Elton John’s Hologram Deal and the Future of Entertainment
Just yesterday, I stumbled upon the news that Netflix is bringing back the late Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. Today, I found out that Elton John sold his entire photo collection for millions, apparently so he can perform in Las Vegas forever.
Now, I might not be the most insightful person, but I did kind of see this coming.
For the last two decades, our screens have been filled with a lot of less-than-appealing celebrities. This makes replacing the aging greats pretty tough, leaving a noticeable gap in entertainment. On the bright side, technology, particularly AI and holograms, seems poised to fill that space.
Reports say that Elton John has negotiated a multi-million-pound deal to be featured as a hologram in his innovative Las Vegas residency. This means fans can enjoy his performances long after he takes his final bow. Apparently, he plans to film his shows at Pinewood Studios later this year, which will then get digitally transformed into a lifelike hologram.
Kiki Dee, who was behind the 70s hit “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” will also show up as a hologram. Not that it was my favorite song or anything.
The 79-year-old, who is somewhat retired from touring, signed a lucrative agreement with Hard Rock shortly after casting doubt on the whole hologram idea.
Seven years back, John made a promise to his son: “If Daddy dies, don’t let holograms tour the world.” Funny how a hefty paycheck can change one’s perspective.
So why not?
Why shouldn’t Elton John do this?
And why wouldn’t Las Vegas want to feature superstar holograms instead of these one-hit wonders that no one really knows about?
It’s interesting, really. Until about two decades ago, there was a noticeable absence of music superstars in America. Who even qualifies under 40 today? Maybe Taylor Swift and a few others? That reminds me, a song like “We Are The World” would probably just be a quartet nowadays. Watching Elton perform 20 of his hits two decades after his passing sounds far more engaging than seeing someone like Bad Bunny perform lesser-known tracks.
Some might say that a hologram of Elton would take a job away from a living artist.
But, so what?
When someone becomes a universally recognized music icon with a beloved catalog, then maybe they can replace Elton’s hologram. For now, regular folks want Elton, and if we can’t have him live, we’ll take his hologram over newer artists any day.
Picture this…
A new Star Wars movie featuring a young Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher.
A fresh Indiana Jones film starring a youthful Harrison Ford.
A sports comedy featuring a prime Burt Reynolds.
Imagine buddy comedies reuniting John Candy and Steve Martin.
Or classic pairings like John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara.
A steamy romance with the enchanting Ingrid Bergman alongside Cary Grant, or maybe even Humphrey Bogart.
These scenarios are now in the realm of possibility, and I’m all for it.
What often drives these things? Yes, money.
What are the downsides to selling images? Honestly, none that I can see. You can bank a fortune while you’re alive and then some after you’ve passed.
Today’s icons can rack up wealth. The estates of long-gone stars are cashing in.
And here’s something to consider…
AI helps make John Wayne films at a fraction of the cost. The estates don’t need to hand over rights to a big studio that might change everything. They can create, distribute cheaply through streaming, and easily recoup their investment.
We’re only scratching the surface of the AI revolution. What new media did to traditional outlets and what digital tech has done to music is just the beginning for visual arts.
And I think, in a way, that’s exciting.
