For music lovers, hearing a favorite band or artist can be more than a luxury — it can be an important part of getting through a tough day without blowing a gasket. And, of course, there may be no better way to experience great music than by attending a live performance. But sometimes schedules, finances, distance and other obstacles can prevent fans from catching a must-see show in person.
Fortunately, today’s technology can bring popular artists, rising stars and legendary performers right into the living room. Whether music fans prefer intimate studio sessions, historic concert recordings or livestreamed performances, these five websites offer plenty of ways to stream live music online. Some content is free, while other performances may require a subscription or individual ticket purchase.
- Internet Archive — Best for free concert recordings: Founded in 1996, the nonprofit Internet Archive preserves digital materials ranging from books and websites to movies, music and other cultural works. Its Live Music Archive features an extensive collection of concert recordings shared with the permission of participating artists. The primarily audio-based collection is free to explore and includes performances spanning numerous artists, genres and decades.
- KEXP — Best for discovering new artists: Seattle-based nonprofit radio station KEXP regularly welcomes local, national and international artists for professionally recorded in-studio performances. Its free video collection covers everything from indie rock and jazz to hip-hop, punk and music from around the world. Fans looking to discover their next favorite artist can watch recent sessions and festival performances at kexp.org/watch.
- NPR Tiny Desk Concerts — Best for intimate performances: NPR Music’s popular Tiny Desk Concert series brings established stars and emerging artists into an unusually small performance space behind NPR’s iconic desk. The short, intimate concerts span a wide range of musical styles and often feature creative arrangements that differ from the artists’ studio recordings. Music lovers can browse the free collection on the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts website.
- nugs — Best for full-length concerts: Built specifically for live-music fans, nugs offers official concert audio, full-length videos, on-demand performances and select livestreams from touring artists. Its catalog is especially strong in rock, jam bands, country, bluegrass and related genres. Most streaming content requires a paid subscription, and certain pay-per-view events may cost extra. Fans can explore the available artists, concerts and subscription options at nugs.net.
- VEEPS — Best for livestreamed music events: VEEPS gives fans access to scheduled concert livestreams, on-demand performances, music documentaries and original programming across genres including rock, pop, country, jazz, metal and R&B. Viewers can watch through supported web, mobile and smart-TV platforms. Availability varies by event, with some shows included in a subscription and others offered as separate ticketed experiences. Upcoming and on-demand performances are available at veeps.com.
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