Tag: Covid19

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COVID is Killing Live Music (Again)!

music biz covid

With new variants causing a surge in COVID-19 infections, many are beginning to worry about the future of live music (again).

Live music is in jeopardy. We’ve been saying that in one way or another for almost 18 months at this point, but now we have yet another reason. The two latest coronavirus variants, Delta and Lambda, are causing massive spikes and infection rates worldwide. Vaccines help, but they do not prevent infection. Nobody knows what will happen next week, let alone in a month.

Experts and health officials have been warning of COVID-19’s lingering presence for months. The news of live music’s return has run concurrently with warnings about emerging COVID variants and the need for vaccines since at least March. Those vaccinated were expecting smooth sailing as we headed into a jam-packed fall tour season, but that future is a lot more uncertain today.

In his latest Music Biz COVID-19 concert update, host James Shotwell walks viewers through the latest coronavirus headlines, their impact on live music, and how the industry reacts to the latest pandemic developments. He explains how a lack of communication is causing industry-wide anxiety and what can be done to fix it before things worsen. Check it out:

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the music industry, but if there is one thing we know for certain, people who work in entertainment are resilient. No one in this career path believes things will ever go their way. Learning to adapt is part of the job. We cannot know where the rest of 2021 will take us, but we do believe in the power of people working together to solve big problems. If we can communicate with one another, we can do anything.

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

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Live Music Is In Danger (Again)

As the world races to stop the spread of yet another COVID variant, many in music are beginning to worry about what might happen to live music if the US enters another lockdown.

We have to talk about COVID-19. Regardless of your feelings or beliefs regarding the novel coronavirus, there is no denying that we are still living in a global pandemic. The recent return of live music seems to tease normalcy, but the latest headlines tell a much scarier story.

The most recent COVID variants are the most aggressive yet. Both the Delta variant and far more recent Delta+ are more transmissible and deadly than previous iterations of the virus. Worse yet, everyone is at risk, including the vaccinated and those with antibodies. The spread is out of control, and many believe a fresh round of cultural restrictions is on the horizon.

In this Music Biz update, host James Shotwell tells you everything you need to know about the Delta variant, the battle against COVID-19, and the growing concerns around the industry regarding the future of live music.

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

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COVID-19 Update: When Will Live Music Return? [Video]

Ten months after live music was silenced, a series of recent news updates paint an optimistic outlook for 2021.

Can you believe that nearly one-full year has passed since live music has filled venues worldwide? As record-setting case counts and deaths related to COVID-19 happen weekly, many people worry it may be a long time before their favorite artists can perform again. We worry about that too, but recent headlines have us thinking the return of concerts may be closer than you think. That is, as long as you’re flexible. 

In the latest Music Biz News update, host James Shotwell looks at four recent news stories related to COVID-19 and live music’s return. He breaks down how each offers hope to music fans everywhere and urges patience with leaders who are doing their best to make vaccinations available to anyone.

Fauci comments on live music’s return. 

Speaking at a January conference held by the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, Dr. Anthony Fauci was asked about the potential for live entertainment to return in 2021. 

“If everything goes right, this will occur sometime in the fall of 2021, so that by the time we get to the early to mid-fall, you can have people feeling safe performing onstage as well as people in the audience,” Fauci said, noting that the return depends upon getting between 70% to 85% of the population vaccinated, according to the New York Times. Along with the vaccination, Fauci said venues and theaters might need to take further safety precautions, particularly if they do not have adequate ventilation.

Outdoor venues will return much sooner.

Live music promoters spent the majority of 2020 trying to find new ways to present live music that are both safe and financially sound. Several methods found success, including pod seating at outdoor venues and concerts held at drive-in theaters. These ideas will continue to be utilized in 2021, with The Caverns in Tennessee and Red Rocks in Colorado already rolling out massive performance schedules. 

Miss festivals? Don’t worry; those are coming back (very) soon.

Moon Crush is a brand-new, first of its kind music festival taking place the final weekend in April. The multi-day, socially-distanced event will give fans of Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, and many more artists a chance to see those musicians live in an outdoor setting. Attendees will be staying near the ocean in Florida’s panhandle for the event’s duration, and many safety measures will be in place to prevent sickness. It’s a risky bet for some, but those itching for the festival experience can book their trip now.

Stylish masks are the future of concert fashion.

Razer has unveiled Project Hazel, a new take on N-95 masks that combine safety and comfort to reduce waste, protect people, and make it easier to communicate while adhering to COVID restrictions.

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

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Congress Allocates $15 Billion To Help #SaveOurStages [VIDEO]

After nine months without concerts or assistance, independent concert venues across the US may soon receive a much-needed helping hand.

Congress is (hopefully) hours away from passing a long-awaited second COVID-19 relief package to boost the economy and help citizens nationwide. Much of the coverage around the package has focused on the $600 stimulus checks Americans will receive, but there is another piece of the package that has the music industry crying tears of joy. It turns out, Congress may #SaveOurStages after all.

According to USA Today’s Nicholas Wu, the relief package incorporates the  Save Our Stages Act (#SaveOurStages). First introduced by Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota over the summer, the act calls for six months of financial support to “keep venues afloat, pay employees, and preserve a critical economic sector for communities across America.” Under the original proposal, venues would be provided grants accounting for either 45% of a business’ operation costs from the previous year or $12 million in total — whichever is the lesser amount. Venues would then be allowed to use that money to pay off “costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic” as well as rent, utilities, mortgages, personal protective equipment, maintenance, administrative costs, taxes, and expenses to meet local and federal social distancing guidelines.

“We’re thrilled that Congress has heard the call of shuttered independent venues across the country and provided us a crucial lifeline by including the Save Our Stages Act in the COVID-19 Relief Bill,” said Dayna Frank, owner & CEO of First Avenue Productions and Board president of NIVA.

“We’re also incredibly grateful that this bill provides Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which will help the millions of people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own during this economic crisis. We urge swift passage of this legislation, which will assist those in the greatest need and ensure the music lives on for generations to come.” 

Congress is expected to pass the latest COVID-19 relief bill before Christmas. President Donald Trump is expected to sign the legislation as soon as it is presented to him. Follow Haulix for more updates on the #SaveOurStages movement while the industry waits for live music to return in 2021.

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64% Of Musicians Considering Quitting Music For Good, Survey Says [VIDEO]

A survey conducted by the online booking platform Encore Musicians has revealed that the UK music industry is in a state of crisis as a result of the pandemic.

COVID-19‘s impact on the music business is far-reaching, and it will be years before we fully understand the scope of damage caused by the latest global pandemic. Countless jobs are gone, thousands of gigs canceled, and no one can tell us when things will improve. People are clinging to hope that life will return to ‘normal’ sooner than later, but a new report from the UK reveals a scary fact that the business needs to confront.

Encore Musicians, a service that helps artists book gigs, recently surveyed almost 600 musicians about the ongoing pandemic. The results found that more than half of those who participated, 64%, are considering leaving the music business. That statistic may not hold true against all musicians around the world, but it does make clear a sobering truth: Even when things go back to the way they were, many musicians and professionals won’t be around.

It’s not hard to understand how we got here. Most musicians make their money from performing, but concerts no longer exist. Retailers are closed, which is hurting physical media. Streaming consumption is steady, but the royalty payments most artists receive cannot cover their bills.

On the professional side, thousands of jobs no longer exist, and countless venues are in danger of closing before the year ends. Of those still working, many are taking pay cuts that may be permanent.

When COVID finally subsides, who will be left to fill venues, and where will they play? Fans will be as demanding as ever, but will artists want to sacrifice their lives all over again? Many have found temporary jobs that offer better pay, more benefits, and time with family that touring can never allow. Others have discovered new passions and set to making them a career. Will the allure of performing be enough to pull them back to the open road? Only time will tell.

As for the business side of things, jobs will take a long time to return, if ever. Many companies are adapting to the new normal by shedding their costly office space and restructuring whatever roles are left to cover more needs. Growth moving forward will be entirely dependent on need rather than ‘the way its always been,’ and it will take time to gauge the need for more employees once the pandemic ends.

The best anyone can do is to practice empathy. Working in music is a calling for most, and virtually everyone is struggling right now. We cannot solve the problems of the world or ease the minds of consumers, but we can take care of one another. We deserve that much, and it’s on us to deliver.

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Did Facebook and Instagram Ban Music Livestreams? [Video]

After sending shockwaves through the music industry last week, Facebook has clarified its statements regarding “music listening experiences.”

It’s not hard to send the music business into a panic these days. The novel coronavirus has shuttered live music for the foreseeable future, physical media sales are dropping like an anchor, and nobody seems to know when some semblance of “normalcy” will be possible. To make matters worse, everything is online, and each day brings new rules and regulations that dictate how artists can (or cannot) use existing platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to further their careers.

Facebook scared music executives worldwide when it announced plans to crack down on what it labels “music listening experiences.” The new rules, as explained in Facebook’s Music Guidelines, stated: “You may not use videos on our Products to create a music listening experience. The rules go into effect on October 1.

The social media giant made a significant mistake in its announcement. The phrase “music listening experiences” is too vague. The news made many in entertainment worry that the world’s largest online platform would no longer allow live stream concerts and listening events, two promotional tactics that are seen as vital to music marketing success in the COVID age.

After days of outcry and concern, Facebook clarified its statements on Monday, September. The company wrote in its blog:

“We want to encourage musical expression on our platforms while also ensuring that we uphold our agreements with rights holders. These agreements help protect the artists, songwriters, and partners who are the cornerstone of the music community — and we’re grateful for how they’ve enabled the amazing creativity we’ve seen in this time.

“Our partnerships with rights holders have brought people together around music on our platforms. As part of our licensing agreements, there are limitations around the amount of recorded music that can be included in Live broadcasts or videos.

“While the specifics of our licensing agreements are confidential, today we’re sharing some general guidelines to help you plan your videos better: Music in stories and traditional live music performances (e.g., filming an artist or band performing live) are permitted.

“The greater the number of full-length recorded tracks in a video, the more likely it may be limited (more below on what we mean by “limited”).”

They added: “Shorter clips of music are recommended. There should always be a visual component to your video; recorded audio should not be the primary purpose of the video.”

“These guidelines are consistent across live and recorded video on both Facebook and Instagram, and for all types of accounts — i.e. pages, profiles, verified and unverified accounts.

“And although music is launched on our platforms in more than 90 countries, there are places where it is not yet available. So if your video includes recorded music, it may not be available for use in those locations.”

Last weekend, a spokesperson for Facebook also confirmed to NME that although new guidelines will come into effect across the site in October, the music guidelines have been in place for some time and will not affect artists using the site to livestream gigs or share their music.

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7 Ways To Make Money With Livestream Concerts

Performing online is now a part of the ‘new normal,’ so it’s time artists learn how to maximize their return on livestream performances.

The evolution of digital performances is happening faster than you may realize. In the six months since the COVID-19 pandemic canceled countless live events, artists have gone from Instagram performances to HD, multi-cam events that cost money to attend and include exclusive merchandise offerings. Artists all over the world are trying to bring the excitement of live events into the virtual space. That is creating a lot of great opportunities for musicians to make money while engaging with their audience.

But let’s get this out of the way: If you are a relatively new artist or group with very few fans, making money online is not your top priority. You should concern yourself with being seen and heard before you worry about income. Without a community around your music, it is incredibly difficult to earn revenue with your art. Engagement comes first. If you’re not at the point where you can get 100 people to engage with a piece of content, then don’t worry about money.

For everyone else, good news! There are a lot of ways to make money online with live performances, and many more are in development.

In this Music Biz update, host James Shotwell breaks down seven ways artists are earning money through livestream concerts. These efforts range from ticketed events and exclusive merch to partnerships with local promoters and recycling content for future promotional purposes. Check it out:

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Van Morrison calls out COVID “Pseudoscience,” Demands Live Music Return at Full Capacity

NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 28: Van Morrison perform during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2019 50th Anniversary at Fair Grounds Race Course on April 28, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

The “Brown Eyed Girl” songwriter is having a hard time convincing other musicians to join his efforts, but he persists.

Van Morrison is claiming COVID-19 “pseudoscience” is holding back the music industry and wants other musicians to join him in demanding an immediate return to concerts with full capacity audience.

The aging rock icon made his beliefs clear with a recently launched campaign on his official website that claims socially-distanced gigs are not economically viable.  “I call on my fellow singers, musicians, writers, producers, promoters, and others in the industry to fight with me on this. Come forward, stand up, fight the pseudo-science and speak up,” he said.

News of Morrison’s position on live music restrictions comes just weeks before he is set to play a series of socially-distanced gigs in France. “This is not a sign of compliance or acceptance of the current state of affairs, this is to get my band up and running and out of the doldrums,” he wrote. “This is also not the answer going forward. We need to be playing to full capacity audiences going forward.”

Social distancing helps limit opportunities to come in contact with contaminated surfaces and infected people outside the home. Although the risk of severe illness may be different for everyone, anyone can get and spread COVID-19.

The music industry has spent the last six months trying to adjust to the new normal, with many claiming that socially-distant events are not a sustainable business plan. However, since posting his thoughts last Friday, Morrison has not received outspoken support from virtually anyone in the industry.

Even Morrison’s fans are on the fence. After sharing his comments on Facebook, supporters of Morrison were quick to reply. “The science is real,” one wrote. “We love you, Van, but calling pandemic management protocols ‘pseudo-science’ is probably the dumbest and certainly the most dangerous idea you’ve ever put your name to,” wrote another.

Meanwhile, at least one venue in the UK is adapting to the new normal. The Virgin Money Unity Arena opened in August with elevated platforms that allow for fans to enjoy live music while maintaining a safe distance from other concert goers.

Analysts believe live music won’t return in a traditional sense until summer 2021 at the earliest. Live Nation, one of the world’s largest promoters of concerts and entertainment, has canceled the rest of its 2020 performance schedule in the United States. Experts predict Q1 of next year may be canceled as well.

If you hate this news as much as the Van Morrison and everyone else, there are actions to take. You can wear a mask, practice social distancing, and urge others to do the same. You can refrain from gathering in large groups and risking exposure until a vaccine exists. You can protect yourself and others. If that happens, then maybe the music will return sooner than expected.

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Concerts Are Back! We Investigate The First Socially-Distant Venue [VIDEO]

A new venue in England points to a promising, but different future for live music.

On August 11, a new venue opened in Newcastle, England. The Virgin Money Unity Arena is a 2,500-capacity concert space unlike any other. It’s the world’s first socially-distant venue, and it features 500 concert pods where fans can gather to see their favorite musician perform.

That’s right. People can see live music in large groups again. The performance looks the same as always, with bright lights and loud amplifiers, but the crowd is socially-distancing by design. Some believed such a feat was impossible, or that people wouldn’t be interested, but the Virgin Money Unity Arena’s first show was a total sell-out, and more are happening soon.

Virgin Money Unity Arena has shows planned throughout August and September, but the question remains: What will we do in winter? Countries in the northern hemisphere have two to three months before consumers won’t be willing to stand outside for live music. What happens then? Will more creative venues like the one in Newcastle emerge, or will live music be placed on a seasonal hold? Will people fight for shows, even if science tells us gathering in large groups is bad?

In this Music Biz News update, host James Shotwell discusses the venue and what it may tell us about the future of live music. He also looks ahead and questions whether or not similar spaces will exist when winter inevitably arrives.

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Bandcamp Fridays Extended Through The Rest of 2020

With $20 million already given to artists and labels over four months, Bandcamp Fridays are becoming a monthly event the industry depends on to stay afloat.

At this point in 2020, it is safe to say that Bandcamp has done more to keep the music industry alive than the federal government.

When the coronavirus pandemic began to spread in March, Bandcamp chose one day, a Friday, set aside its share of revenues from sales on its platform to help artists in need. The response was so strong that Bandcamp made the event a monthly occurrence, and the four Bandcamp Fridays to date have raised more than $20 million for musicians from all walks of life.

With government assistance still nowhere to be found, Bandcamp has announced that Bandcamp Fridays will continue throughout the remaining months of 2020.

“Because the pandemic is far from over, we’ll continue to hold Bandcamp Fridays on the first Friday of every month until the end of the year,” Bandcamp wrote on its official website. The calendar dates for 2020’s remaining Bandcamp Fridays are: August 7th, September 4th, October 2nd, November 6th, and, just in time for the holidays, December 4th.

While Bandcamp Fridays alone have greatly helped the independent music community, the generous campaign has also led to a boost in overall sales on the website. “… Just as amazing is that since the pandemic hit in March, fans have bought more than $75 million worth of music and merch directly from artists and labels, and to date, fans have paid artists over half a billion(!) dollars on Bandcamp.”

Find a listing of all the Bandcamp Fridays dates, and head to Bandcamp or IsItBandcampFriday.com to get more detail

Bandcamp Fridays Dates 2020: 
August 7, 2020
September 4, 2020
October 2, 2020
November 6, 2020
December 4, 2020

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