Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. has announced the installation of the Sphere Immersive Sound system at Radio City Music Hall. Developed by the company itself, this technology aims to modernize the iconic New York venue and deliver a new-generation sound experience.
Sphere Immersive Sound, currently in use at both Sphere in Las Vegas and the Beacon Theatre in New York, will debut at Radio City with the 2025 Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes, ahead of its implementation in January for all concerts and events at this iconic venue — offering an unparalleled audio experience for both artists and audiences.
The introduction of Sphere Immersive Sound at Radio City marks the next evolution in the nearly 100-year legacy of this iconic theater and represents a significant investment in the Music Hall that will benefit artists and guests. With the debut of Sphere Immersive Sound at the Beacon Theatre and the opening of Sphere in Las Vegas, we continue to expand this technology across MSG Entertainment’s portfolio of venues, and we look forward to offering this new system to audiences at Radio City Music Hall, said Josephine Vaccarello, Executive Vice President, Live at MSG Entertainment.
“As the Christmas Spectacular returns for its 92nd season, the production continues to embrace theatrical and technological innovation”, added Jessica Tuttle, Executive Vice President, Productions at MSG Entertainment. “With the unique capabilities of Sphere Immersive Sound, we can creatively play with music and sound effects within the Music Hall to immerse audiences in Christmas like never before and transport them into a festive wonderland”.
Sphere Immersive Sound uses next-generation 3D beamforming and wave field synthesis technology to transform the way audio is delivered. The result is controlled, consistent, and crystal-clear sound for the audience — whether you’re in the front row of the orchestra or at the back of the third mezzanine, the listening experience — including volume — remains the same.
Consistent sound levels from point of origin to destination provide each audience member with an exceptional listening experience: headphone-quality sound without the headphones. With more than 7,000 individually amplified loudspeakers, this technology will significantly enhance the audience experience at Radio City and provide artists and engineers with greater control and flexibility in programming, including the ability to spatialize audio by sending different sounds to distinct points in the theater.
The installation of the system at Radio City will also mark the launch of new features for Sphere Immersive Sound:
- 3D Differential Beamforming Technology, allowing artists and their teams to digitally sculpt sound within the venue, optimizing the acoustic experience for both the audience and performers on stage.
- Intelligent Audio System Synthesis, making it possible to integrate non-HOLOPLOT speakers into the Sphere Immersive Sound ecosystem, ensuring exceptional sound throughout the venue with consistent volume and clarity, even in traditionally hard-to-reach areas.
- This opens opportunities for Sphere Immersive Sound to be incorporated into venues and facilities of all types and sizes in the future.
Sphere Immersive Sound was created and customized for Sphere in Las Vegas, the next-generation entertainment medium that is redefining live entertainment. A version of the system is also installed at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.
As the first event to feature Radio City’s Sphere Immersive Sound system, the Christmas Spectacular continues to push the boundaries of theatrical technology. Thanks to Sphere Immersive Sound, guests will enjoy the show with new clarity and purity of sound, becoming fully immersed in the joy of the holiday season.
The use of Sphere Immersive Sound in the Christmas Spectacular is the latest example of the technological innovations embraced by the production — from holographic imagery and projection mapping to the flying Frost Fairy drones.
