Justin Bieber's Coachella experiment: Nostalgia, or a new hybrid format?

Justin Bieber’s Coachella performance was pure nostalgia for fans. Weak in the knees, crying, smiling, almost unable to stand like Billie Eilish – that’s how fans felt as he performed Baby, One Less Lonely Girl , and revisited old videos. “Let’s see how far you guys go,” Bieber said, searching his videos on YouTube and performing along.

Using a laptop on stage, he casually went through old clips and sang with his younger self. Few expected this approach, but he leaned into it, pairing old tracks with visuals in the background. Some called it Bieber’s personal karaoke. Others said most artists couldn’t pull this off, especially at Coachella. But because it was Bieber, and because it tapped into nostalgia, it largely turned into meme fodder.

Back home, it raises questions for artists and organisers: can something like this work here? Can artists bring their own catalogue into performances and get the same response? Is this the start of a new concert format, somewhere between a live show and a stream?

In the era of streaming, can this become more common?
At a festival like Coachella – one of the most watched music events globally – performances are no longer limited to the people in the crowd; they are livestreamed across the world. And because this happened here, with Bieber, it brings attention to a kind of hybrid performance we haven’t yet seen at scale in India. Coachella has live streamed performances for years, but this one stood out for how it played out. Bieber was discovered on YouTube, so when he told a packed crowd at Coachella and the millions watching online, “We kind of grew up together,” it wasn’t just a line – it was the point. His life has played out online, and the audience has been part of that journey. That’s what made the moment land.

‘You go for the experience of live music, not a karaoke’“Streaming has made artists more fluid – they are not locked into just their biggest hits anymore. But live shows are a different game. If you lean too much on one side, it shows,” says DJ Sartek.

Livestreaming is increasingly becoming an extension of the stage. “Physical concerts will always be the core experience, but livestreaming allows events to scale globally. We could see hybrid headliners – artistes performing for a live audience while simultaneously reaching millions online,” says Mohit Bijlani, co-founder, Team Innovation.

“Livestreaming is no longer an add-on – it’s becoming a parallel stage. In some cases, the digital audience may even surpass the in-person crowd,” adds Aman Kumar, co-founder of the event production and management company White Fox.

‘SOME MIGHT CALL IT LAZY, OTHERS ARTISTIC EXPRESSION’Talking about the performance, where Bieber essentially scrolled YouTube with the audience, Varun Rajput, from a Delhi-based Hindi rock band Antariksh, says, “It seemed like he tried to stand out by doing something different, or experimenting with an idea he and his team had. Some might call it lazy, others artistic expression. But coming from a rock and metal background, concerts are about raw energy, a vibrant atmosphere, and real musicians playing together. That’s what I like, and I think that’s what most people expect. I don’t see something like this becoming common – it lacks the spark one expects from a live show.”

For those who have travelled abroad for concerts, this could feel like a disappointment – regardless of the artiste. Subir Malik from Parikrama puts it simply, “If I went to see my idols and they revisited old songs through YouTube and sang along, I would be highly disappointed. You go for the experience of live music, not a concert karaoke.”

Beyond the nostalgia-driven moments, the set also included more conventional performances and guest appearances from Dijon, Tems, WizKid, Mk.gee, and more.

‘The future of live music is hybrid’From a promoter’s perspective, this shift opens up new possibilities – across ticketing, sponsorships, and content. But even here, the idea comes back to balance.
“The exclusivity and energy of a live concert must remain intact. Digital layers should enhance, not dilute, the experience. The future isn’t just bigger crowds – it’s broader connections,” says Mohit.
“The future of live music is hybrid with both designed as equally immersive experiences. This marks a clear shift in how live music is experienced and distributed. Artists will start designing shows not just for a venue, but for a global audience tuning in simultaneously, making hybrid experiences the new standard,” adds Sara Awwad, creative director at Studio Majime.

What Justin Bieber did at Coachella may not define what comes next – but it does show how far an artist can push the format.

The real question is whether audiences will keep going along.