A POP ARTIST UPDATE COVID-19’s impact on the music industry Katherine Ge
W
ith the COVID-19 quarantine came a great opportunity for famous musicians. “Level of Concern” by Twenty One Pilots came out; Taylor Swift released a full-blown 16-track album; The Strokes came out with their sixth studio album; MGK released “Tickets to My Downfall”; Joji released “Nectar”—the list goes on. The journey has not been easy, though. Promoting songs has become increasingly difficult, especially as major concerts and festivals such as Coachella and Stagecoach have gotten canceled. The complicated process of forming a band has become even more complicated. And most of all, fan connections through live performances and meet-and-greets have been severed. Similar to the effect it has had nationwide, COVID-19 has undoubtedly taken a toll on musicians, especially popular ones. So how have famed musicians been staying afloat? Is the industry sinking? Will COVID-19 wreck the music industry as we know it? In terms of live performances, it seems the industry is barely hanging on. A pre-COVID-19 survey conducted by the nonprofit Music Industry Research Association (MIRA) showed that an average musician’s income comes mostly from live performances. And with hundreds of worldwide tours— from Harry Styles’s “Love on Tour” to the Hollywood Bowl’s 2020 season—being canceled, just about every big-hit artist is experiencing an income drop. CNBC cites that musicians are drastically impacted by “the postponement and cancellation of events this year, leading to a 75 percent drop in revenue.” Along with the actual singers, the dancers, producers, sound engineers, and stage workers suffer as well. Writers at the Grammy’s website report that DJs are also indicating a “massive wave of job cancellations.”
Despite this hardship, another opportunity has arisen for big musicians in recent times: virtual concerts. Musicians left and right have performed on YouTube, Twitch, and even Instagram Live. Just this October, BTS’s massive 2-day “Map of the Soul ON:E,” virtual concert brought 993,000 viewers. Billboard writes that the concert included 4 extensive stages, 6 camera angles to choose from, and employed “AR, XR and 4K/HD technology for a more vivid experience.” Additional upcoming concerts include Billie EiIlish and Glass Animals, as well as live streams from artists like Sam Smith and Pearl Jam. An article from Vox says, most independent record labels and companies affiliated with the industry are now supporting these online music festivals. Although in-person performances aren’t possible, artists can still maintain fan connections via virtual means, whilst being accessible to fans around the globe.
Popular singer-songwriter Billie Eilish hosted a virtual concert on October 24, 2020. 16 LOCAL & BEYOND | Issue 03
