Habbo to Host Natasha Bedingfield for First Live Concert

Habbo Hotel has seen a flock of celebrity avatars parading through its lobbies, but mostly for meet-and-greets with the fans. Sulake's virtual world has also included music, but never for a live show. On April 10, though, Natasha Bedingfield will perform an acoustic show streamed into the virtual world. Other virtual worlds, particularly those aimed at younger demographics, have hosted live shows before, but as more users get comfortable with the idea of consuming music through an avatar-based environment (and it's certainly happening), it'd be safe to expect it to become more frequent. "More and more, virtual communities and social networks like Habbo are becoming a primary source of mainstream entertainment for teens,"  Teemu Huuhtanen, executive VP, marketing, ad sales and business development, Sulake Corporation and president, North America, Sulake Inc, said in a statement. "Established artists like Natasha Bedingfield understand this online transition and virtual performances will be increasingly important for entertainers to reach their fans."