The bases are loaded at Boston’s historic Fenway Park, but this time the field isn’t filled with major league players. For the first time, in what seems like a millenia, the park will re-open its gates to a whole new kind of ball game, one that will kick off summer and rock music fans across the globe.
On Friday, May 29, 6pm EST, one of Boston’s all time favorite bands, the Dropkick Murphys, will be streaming a live benefit concert straight from the field of Fenway park to audiences everywhere.
Fun Fact: This will be the first time in Fenway history that a band has played right on the baseball diamond! A stage that certainly won’t disappoint.

The Line up: The inner field at Fenway Park, geared up for a night of epic entertainment
There will also be a special guest performer, “the Boss” himself, Bruce Springsteen, who plans to stream virtually to the park, right on the big screen, making this a double stream for a home-run kind of experience.
**Music for the Cause: ** While fans around the world can tune in and enjoy this historical performance for free, the band hopes to turn this virtual experience into something bigger than just entertainment. The Dropkick Murphys, in collaboration with their guest performer Bruce Springsteen, will be raising funds to help support organizations that are on the front-lines of the global pandemic such as the Boston Resiliency Fund, Habitat For Humanity Greater Boston, and Feeding America.
Not only are they helping to keep the spirits high for typical summer concert goers (now stuck at home), they’re also helping to bring financial and supportive aid to those who need it most.
Taking the park and the world by storm: The event anticipates a global audience of over 10 million virtual viewers who will tune in from 5 different channels on the band’s Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Twitch, and https://www.dkmstream.com.
What’s the point of hitting a home-run as big as this one if no one can see it? To make sure they’re able to rock fans everywhere on any device, the band will be partnering with Brightcove to provide a high-quality, reliable streaming experience for their fans. I don’t know about you, but I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to sing along to my favorite songs in real-time, without missing a beat.
And the Dropkick Murphys aren’t the only ones looking to create a reliable engaging experience for their audiences. As companies all around the world are having to make the shift toward more virtual solutions, innovative business leaders look toward video as the most effective way to reach viewers everywhere. So no matter the type of content, businesses can still rock the socks off their audiences with the power of video.

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Welcome to the “Lone Star State” of Texas, home to what many refer to as the “Live Music Capital of the World”, the capital city of Austin. Throughout the years this city has been home to a parade of music lovers, disco dancers, indie rockers, and all sorts of talented musicians.
From every street corner to even the smallest cafe, those who have come to visit this melodic jungle have always been sure to find a live stage where they can swing and sing to any kind of rhythm. However, much like the rest of the world, this vibrant city has recently been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
With the cancellation of Austin’s famous SXSW conference, that hosts a variety of film and music festivals throughout the month of March, the city has seen a drastic loss in tourism revenue, and that’s just an addition to Austin’s already struggling economy.
From businesses having to close their doors and industries like entertainment, tourism, and hospitality taking a direct hit, the city has faced a whirlwind of challenges throughout the past few months much like the rest of the world.
If history can teach us anything, it’s that when communities face trials and tribulations, there are a few inspiring heroes that arise to grace the cause. For renowned singer and songwriter Paul Simon, wrangling together a talented cast of friends and artists for A Night for Austin is just what the city needs.
Simon, along with musicians such as Willie Nelson, James Taylor, and many more, has joined forces with Luck Reunion and the Austin Community Foundation to bring a live benefit concert to the music-loving fans of Austin, Texas as well as viewers around the world. This 2-hour live-streamed performance will happen on Wednesday, June 10 at 8:00 PM CT (9:00 PM ET) and be streamed for free on Luck Renunion’s Twitch channel and broadcasted to CBS Austin.
This commercial-free, telethon-style event will do more than give the residents of Austin a night of much-needed entertainment; it will also benefit the community by raising money to help those who have been financially or physically affected by the global pandemic.
To ensure this event can be streamed to homes all over the country and the world, we’re proud that Luck Reunion has chosen to partner with our team at Brightcove. As rewarding as it is to have yet another opportunity to demonstrate our technology’s ability to reach millions of viewers around the globe, we’re even more excited to be a part of something bigger: an opportunity to spread the power of music and to support a great community.

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Over the past couple of weeks, our team at Brightcove has taken a hard look at our core values, not only as a business but as members of the global community. What is clear is that now is not the time to be silent.
Treating one another with respect and dignity is central to who we are and what we stand for as an organization. As a leading video technology company, Brightcove’s objective is to bring stories to the eyes of the world through video, even if these stories are sometimes disturbing  and challenging.
We need to look inward as a team and admit that despite not having all the answers yet, we must be clear that we are committed to ensuring we live in a society that embraces anti-racism, and stand strongly together with the black community.
Meaningful change requires commitment. At Brightcove, we know we have a lot of work to do, but we have never been more dedicated to ensuring we investigate and implement new training, programs, and procedures to evolve our organization to continually support the black community now and in the future.
**We’re committed to making real change at Brightcove. This is our promise to ourselves and our employees: **

We will establish better hiring practices that improve the representation of black employees and employees of color at all levels.

We will engage employees on the topic of diversity and racism and provide all employees transparency on our diversity profile and the steps we are taking to improve diversity

We will continually evaluate the full scope of our employee experience to ensure that we create conditions that promote inclusion on a daily basis.

We will educate our employees on what it means to be inclusive – from teaching people how to build new habits to how to recognize and call out micro behaviors.

We will create a change program that will engage our employees to champion anti-racism, inclusion, and diversity across all of Brightcove.

**We’re committed to supporting our community in building a diverse future:  **

We will create a college-level internship program and create entry-level job opportunities for black and minority students.

We will partner with organizations that support younger students in underserved communities to inspire interest in STEM careers, in an effort to help build a future workforce that is more diverse.

We will provide video services for non-profit organizations that support this movement and prioritize our free onboarding program for those non-profits that need assistance in the establishment of their video presence, and in telling their story.

It’s time for businesses across all industries and sizes to step up and have these sometimes uncomfortable conversations and make progress. The dialogue and hard truths that come out of these conversations will help to foster change through action, not just statements, but systematic change.  We invite business leaders and individuals around the world to take part in these commitments to build a better future for all and hold us accountable to the commitments we have made.

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Video is a powerful motivator, often channeling the kind of stories that inspire and captivate the audiences that watch them. We asked renowned adventurer and award-winning filmmaker Jimmy Chin his thoughts on the power of video to tell stories and connect audiences.
**How did you get started directing and creating your own documentary films?  **
I never had formal instruction on photography or filmmaking. I was self-taught and spent most of my career making it up as I went. For the most part, I feel like I still am. I started as a climber first. I loved and still love climbing and being in the mountains. That passion for living life and pushing myself was my door into understanding people who did the same. It was through that door that allowed me access to photograph and later film with some of the greatest athletes and adventurers of our time.
I’m motivated to tell these stories of people dreaming and achieving the impossible but also to show the realities, sacrifice, hard work, and tenacity it requires to achieve anything great. These are the stories that inspire me and push me to do my best work.
**What is something you believe video has the power to do that nothing else does? **
I think we are told a lot of ideas, given things to think about. We get a lot of material to digest intellectually. Film is powerful because it can not only get ideas across on an intellectual level, but it can make you feel something, experience something new, see something in a way you never had before. It can transport you. That is a very powerful tool. If you do your job well, you can create empathy.
Films are one of the most incredible mediums to create empathy. You have the opportunity to share an experience with someone from a totally different world or perspective. And not only will your audience learn something new and see something from a different point of view, but they should feel something and be moved.
Why do you think it is important for video experts to share their stories and ideas?
Films have the capacity to not only convey complex ideas to audiences on an intellectual level but also have the potential to move people on a visceral and emotional level.
It is an incredibly powerful tool to do good in the world. You never know who will be moved and inspired by your work and what it will motivate them to do in the future.
This year we’re talking about the importance of serious storytelling through video. Why do you think it’s important to be serious about what you do?
I believe in pursuing my craft with passion and excellence. There is an incredible opportunity to contribute to the human experience and understanding of the world. There is also an amazing opportunity for self-discovery in one’s journey towards perfecting a craft. It can provide meaning and purpose in one’s life. Is there anything more important?
Lastly, where do you see the future of video going in 2020 and beyond?
I believe technology will help enhance the potential for filmmaking and the viewer’s experience in the future, but the age-old craft of storytelling and creating empathy will always be at the core of making great films.

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The crowd surfers may bump into the living room couch, but that’s the only glitch you’ll find with the live streaming experience that Brightcove delivered for top performers like Dropkick Murphys, Willie Nelson and more. Without pausing, buffering or any other issues, fans enjoy a rich experience that brings them every drum beat, every guitar chord and every word with the clarity and emotion that makes them feel like they are right there in the stadium.
9 MILLION VIEWS
When Dropkick Murphys decided to live stream their concert, called “Streaming Outta Fenway,” the venue they chose was Boston’s historic Fenway Park. Due to the pandemic restrictions, only 35 people were allowed inside the huge stadium, and that included the band and the crew. But those 35 people were soon overshadowed by a slightly larger number—9 million. Over 9 million views of “Streaming Outta Fenway” were seen worldwide, in living rooms, backyards, roof decks, on screens large and small, giving everyone a front-row seat to this amazing performance. With 12 different streaming endpoints, and over $700,000 raised for charity, it was a rousing success.
AMAZING PICNIC, NO ANTS
When Willie Nelson’s iconic “4th of July Picnic” had to pivot to a virtual concert, Brightcove was right there to live stream the concert from Willie Nelson’s Luck Saloon and Chapel. Bringing millions of dedicated fans together virtually to experience the music they love, Brightcove’s leading live streaming technology delivered  Willie Nelson’s loyal fanbase a high-quality live concert experience. The event featured interviews with characters from the Picnic’s past, as well as new, live performances from their favorite artists such as Sheryl Crow, Ziggy Marley, Margo Price, Steve Earle, and Kurt Vile.
MEET THE NEW MUSIC INDUSTRY
“The music entertainment industry is forever changed, and video is at the forefront of its evolution. Even beyond the pandemic, we’ll continue to see organizations use video to connect with their audiences as it’s the only way to deliver the authentic, real-life experience that viewers crave,” says Sara Larsen, CMO, Brightcove. With top performers such as Dropkick Murphys and Willie Nelson, Brightcove has demonstrated how its technology is essential to a thriving entertainment industry as it connects performers with their audiences. If you have a performance in search of an audience, talk with Brightcove and see how our superior live streaming will deliver an experience the fans will never forget.

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The first half of 2020 brought changes to almost every aspect of life as the COVID-19 pandemic changed our behavior, outlook, and habits. Brightcove’s Q2 2020 Global Video Index found that watching more video than ever before became a global trend that kept on growing. In nearly every corner of the globe, in every household and apartment, streaming news, entertainment, and sports media was on the rise. In Q2, views were up a robust 40% compared to the previous year, following a quarter that saw growth top 23%.
The Video Index analyzed 400 billion anonymized data points from Brightcove’s streaming customers to draw insights into how audiences in every region of the globe consumed video content in Q2. It looked at when, how often, and on what devices they watched – and what that all means for the industry.
Here’s a look at some of the top insights from the Video Index:
Connected TVs saw significant growth:
The number of video views on connected TVs increased by 160% in Q2 globally as consumers spent more of their time watching video from their homes. But views on all devices increased during the first half of the year as video remained central to users sheltering at home. Will that trend continue? Or will we see a decline in video views as we come out of lockdown? COVID-19 has been video’s evolutionary moment, and, historically speaking, once consumers adapt to and adopt technology they almost never backslide. We’ll see smaller gains in Q3 and Q4, but, on the whole, expect the growth to continue.
Small screens are dominant in the exploding Asia-Pacific streaming market:
Smartphones dominated the share of video views in Q2, with 89% of all video starting on the devices…most of which were Android-based. That’s a trend that has been evident in the region for several quarters and is unlikely to change. India, too, saw the share of views dominated by smartphones as the country’s expanding middle class goes mobile-first.
Both regions should see continued mobile strength, especially as next-gen 5G wireless technology gains traction. In Japan, views on smartphones – which had a 59% share of all video starts – were up by 33% for the quarter.
**Smartphones are taking the lead when it comes to growth, but what kind? **
According to our data, Android-based smartphones topped the global share of smartphone video views with 65% to iPhone’s 35%. That’s a ratio that’s changed over the past few quarters as iPhones have lost the leadership position to less expensive Android phones flooding the market. Streaming services need to be sure that they consider that when deciding what devices they’ll focus on.
**93% growth in video views for Australia and New Zealand: **
With lockdown orders still in place, audiences in the ANZ region saw an overall increase in video views as entertainment and news media captured at-home viewers’ attention. Mobile played a major role in ANZ. Interestingly, longer-form content was as likely to be completed while being watched on a smartphone as it was on a connected TV.
**Views across Europe were up 52% and rising: **
For two straight quarters, viewing numbers in Europe have seen their biggest increases on smartphones. Q2 saw video views on smartphones jump 69% from Q2 2019, while views on all devices increased by 52%. CTVs, as in most other regions, also saw big gains in views as consumers turned to the biggest screen in the house to watch more video. On average, viewers watched three times as much content on CTVs as on any other device.
Get a deeper dive into each region’s specific media trends and insights in Brightcove’s Q2 2020 Global Video Index.

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