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From fields of fire to a state of the art concert streaming venue, Scottish rockers Big Country launched The Big Gig Box, a ‘game-changer’ for the live music industry.

Video platform company Stream Digital, best known for its football streaming services through partnerships with 11 of the 12 Scottish Premiership clubs, has launched the UK’s first permanent facility designed solely for live streaming music concerts with a streamed pay-per-view event from Dunfermline's finest, Big Country.

The platform is the brainchild of managing director Paul Aniello who explains it is the culmination of a long-term project.

He said: “I have been working on this for around five years and it’s been a journey to redefine live entertainment. As Scotland’s No 1 video platform company, we have huge experience in live streaming football matches to a worldwide customer base, delivering around 40 events a week with all the necessary customer support and infrastructure. We also work in film and television, so it seemed the natural thing to do to combine that expertise to stream music."

Big Country perform live-streamed concert set at Stream Digital's state-of-the-are facility

The Livingston-based firm, which has also provided the facilities for screen dramas such as Churchill, the BBC’s The Replacements, View From The Terrace and many other productions, will stream concerts from The Gig Box, a 10,000 square foot purpose built performance centre featuring a permanent stage installed with the latest high-end technology, audio and lighting, to allow artists to live stream concerts around the world.

Aniello continues, “It was always a sector which I thought was interesting but for a long time, artists wouldn’t buy into the idea as they thought it would interfere with their live gigs and tours. Now, though, the music landscape has changed and the reality is dawning that this might be a service which can complement other things they are doing.

“I wanted to create an avenue for bands to get their music out to their fans around the world and the pandemic has provided the catalyst for it to happen. Covid has opened their eyes and changed attitudes to a degree and I really think this could breathe new life into an industry which has been impacted so badly by the events of the past year.”

Stream Digital are also in discussions with leading promoters and management companies to bring some of the biggest names in the music world to the performance centre and recently announced plans to target the English football leagues for live match coverage.

Aniello adds, "We’re not sure when live gigs will be allowed again, or when large gatherings of people will be permitted, but this is a service which will be a viable alternative during lockdown and beyond. I think it will become part of the new norm. This is a new model for the music industry and a new service offering from us which will hopefully create a bit of a buzz.”

All events will be ticket only and available to stream on all mobile devices or cast to televisions. Some gigs will be available on the Big Gig Box website, others on the artists’ own sites.

“We’ll offer the most ‘live and up-close’ experience in the industry,” says Aniello. “Our livestream platform maintains the integrity of the artists’ performances, and gives every fan a front-row seat.”

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