At the Billboard Live Music Summit on November 3, 2025, Nick Groff — manager for German electronic artist Bunt. — outlined an experiment that hands fans control of the cameras that feed arena video walls. Groff told Billboard editor-in-chief Hannah Karp the idea is to bring concertgoers into the spotlight rather than keep them as passive observers.

The concept recently produced an unscripted viral moment at Bunt.’s Oct. 18 performance at The Shrine in Los Angeles, when a phone given to a fan displayed the couple using it to show themselves kissing on the venue’s big screen. The clip quickly circulated online and sparked wider conversation about how audience-driven content can shape the live experience.

“We didn’t plant that kiss,” Groff said, describing the incident as a genuine fan moment.

Groff explained that as Bunt.’s shows have grown, the team confronted a crowded-stage problem: fans sometimes surge the barrier or point phones directly at the performer, which disrupts the flow of the set and compromises safety. Giving selected attendees phones that are linked to the venue’s production system allows the performer to spotlight fans without encouraging intrusive behavior toward the artist.

To make this possible, Groff said the team partnered with a technology company that configured specific iPhones to interface with a venue’s video system. At The Shrine, those devices were handed out to longtime fans selected by the artist and crew so the footage could be routed live to the arena displays.

The objective, Groff noted, is simple: celebrate the audience by capturing authentic moments of connection and joy on-screen.

He also referenced a high-profile August kiss-cam moment at a Coldplay concert — a viral reminder that these kinds of crowd-focused visuals can become cultural touchpoints. While acknowledging the novelty, Groff emphasized that the underlying appeal is universal: moments of affection and humanity resonate widely.

Beyond the spectacle, Groff argued the system could address a persistent issue in dance music shows, where fans often aim phones at DJs mid-performance. By turning cameras back toward the crowd and routing selected fan footage to the screen, the approach reduces interruptions to the set and preserves the event’s energy.

He cautioned, however, that the setup is costly and technologically complex at present. The system remains nascent, but Groff said the team plans to deploy it at larger upcoming shows, including a Nov. 13 performance in Munich.

As live production continues to evolve, Groff suggested that curated, fan-driven visuals could become a new way to deepen engagement while maintaining the safety and integrity of performances.

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