ABC released a new trio of 360 videos. The short clips are tied into the network’s recently cancelled series Nashville and they each feature a different member of the show’s cast singing an original song.
The video’s were shot in front of a live audience inside Nashville’s historic Bluebird Cafe – a notable location in the show and a real life destination where up and coming country artists flock to get discovered.
The three artists featured in this 360 video series are: Jonathan Jackson (Avery Barkley), Charles Esten (Deacon Claybourne), and Lennon and Maisy Stella (Made and Daphne, Conrad respectively).
The 360 videos are each tagged as being part of a larger push for ABC known as Nashville: On The Record – VR which indicates that there may be more immersive ‘Nashville’ on its way. Which would be a welcomed addition for fans as the series comes to its end after four seasons.
The series also added in a fourth 360 video featuring a song from non-cast member Jaida Dreyer who serves as the chief songwriter for Nashville. ABC is one of a small number of “traditional” media outlets that seems to be taking a notable interest in immersive 360 videos. The organization recently ranked high on Facebook’s top ten most popular 360 videos list for its video depicting New York’s historic Time’s Square after it was blanketed by a freak snowstorm last year.
ABC news specifically is the branch of the network that crafted these particular videos which are just a handful of over a dozen 360 offerings created by the outlet. ABC’s news arm has composed essentially the network’s entire library of 360 videos.
Despite the show’s recent cancellation, these four Nashville videos may be signaling that a new direction is underway at ABC; one that leads to VR compatible content for more of its properties and not just the news team. 360 is quickly working to make the transition from passing fad to useful standard and having the continued support of major brands like ABC goes a long way towards accomplishing that goal and legitimizing this rapidly developing new medium.
