​Virtual reality possibilities in entertainment are beginning to take hold, with TV and film continuing to use the medium in experiential and marketing ventures.

But the field is about to speed up considerably, as affordable VR headsets make their way onto shelves over the next few months. Samsung, Sony, HTC and Facebook are all set to release their gear, and entertainment companies are lining up to partner with them.

Disney, Comcast, Time Warner and Legendary Entertainment are of the many on board so far, but a lot has been done in the space recently that will serve to inspire content to come. Here are a few:

Music:

Paul McCartney teamed up with director Mark Romanek and Jaunt VR to film his concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. His performance of “Live and Let Die” was filmed as a 360-degree view, where fans watched the concert from all angles.

Film:

Based on the film Wild, “Wild: The Experience” was created by Félix & Paul Studios to put the user on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail with Reese Witherspoon. The VR film also cut in Laura Dern’s character, making it so that the user has to focus on Dern in order to keep her in the shot.

Sports:

The Golden State Warriors brought the courtside experience to viewers at home with the help of NextVR, making it the first time a professional sporting event was broadcast in VR, live and nationwide.

“LeBron James: Striving for Greatness” debuted as a Facebook video, following the basketball star as he goes through his off-season training. He posted the two-minute teaser on his Facebook account, with a 13-minute full video to follow next month.

Journalism:

Nonny de la Peña discovered virtual reality as a way to tell stories that truly put the “reader” into the shoes of her subjects. “Hunger in Los Angeles” was the product of that idea, bringing users into a food bank in a seven-minute animated version of the situation she saw.

Read more at The New York Times.

Brief Take: Virtual reality is well past the worry that it may be a fad, but now entertainment companies need to find a way to create and distribute affordable, appealing content in order to make the medium popular with the masses.

[Image courtesy of The New York Times]

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