South Korean online music content provider KT Music unveiled the country's first virtual reality-backed music service on Thursday.

"Genie VR," a computer-generated multimedia service that plays the visuals alongside music content, will be provided on a separate section of Genie's mobile app, the music service maker and distributor said during a news conference.


The affiliate of mobile carrier KT currently offers two music-streaming services -- Genie Music and Olleh Music.

Wearing HMD, or a head mounted display, users of Genie VR can watch K-pop stars' concerts and showcases in a lively three-dimensional cyber-presence. Users can adjust the view 360 degrees with their smartphones, while using the Genie app.

During the press conference at the KT headquarters in central Seoul, Nayeon and Jihyo of 12-member K-pop girl group TWICE demonstrated the new service, playing TWICE's latest guerrilla concert in the capital city.

Genie VR is part of KT Music's "GiGA VR" project, which aims to create virtual reality-based music content and develop VR players for futuristic music service that takes on the next level of music videos.

"Now we are ready to offer 'spacial music experience' services as the next step of see-and-watch music services," said KT Music chief executive Kim Sung-ook.

By the end of this year, KT Music plans to produce 100 items in virtual reality music content, using concerts, showcases and other culture content-related shows, in partnership with seven major star management agencies.

In July, KT Music is slated to roll out "Genie Smart Life," a big data-backed music curation service. Operating on KT Music's independently developed system Genius, the service provides customized music content that best suits users' preference.

By analyzing a pool of big data consisting of some 10 billion factors in music streaming history, Genie Smart Life offers assorted music content according to the users' location, the weather and even physical signs. (Yonhap)