Jean-Michel Jarre Releases Innovative “Phygital” Album
On October 4, 2024, electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre presents his new live album “VERSAILLES 400”, a groundbreaking combination of traditional vinyl/CD and cutting-edge NFC technology. This fusion of physical and digital album elements (“phygital”) offers fans a unique user experience with access to exclusive content.
The live album was recorded during the artist’s performance at the 400th anniversary of the Palace of Versailles on December 25, 2023. The mixed reality concert, with its extraordinary light show, blended real and digital elements. It was witnessed by 800 attendees on-site and was also broadcast digitally in the metaverse, where a virtual avatar of Jarre performed for a global audience.
Now, the album release itself integrates both physical and digital elements. A special NFC sticker on the physical product allows listeners to access an exclusive landing page via smartphone. This page includes digital bonus content such as an interview with the artist, behind-the-scenes photos of the event visuals, and a greeting from Jean-Michel Jarre’s digital avatar.
This landing page, accessible only through the NFC sticker, will be continuously updated and curated, providing album owners with fresh digital content over time. This fusion of physical and digital elements offers a more comprehensive and long-lasting user experience. The album will be available as a limited edition of 4,000 copies via the D2C online shop and is now available for pre-order.
Technology has always played a central role in Jean-Michel Jarre’s work. In 2022 he launched a VR world to accompany his album “Oxymore”. At his performance at this year’s STARMUS festival, he created a stage design that featured intricately choreographed light and laser shows, as well as a 400-drone ballet. With the phygital release of “VERSAILLES 400”, Jarre introduces another innovative way to experience his work multisensorial through technology.
About Jean-Michel Jarre
Jean-Michel Jarre is a French composer, performer, music producer, and pioneer of electronic music. Throughout his career, he has continually pushed boundaries by combining music with creative innovation. He is best known for his groundbreaking work in the electronic music scene and for his spectacular live performances, which often attract hundreds of thousands or even millions of spectators. In 1979, he performed at Place de la Concorde in Paris for over a million people. Jarre has also performed at many iconic locations worldwide, including Tiananmen Square in Beijing (1981) and the Pyramids of Giza (1999). His current catalog, which includes 22 studio albums, has sold more than 85 million copies globally and earned him numerous nominations and awards.
