Music in the Time of COVID-19

What a time to be alive. I used to say that phrase in an ironic manner. Usually, after hearing a story about someone doing something stupid or about a new technology that was either over the top or super niche. The kind of thing I'd say with a chuckle or a soft eye roll. I can't tell you how many times I've used that phrase in the last month or so. Not only am I using it more, but I'm using it in a very real and non-ironic sense. This is such weird, difficult, unknown era we're living in. The world changed, in a drastic fashion. I don't have to tell you that, though. We're living it. This is something that is global and far-reaching. I'm not here to give you a recap of the wild ride we've been on for the past couple months. Something that came to mind for me when everything started shutting down was live music. Performances have been cancelled all over, from local places to stadiums. It's affected everyone involved in the industry - performers, venues, tech crews, etc.. Shelter In Place orders force these things to be delayed, but even once we're out of those, experts say we might not be able to resume them until this fall - or even fall of 2021. With another study showing that social distancing will need to be in place intermittently until 2022, that time frame is becoming more concrete. I haven't been attending as many shows as I used to these past couple years (in college alone I must have gone to 30+ shows). I had a few shows coming up that I had been wanting to attend, like Jimmy Eat World in the fall (the show is on my birthday!) and The Maine next year for their latest 8123 fest. But with these new numbers and the continued mishandling of testing and relief efforts, there's an increased likelihood that even those events I've been thinking about will be postponed. So, with all of this in mind, that means those involved in the music industry, especially those who rely on live shows and venues that host them, are going to be unable to get going again for at least six months. The more likely scenario is a year to a year and a half. What are they supposed to do? While I don't know the definitive or right answer, I have seen signs that this industry can adapt to survive. Many artists I love have started utilizing technology and turned to a new way to reach their fans - livestreams. While this is not a new thing for bands and artists to do, it has taken a new spotlight in our current day and age. It allows for a more intimate view of these musicians, as the livestreams often take place in their homes. One of the first artists I saw that was doing this was Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie. He started livestreaming acoustic sets from his home, taking requests and picking a different organization to highlight with each performance. Mike Shinoda started doing livestreams (or as he calls them, "Corona Jams") of himself building a song from scratch in his home studio, picking different sounds or genres to do with each session. Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World has been doing small shows "at" the different venues the band was supposed to be at on their cancelled tour, with any donations going to the staff of each venue. There are a number of different artists doing this, or using other ways to reach their fans. The point is, that this situation is creating a way for fans to see a new side of the artists they admire. There's a more direct, less filtered line of communication. Despite all the scary and stressful things happening in the world, I've found a lot of comfort in these kinds of performances. For the first week or so of the shut downs and lock ins, I would feel such solace in Ben Gibbard's acoustic performances. I've been listening to Mike Shinoda's livestreams while I work. It helps me carry on each day, and I know it helps the artists continue to feel connected and focused. They're finding ways to perform for their fans, despite the lack of opportunities to do it in person. Do I think that concerts will continue to happen in the future? Yes - people have a desire to see shows live and in person. The special quality of a love performance will not change. But the way we go about them will be altered, for the foreseeable future. Crowds will likely be smaller, allowing for social distancing to occur. It will feel weird and awkward and even stressful. These shows will carry on, though. I know that, like all other industries that are changing and adapting to this pandemic, the music industry will change too. It must, in order to survive. But the main point of me writing this post was not to talk about my speculation for what the industry may do. I wanted to highlight that artists and other people are in need. They are likely not able to get a lot of financial assistance, as tours and selling merch provide much of their income. So - what can we do? If you are able, buy merch or music. Watch these livestreams. Encourage friends to do the same. Reach out to these artists on social media. They are people, the same as us, who need the same love and connection that we need in this time of crisis. Buying a new shirt or a vinyl record can help them to carry on, to make it through this period. What you do now helps them to be able to come back and continue doing what they love to do when this is all over. The same goes for all artists, whatever medium they work in. If you can, if you are financially able, I encourage you to support them. Everything helps. It's together that we can get through this - we have to reach out a hand (figuratively) and make sure no one falls down.