Is gaming set to take over people’s free time? What are the limits of virtual reality? How have media producers adapted to pandemic-inspired needs? In this part of the 2021 Expert Outlook, we speak to four experts about how people are finding both solace and escapism through screens.

At Sony’s immersive studio, the music giant creates elaborate virtual worlds to prop up its artists’ offerings. But COVID-19 has robbed much of the hype from content-consumption rituals like concerts – so Sony is focusing instead on the tactile and social aspects of the ‘concert experience’.

Whether you’re at a concert or party, it’s generally considered good practice to put your phone away so you can fully appreciate the moment. But research shows using your smartphone to engage with social events actually adds to the experience, rather than interfering with it.

With the COVID-19 pandemic causing people to stay at home out of a sense of public responsibility, artists are having to cancel shows worldwide. How are live-streaming platforms filling the void, and could digital behaviours during the crisis create long-term changes in how people consume music?