Month: May 2020

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America’s First ‘Socially Distant’ Concert Is Cancelled

socially distant concert canceled

Arkansas’ Governor has issued a cease and desist order against TempleLive for their plans to host America’s first “socially distant” concert later this week.

Music publications around the world have spent the better part of two weeks covering an upcoming May 15 performance from Travis McCready. The Bishop Gunn frontman was set to headline the first “socially distant” concert in the United States at TempleLive, which was also going to serve as a testing ground for live music in the age of COVID-19. However, a last-minute intervention from the state’s governor has canceled the event.

Arkansas, like most US states, is still working to slow the spread of coronavirus through a statewide lockdown. The current restrictions on public activities expire May 18, which is three days after the McCready concert was set to happen. The staff at TempleLive was making efforts to make the show as safe as possible, including cutting capacity from 1800 to just 229. Still, Governor Hutchinson decided this week those efforts were not enough.

The proposed seating chart for the first “socially distant” concert, which was canceled earlier this week.

“You can’t just arbitrarily determine when the restrictions are lifted. That is something that is done based on a public health requirement,” said Hutchinson at a news conference, citing guidelines for venues that stipulated events of 50 people or more must be operating at less than 34 percent capacity and must have plans approved by the Department of Health. He added, “Clearly, it is three days before we determined it was an appropriate time to open up to a limited capacity in some of those informal venues, and even if you’re going to have 250 people at a venue, you still have to have a specific plan that would be approved by the Department of Health. None of that was done in this case.”

It’s surprising to see the decision to cancel the event happen so close to the show date. After all, the media has been covering the concert since early May. Those in a position to deny the event have no doubt been aware of its existence as long as the rest of us, if not longer.

TempleLive has not announced any additional concerts at this time, but the news of this cancelation is yet another example of our ‘new normal.’ As we covered in this week’s Music Biz 101, the live music business is going to be experimenting with events for the foreseeable future. Shows will happen, but what they look like, how they operate, and how often they occur will change frequently. Some states may allow concerts for a short while only to ban them again as COVID-19 infection rates vary. For now, the best thing any of us can do is be patient. Live music isn’t going away forever. We will sing and dance together again.

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Editorials News Recommendations

Haulix Recommends: Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit – Reunions

JASON ISBELL

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit explore the biggest questions about life and death while delivering soul-shaking Americana on their latest release.

Blame it on the coronavirus restricting our access to normal life or the digital revolution emphasizing constant contact over a human connection, but people are aching for genuine relationships. We long to return to simpler times, back when hugging those you love didn’t feel like a high-risk activity, and the world was full of exciting possibilities. I choose to believe we will return to that time sooner than later, but until then, we have Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit‘s new album Reunions to remind us what matters most in life.

Isbell is above all things a storyteller. His career is full of real and fictitious accounts of underdogs fighting for a life that often feels beyond their reach. His characters cling to love and family, even when it seems easier to let go, and they maintain hope for a brighter future despite all evidence. He never knows how things will pan out, nor does he claim otherwise, but he understands life is for the living. You can do your best with what you have, or you can wallow in sadness. The choice is yours. 

Reunions examines the role we play in the world around us. Isbell and his band, The 400 Unit, leave no rock unturned in their search for answers to life’s biggest questions regarding purpose and grief. The album provides few solutions on either front but finds comfort in acknowledging that we are on this journey through the chaos of existence. If we can learn to love one another and shed the weight of stress and mistakes from our past, Isbell believes we can find a lasting sense of peace amidst the turmoil of our daily lives. It’s a big idea that some will think impossible, and he understands that. Rather than giving listeners an optimistic ear-beating, he focuses on crafting undeniably soulful songs in hopes people will reconsider our limitless potential for change.

Of course, none of this information will come as a surprise to longtime fans of Isbell’s work. His songs are known for tapping into a universal sense of sadness and anger regarding life, but Isbell always includes a silver lining. Life may be shorter than we want, but isn’t it a miracle we get to live at all? The mistakes of our youth can cripple our development as adults, but who would we be without those missteps? The songs on Reunions do not embrace the idea that everything happens for a reason. They do, however, urge listeners to accept the things we cannot change and move forward. Process your feelings, work through the pain, and keep going. That’s the only thing any of us can do.

Haulix Recommends is a recurring feature where the Haulix staff chooses one or more recent releases from their clients. Click here to discover more great music being promoted through Haulix.

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News Podcasts

Best Ex Appears on the new Inside Music Podcast

Less than two weeks before her EP release, Best Ex Mariel Loveland stops by Inside Music to discuss lockdown and the creative process.

The world needs Mariel Loveland. A pop-punk road warrior turned introspective alt-pop creative, Loveland’s work captures moments in time and preserves them for posterity. Her songs touch on the familiar tropes of great music, such as love and growing up, but her exploration of those themes breathes new life into each idea. Listening to her music transports you to a late-night subway ride seated by her side and into her bedroom with your feet on the wall as you overthink everything that happened earlier that evening. Loveland is a storyteller who shares her tales through song, and anyone foolish enough to ignore her inevitably comes to regret that decision. That is what makes her stage name, Best Ex, so fitting. She’s someone you can’t forget.

On May 22, Best Ex will release Good At Feeling Bad, a collection of songs capturing all the pain and joy that comes with finding yourself. Loveland’s signature croon reigns over a series of synth-heavy production that finds a balance between being comforting sad souls and demanding listeners move their butts. The space that Good at Feeling Bad creates makes it possible for listeners to love themselves, and in doing so, gain a new appreciation for everything they experience. Loveland understands that life isn’t about hiding from pain or avoiding tough decisions; it’s about facing the world head-on and searching for happiness. You may not always find what you’re looking for, but the journey is worth whatever comes with it.

On this episode of Inside Music, host James Shotwell calls Mariel Loveland, otherwise known as Best Ex, to discuss her upcoming EP, Good At Feeling Bad. Mariel tells James about her life in lockdown, finding inspiration, and how she learned to stop overthinking her creative process. It’s an illuminating conversation with one of alternative music’s best songwriters, and we think you’ll appreciate the results.

Prefer VIDEO? Watch the interview happen below.

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News

Haulix Recommends: Asking Alexandria – ‘Like A House on Fire’

Six albums into an unpredictable career, Asking Alexandria redefine themselves once again with Like A House On Fire.

Everyone loves an underdog story, and it is easy to understand why. Overcoming the odds and proving every hater wrong is the quintessential path to success we all aspire to follow in life. We want to make our dreams a reality, and from there, discover new goals that change that consistently challenge us while we continue to evolve. Living life on terms we set is the only way to exist, and Asking Alexandria have built their career by subverting expectations at every turn.

But we are taught something different. Music industry classes and conferences will tell you to stick with what works. If your fans love ballads, for example, then keep writing them. In other words, “give the people what they want,” but Asking Alexandria disagrees. No two records in the band’s catalog sound the same, but they each play an essential role in the shaping of the band and their devout followers. The group understands that taking a hard left turn sonically may scare fans away, so rather than jump the shark altogether from record to record, Asking Alexandria does so in steps. Not unlike a well-written story, their career has a clear and riveting narrative that makes sense to all who experience their art.

Like A House On Fire is a testament to Asking Alexandria’s insistence on constant progression. The young lads that screamed about heartache over 808-enhanced breakdowns on Stand Up And Scream in 2009 have matured into men concerned with problems more significant than themselves. The album delivers raw rock cuts that take stock of the world around us and the role we play in it. There is no shortage of heart or rage, nor does the energy let up for even a moment. For the better part of an hour, Asking Alexandria bleed themselves dry to deliver honest music that not only makes you feel something but also encourages positive change.

But make no mistake, Asking Alexandria knows their latest creation may upset people. “The Violence,” which began the long album rollout in 2019, tackles the idea of thinking for yourself by addressing the way pop culture and mainstream media manipulate the masses. It’s not hard to understand how the music business forces similarly unfavorable ideas on creatives. “They Don’t Want What We Want (And They Don’t Care)” explores a similar theme, albeit in a more direct manner. The powers that be don’t want you to satisfy your creative urges; they want to profit. To them, Asking Alexandria and their fans are merely cogs in a machine fueled by people willing to exchange passion for financial gain, and the band is sick of it.

“Down To Hell” is the song most likely to become the next inescapable rock anthem. It’s a thesis statement, not just for the album, but for Asking Alexandria’s entire career. Packed with gang vocals and a relentless spirit that is highlighted by an incredibly catchy riff, the song reinforces the idea of forging your own path in life. It’s a giant middle finger to the people who mock you because they’re too afraid or too stupid to be themselves, and it’s got a replay value higher than the vast majority of music in rotation at radio today.

The most exciting element of Like A House On Fire is how it sets up what Asking Alexandria will do next. The band’s willingness to try new ideas to keeps their sound feeling fresh even when it seems to borrow from other, arguably more established artists. Those moments of imitation are rare, but they serve to make the band more accessible without sacrificing the soul of the group. Like A Burning House is the kind of album that can only be made by people who are comfortable in their skin, and it points to an even brighter future in the years ahead.

Haulix Recommends is a recurring feature where the Haulix staff chooses one or more recent releases from their clients. Click here to discover more great music being promoted through Haulix.

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Industry News News

The Future of Live Music [Video]

As the spread of coronavirus continues to prevent concerts, music professionals are scrambling to find creative ways to resurrect the live music experience.

Virtually nobody has been to a concert in over eight weeks. Think about that for a second. The last two months were probably the only time in the previous century when the vast majority of the world was unable to experience live music. The coronavirus has brought the concert industry to a standstill, and there is no vaccine in sight.

You may have read a few headlines regarding the future of live music. Some experts believe music festivals and arena shows won’t return until the summer of 2021, while others claim it could be 2022 before live music is back in full swing. No one knows what the future holds, but that isn’t stopping music professionals from all walks of life from finding creative short-term solutions to COVID-19’s stranglehold on live entertainment.

Starting this week in America, concerts will begin again. A venue in Arkansas will host one of the first “socially distanced” concerts on May 18, but the gig itself will not resemble any pre-COVID events. From temperature checks at the door to “fan pod” seating, dozens of new rules and regulations are being implemented to keep consumers and employees safe. Will these rules be the new normal? No one knows. Any performance right now is an experiment, and many more tests will follow as the world slowly begins to reopen.

In this episode of Music Biz, host James Shotwell explores the ongoing impact of coronavirus on live music. He explores emerging trends, newly implemented rules, and even the proposed ‘concert suits’ some professionals believe will become part of this ‘new normal’ we are coming to terms with as the pandemic carries on. It’s a lot of information to digest, but James does his best to keep things simple. Enjoy:

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Industry News News

90% of Ticketholders Do No Want Refunds; They Want Concerts

A recent global survey of 10,000 concertgoers reveals consumers are anxious to see live music returns.

Live Nation issued its first-quarter 2020 results earlier this week amid concerns that the continuing proliferation of coronavirus around the globe would place a financial pinch on the entertainment giant. Not surprisingly, the report exposed a business struggling to adapt even though the lockdown began in the last three weeks of the quarter: Revenues were down 20% year-on-year, concert revenue was down 25% (from $1.318 billion to $993.4 million) ticketing was down 16% and, significantly, fan attendance was down 6.2%. However, CEO Michael Rapino remains optimistic about his company’s future, though he admits it may be the third or fourth quarter of 2021 before things feel normal again.

To reinforce his positivity, Rapino shared insights from a global survey of more than 10,000 concertgoers about their feelings regarding live music. The result show an overwhelming support for the performancers and an eagerness to see concerts return with over 90% of consumers choosing to hold onto tickets rather than request refunds. Additionally 91% say they’re likely to return to music venues after COVID-19 fears subside, which is higher than movie theaters, conferences, and other places where large groups of people typically gather.

Elsewhere in the report, 79% of fans are planning to return to a music venue within four months of coronavirus restrictions lifting. If the current plan in the US stays in place, that would mean that the overwhelming majority of concertgoers plan to step foot inside a venue by September or October 2020.

Additionally, 72% claim that watching livestream events makes them more excited for future concerts, which is good because the entire industry is hoping streaming can sustain fan engagement until things return to normal.

You can find the full report here.

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Editorials Industry News News Recommendations

Haulix Recommends: Winterfylleth – The Reckoning Dawn

Two years after stunning fans with The Hallowing of Heirdom, UK black metal favorites Winterfylleth return with one of the year’s most memorable records.

If you love any genre of music long enough, you begin to believe as if you’ve heard everything that sound has to offer. After all, there are only so many notes, chord progressions, and tunings to explore. The key to creating great music in the modern era is how you make familiar things feel new once again, and there are few artists in the black metal scene who are doing that as well as the UK’s Winterfylleth.

That information is nothing new. The members of Winterfylleth have spent the past twelve years building their careers by continually pushing the boundaries of black metal. They are one of the few bands in the genre with a steadfast determination to evolve, and they’re willing to risk everything in that pursuit. From concept records to releases featuring a stripped-down sound, Winterfylleth exists to explore the outer limits of metal with wide eyes and open minds.

On their latest studio album, The Reckoning Dawn, Winterfylleth combines the heaviest elements of metal to create an all-encompassing ode to chaos. The album plays like an epic score to a brutal battle happening in some faraway land that listeners witness as they ride across the sky atop a black steed alongside the other horseman of the apocalypse. The emotions of pain and confusion in the songs are unstoppable, but the perspective is fresh and invigorating. You feel stronger for experiencing the music Winterfylleth wants to share, and that strength grows exponentially with each subsequent spin.

Take “A Greatness Undone,” for example. The track starts at a breakneck speed and builds into a calamitous fury of drums and guttural growls that feel larger than life. Then, just as you’re beginning to wrap your head around the track, a riff comes in that lifts the song into another, a somehow higher plane of existence. It’s as close to an out of body experience that sound can provide, and it’s available wherever you listen to music.

The Reckoning Dawn is such a strong record that fans may be left wondering what else Winterfylleth can accomplish with their career. The band has outdone themselves with this album. From the thunderous blast beats and fiery riffs to the ferocious vocals detailing the eternal search for meaning in a world where the truth is often stranger than fiction, Winterfylleth has showcased their massive talent in a manner that is likely to leave you in awe. Other bands will see this album as the new bar for creativity and artistic precision, and they will be right. A new dawn is breaking, and Winterfylleth is the sun that will guide the next generation of black metal apprentices.

Haulix Recommends is a recurring feature where the Haulix staff chooses one or more recent releases from their clients. Click here to discover more great music being promoted through Haulix.

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News Podcasts

Charming Liars appear on the latest Inside Music Podcast

California’s latest pop-rock stars, Charming Liars, stop by Inside Music to discuss the reality of releasing music in uncertain times.

Music has an uncanny ability to transport listeners anywhere the artists choose to take them. A great song can take you to the beach at the height of summer, the edge of the universe, or the inside of a car flying down a long stretch of empty highway in the dead of night. That power has never been as appreciated as it is in an age where no one can leave their home, which is why we need good music now more than ever.

Charming Liars create music that takes you places. Their songs are a highlight reel of life’s most compelling moments, with each one laid out in explicit detail to help listeners lose themselves in the moment. You can experience the rapturous joys of sex, the pains of heartache, the exciting uncertainty of new love, and more while enjoying the band’s catalog. The members of the group have made it their mission to showcase the beauty and wonder of existence through music, and we are the ones rewarded for their efforts.

2020 is an exciting year for Charming Liars. After trying their hand at traditional methods of promotion and releasing, the band is choosing to spend the year sharing a series of singles. Each track offers a different side of the band’s diverse talent. It’s a musical smorgasbord of ideas and melodies that makes a strong argument for the group to be one of the most talked-about names in music before 2021 arrives.

On this episode of Inside Music, host James Shotwell calls LA pop-rock group Charming Liars to discuss promotion and optimism in the age of coronavirus. The band tells James about their decision to pivot their release plans, as well as their feelings about quarantine concerts.

Inside Music Podcast · Charming Liars (Kiliyan Maguire)
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Industry News News

How To Save Independent Venues When You Have No Money To Spare

Independent venues around the country are joining forces to ask for help, and you can play a significant role in making sure they survive the coronavirus pandemic.

Have you heard about NIVA? Otherwise known as the National Independent Venue Association, NIVA brings together more than 800 venues across the country in an attempt to keep their businesses afloat while COVID-19 makes live performances impossible. Independent venues are more vulnerable to permanent shutdowns amid the coronavirus pandemic because they do not have the multi-million dollar backing venues owned by Live Nation or AEG possess. Their independence grants them the ability to take a chance on talent that may not normally get a chance to shine, and they need your help to survive these chaotic times.

NIVA is calling on all fans of live music to write their senators and representatives to demand the government help these organizations stay alive. Visiting the NIVA website will allow you to quickly fill out of a form letter and send it to those in power with just a couple of clicks. It takes only a few moments to complete. Please do your part.

A message from NIVA reads:

National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is securing financial support to preserve the national ecosystem of independent venues and promoters. These entertainment hubs are critical to their local economies and tax bases as employers, tourism destinations, and revenue generators for neighboring businesses such as restaurants, hotels, and retail. Independent venues exist in every state across the country; they were the first to be closed, they will be the last to open. The economic recovery process will extend past just reopening the front doors, requiring solutions unique to the industry.

The vast majority of musicians rely on independent venues to tour and sustain their careers. Your efforts to keep these businesses going will make an impact on the livelihood of your favorite artists and the artists you’ve yet to discover. Action is needed. Do your part.

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How To Make Money And Fans With Live Streams [VIDEO]

As we enter the ‘new normal’ and adjust to life without concerts, musicians need to embrace live streams and the marketing power they provide.

There are very few things we miss about life before coronavirus more than concerts. Live music is a cathartic community-building experience unlike anything else our civilization has discovered, and many are reeling from its loss. We know we will be crowded in a sweaty venue again eventually, but the wait for that time feels eternal, which is why countless millions are turning to live streams to get their performance fix.

We will be the first to admit that live streams are nowhere near as fun or memorable as concerts. Performers often fumble with their equipment or meander from song to song with no real plan or purpose other than attempting to engage fans currently stuck at home under various coronavirus prevention measures. That said, some artists are finding ways to use live stream technology to their advantage, and that is what we want to focus on today.

Live streaming is a great way to make money and build an audience, but far too many musicians don’t consider it as such. Many think it is a temporary means to fill a void that will be immediately abandoned as soon as touring resumes. The thing is, no one knows when tours will happen again or when fans will feel safe attending gigs. Fans, for the most part, like the access and safety live stream performances make possible. They also want to support the artists who are going out of their way to be present with their audience during these strange times.

In this episode of Music Biz, host James Shotwell explains how anyone can build their audience and earn money with live streaming. We also explore the importance of investing in your live stream efforts and why the current trend of digital content won’t go away when the coronavirus pandemic ends.

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