly lock in partnerships with Warner Music Group and Roc Nation as they aired virtual events for artists including John Legend and Tinashe. 

The company was also able to lure executives from rival tech companies like Netflix and Riot Games.

They also were able to score $30million in funding from moguls including former MLB all-star Alex Rodriguez and Scooter Braun. 

Home run: They also were able to score $30million in funding from moguls including former MLB all-star Alex Rodriguez (seen in October 2018) and Scooter Braun

Home run: They also were able to score $30million in funding from moguls including former MLB all-star Alex Rodriguez (seen in October 2018) and Scooter Braun