Imagining the Musical Metaverse: a study on the needs and creative practices of composers and musicians

This study explores user needs for the Musical Metaverse (MM) through a series of workshops with electroacoustic composers, classical musicians, and music producers. Using a design approach based on the prompt ‘as if by magic,’ participants were invited to reflect on how the MM could impact their practice in composition, performance, and education domains. While groups maintain distinct priorities based on their roles, they share interests in educational applications and creative learning environments. Key themes include preference for mixed reality over purely virtual environments, virtual space as a creative paradigm, and tensions between democratizing tools and maintaining authentic musical experiences. Education emerged as the most promising initial use case, particularly for understanding complex musical concepts. However, participants expressed skepticism about fully virtual performances, emphasizing physical connections to instruments and spaces. Results suggest MM development should enhance rather than replace traditional practices while supporting embodied creativity.