It’s no secret that the Coronavirus/COVID-19 has dealt a significant blow to the music business. A summer full of festivals seemed like a certainty, but it looks more and more like a distant luxury. The music business isn’t alone in its struggles due to the new global crisis, but it was undoubtedly one of the first industries to feel it. China felt the effect first, and now the rest of the world is following suit.
The impact on the music industry outside of China began with the announcement of the cancellation of Ultra Music Festival. This came as a shock to many EDM fans who were not expecting the Coronavirus to hit so close to home. SXSW in Austin, Texas, came next. In the following weeks, the majority of governments worldwide imposed emergency restrictions banning all events until the virus is dealt with. This is an unprecedented challenge for the music industry.
"To save our industry, everyone must play a part in keeping our society as safe as possible."
Promoters, DJs, artist managers, and everyone else in the music business saw the effects of this immediately. With the current uncertainty around the festival season, many companies are now shifting their strategies. Artists are performing using live streams like never before and making the most out of the situation. In the coming weeks, we will see artists start leveraging their online followings in new ways. Perhaps this will lead to a new boom in the music world in never before done ways online.
The full effect of the Coronavirus on the music industry has yet to be seen. If the entire summer is canceled, it will undoubtedly be the quietest one in many years. However, the music industry is a world full of innovative and robust people who know how to think on their feet. Whatever the future has in store for our world, one thing is for sure - the music we love will still be a part of it no matter what.
To save our industry, everyone must play a part in keeping our society as safe as possible. Make sure to wash your hands and stay at home, and not to attend any gatherings of people beyond the people you live with. For more information, see the official WHO guidelines. This is a situation none of us have ever seen before, but together, through the power of community, we can reduce the impact and help save our beloved music world.
The Stagent team would like to make it clear that our hearts go out to anybody who has been affected by the terrible Coronavirus situation, and to offer our condolences for any lost loved ones or families who are struggling right now. This situation impacts the world in many so ways, and has changed the way that our whole industry has to operate, affecting not only people who work in the music industry, but also their families. This is a situation that effects everybody the same, and together it's something that we can overcome.
Please make sure to take care of yourselves and your loved ones and remember to enjoy the small things in life.
