A Pop Artist Update Katherine Ge

A POP ARTIST UPDATE

COVID-19’s impact on the music industry

Katherine Ge

With 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.

The Tower

COVID-19’s impact on the streaming ser- Spotify is not only creating quarantine playvice industry is somewhat divided. CNBC reports lists, it additionally has been helping people discover that mid-March to late April, streams of U.S.’s top new artists to listen to. Elise Watson (‘22) says, “A lot 200 songs declined 28 percent. Alternatively, streams of my music taste comes from what I hear randomfor older, comforting songs rose. Spotify’s “At Home” ly or from the generated playlists on Apple Music or playlists, featuring familiar tracks for quarantine Spotify.” She shares that the “Similar Artists” section activities, increased in popularity. But speaking has helped her find individuals that match the muin terms of the whole streaming industry, the Los sic genres she enjoys. Novalyne Petreikis (‘23) agrees, Angeles Times says that streaming activity was up stating that she comes across smaller musicians 20.4% over 2019—but fell to an increase of only while streaming EDM or rock radios on Spotify. 13.8% between March and July. This is largely due Similar to Spotify, quite possibly the biggest to listeners spending less time in the car, at the gym, quarantine music promotion app is TikTok, which or partying, according to the Los Angeles Times. has been helping people discover artists as well. According to a survey by Comscore (a media data analytics company), TikTok’s 52.2 million visitors were averaging a total of 858 minutes per user at the start of quarantine back in March. During the summer, the app has been responsible for promoting numerous songs, from “Heather” by Conan Gray to “Say So” by Doja Cat. TikTok has had a similar influence in the past—playing a huge role in making Lil Nas X’s hit-single “Old Town Road” the longest-running number-one single in history, says CNBC. And it doesn’t only give a platform to already-big artists; an advantage of TikTok’s algorithm is that lesser-known songs and artists have a chance to blow up as well. With all the chaos during COVID-19, music has consistently been there. Whether it’s listening to Spotify while studying or dancing to oldies alone, music will continue to play a great role this year. The industry is unmistakably changing; we can only hope that it will continue to improve throughout 2020 and hereafter.

COVID COLLEGE

The Bishop’s Class of 2020’s college experience in the midst of a pandemic

Lily Gover

When they graduated from Bishop’s last year, the Class of 2020 were wearing masks along with their caps and gowns. They could not hug their friends goodbye after they received their diplomas, and they had no idea what was to come in their freshman year of college. They did not know if they would be able to live on campus, if their sports teams were going to be able to play, or even if they would be able to meet their fellow freshmen. University during COVID-19 is certainly different from the normal college experience. No one knows what the future holds for university, whether it will ever go back to what it was before, but the Class of 2020 is making the most of it. It is disappointing to be unable to have the proper college freshman experience, but the Bishop’s graduates are enjoying what is left of it. Amy Carlyle (‘20), the former Editor-in-Chief for The Tower, attends Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles but is taking classes from home. She commented, “I’m definitely sad that this is how the year is starting, and that my classes are online, but they’ve all been really fun and I’m enjoying what I’m learning.” Other students live on campus. When they first arrive at their dorms, they must quarantine for a certain period of time that the university determines. Theo Sun (‘20) is living in his dorm at the University of Chicago. He said, “Being quarantined for ten days was not especially fun; however, there is a very new sense of liberation. Upon entering campus, students had to undergo a ten-day or fourteen-day quarantine depending on which state they were coming from. During these ten days, I could only leave my room to get food from the cafeteria and to exercise.” Dorm-mates are a huge part of your life on campus. However, this year lots of students will be on their own in a dorm to maintain social distancing rules. Carly Phoon (‘20), a student at the University of Texas, Austin, says “I have my own room. However, about half the people on my floor have roommates.”

. Others like Paul Cleary (‘20) are living with a dorm mate. “I am sharing a dorm room with another student. Most students are sharing a dorm room with someone else. All students were asked to either get tested or self quarantine for 2 weeks before coming to college. Then while at college everyone is in a kind of bubble with their roommate, similar to how someone would be with their family. We don’t have to social distance or wear masks in our dorms rooms. If one of us does test positive then there are extra dorms set aside to quarantine alone if necessary.” Of course, college isn’t all about roommates. Classes will also be very different this year. Most are online, like Bishop’s classes. “My professors are all teaching remotely, but about 10% of classes are held in person. I just didn’t get any of them,” commented Carly Phoon (‘20). Jaweed Kaleem from the Los Angeles Times mentioned Carly’s university in an article he wrote on college professors’ opinions on campuses re-opening. “At the University of Texas, Austin, the state’s flagship campus, only about 5 percent of the nearly 52,000 students have opted to take classes fully in-person.” In Portland at Lewis and Clark University, Paul Cleary (‘20) has experienced online and in-person classes. “My classes have been a mix of in-person and online because of limits on the number of students in a classroom. However, every time that I have had an in-person class, the professor has been in person as well.” In the same article, the Los Angeles Times reported, “In a survey she [Melissa Graboyes] conducted earlier this summer, of 2,300 students, faculty, and staff, 65 percent of students said returning to campus for classes was the right decision, while just 34 percent of faculty members said it was wise.” Graboyes teaches at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. Most professors do not want to have in-person classes for their safety and for their families’ safety.

The Tower

However, it is not just professors who are joining the protest on the return to campus. “Students have joined too, like the dozens at the University of Georgia who joined faculty to stage a “die-in” in front of the president’s office this week with signs that said “R.I.P. campus safety” and “I can’t teach when I’m dead,” writes Kaleem. While some professors are teaching in-person classes, others believe that it is not safe. Each university has its own set of rules for social distancing. For example, the University of California, Berkeley is fully remote, while on the East Coast, Yale University is using the hybrid method. “The school tells students to not be in groups larger than 10 and to always wear a face mask both inside and outside,” said Theo Sun (‘20) about UChicago. On the mask policy at Lewis and Clark University, which is the same as Chicago, Paul Cleary (‘20) commented, “I would say that people have been so far pretty good about following this rule.” However, Carly Phoon (‘20) in Texas has not experienced the same. “We have to wear masks inside campus buildings, we’re not allowed to have visitors in our rooms, and we’re not allowed to have gatherings of over 10 people. Pretty much everyone breaks the second two rules though.” It is difficult for colleges to enforce their policies on student gatherings, as they cannot control what goes on in dorms or outside of campus. Universities also need to decide what the social distancing policy will be for their sports teams. Many students in the Class of 2020 are playing sports in university, but this will look very different from what college sports usually look like for some. Paul Cleary (‘20) is on the crew team at his university. “We will not have any competitions and it’s very unlikely that we will be on the water this semester. Practices are held in small groups of about eight or nine and we practice on ergs (rowing machines) and in the weight room.” Lila Browne (‘20), who plays for the Dartmouth field hockey team, noted, “Our practice was only 30 minutes, after an hour of

conditioning. We are slowly going to be working our way up to longer practices. Right now, we condition for three hours a week and do strength training for two. The protocol is pretty strict so we are about six feet apart at all times whether on the field or in the gym.” Similar to Paul, Theo Sun (‘20) says “I have already met the club tennis team and have been attending informal meets at nearby public tennis courts. Our team will most likely not be competing this year, but will still practice twice a week.” College life in general has been greatly impacted by the Coronavirus. It is much harder to socialize and bond with classmates. Even though she is at home, Amy Carlyle (‘20) has been socializing online and trying to get to know her classmates. “All of my classes are really small so I’ve been getting to know people from those and talking to them outside of class. I’ve also met people through groups that I’m in.” Being on campus makes it easier to meet and connect with their classmates. “During New Student Orientation I meet regularly with a group of students and I regularly hang out with my roommate. As well, I have been socializing with people from my crew team and others from my dorm building, usually in one of the common spaces” explained Paul Cleary (‘20). Elliana Petriekis (‘20), who attends the University of California Santa Barbara, is taking classes from her home in San Diego, which makes it more difficult for her to meet other students. “My school has an Instagram page for incoming students. On this page, people will put up a picture of themselves, and the caption will usually include their name, major, hometown, and whether or not they are in Isla Vista or staying home. It’s a great way to find other people in the area!” The Class of 2020 is hoping that college life will be getting closer to normal over the next few months, but right now all they can do to help that happen is wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines. The graduates are in a very tough situation, but they are still finding ways to connect