SOHO Live, the Tokyo-based live music company specializing in creating and presenting video game and anime concerts, has today released data from its post-concert survey conducted after its Stardew Valley: Symphony of the Seasons tour. The survey, which received 770 responses, highlights how video game concerts contribute to the wider growth of video game IP.
With video game developers and publishers continually looking for new and unique ways to engage audiences with their IPs, SOHO Live’s data provides insight into fan re-engagement, how likely they are to engage with video game music on streaming platforms, and wider opportunities in the merchandising space.
The survey found:
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98% of respondents were ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’ to replay Stardew Valley after attending a show.
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85% of respondents were ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’ to listen to the Stardew Valley soundtrack on streaming services after attending a show.
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70% of respondents were ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’ to buy merchandise after attending a show.
Video game concerts also give publishers the opportunity to engage fans in new and tangible ways, especially if they deliver an authentic representation of the game itself.
SOHO Live’s collaborations place an acute focus on ensuring each IP it brings into the concert format is accurately recreated. This is also reflected by the 96% of respondents who thought the Stardew Valley concerts captured the spirit and essence of the game, alongside the 94% who said it exceeded their expectations.
Gaetano Fazio, CEO of SOHO Live, said: “Most gamers experience their favorite IP on their own and without in-person interactions with the rest of its fanbase. Live concerts are a rare opportunity for an entire fanbase to come together in person and experience their favorite IPs in a whole new way. They’re like a dedicated fan convention for a specific IP that travels all over the world, and it’s been a real pleasure to see people realize that there are indeed thousands of other people just like them who enjoy the game right in their local community. This realization along with the quality of the performance is what really strengthens the bond between the player and the game, and makes them want to invest more time with it after the concert.
“Attending the official concert of a game is almost like owning a limited-edition merchandise item. But unlike merchandise which can be bought and sold over and over, the same performance cannot be replicated twice and cannot be experienced again once the concert is over. Core fans will always make sure not to miss it, and they will travel internationally to attend a concert if needed. It’s fascinating to see how fans from opposite sides of the world react in the same exact way to our concerts. It shows that the overall experience is well-crafted to capture the spirit of the game, and that fans see it as an extension of the game itself.”
Throughout 2024, SOHO Live took its first original production, Stardew Valley: Festival of Seasons, to concert halls worldwide. With 63 shows across 13 countries, the sold-out world tour was one of the largest video game music tours ever produced, and fans worldwide flocked to venues to experience an orchestral version of Stardew Valley’s soundtrack.
The team continues to take video game music to concert halls around the world, with an upcoming two-part Shovel Knight concert starting in early 2025 followed by a new Stardew Valley: Symphony of Seasons tour and unannounced tours of major Japanese IPs in the works.
