Inspire Entertainment Resort has moved to improve access for people with hearing loss to attend performances.
Inspire said on the 24th that it will work with JYP Entertainment and the nonprofit Hear Cycle to improve the performance-viewing environment for attendees who have difficulty hearing. The effort is part of Inspire's ESG (environment, social, governance) project "Sound Beyond Hearing."
Inspire will operate an Auracast-based assistive listening system at performances by artists under JYP held at Inspire Arena. Auracast is a technology that wirelessly delivers performance audio to hearing aids or cochlear implants to support clearer listening.
Inspire plans to provide skyboxes in the arena as listening spaces and support transmitter installation and on-site operations. In large venues, the mix of speaker audio, crowd cheers, and spatial reverberation can make it difficult for people with hearing loss who wear hearing aids or cochlear implants to distinguish an artist's voice or lyrics.
The collaboration will begin with performances by JYP artists such as 2PM and DAY6 Young K held at Inspire Arena and continue through the second half of the year. Based on project outcomes and participant feedback, Inspire plans to continue reviewing ways to improve venue accessibility.
With installion of assistive listening equipment set to become mandatory at public facilities starting in November this year, interest is growing in improving hearing accessibility at performance and cultural venues.
An Inspire official said, "Through this project, we will build operational experience to improve venue accessibility and create an inclusive viewing environment where more attendees can enjoy performance culture together."