The Boom and Bust of Music in a Pandemic
More than a year into the pandemic, live music is missed more than ever—the buzz of a crowd before a show, the adrenaline rush as the lights dim, the cheers at the stroke of the first note. There is nothing quite like the experience of a musical performance—anything from an impromptu basement concert to sitting in the nosebleeds at the Xcel. Music, in many ways, is the pulse of popular culture, created as forms of social movement, historical documentation, entertainment, and discovery. During the last year amid COVID-19, music has taken on a completely new role. Although live music is missing from venues, an unexpected music revival has flourished during this time as artists get creative on how to share their songs with the world. A few pandemic trends worth noting:
Bedroom Poets
The rise of the bedroom pop genre exploded in 2019 with the help of Billie Eilish and other intimate, DIY producing artists. In 2020, bedroom pop met brutal honesty as artists found themselves at home with a whole lot of feelings to write about. This music style has now infiltrated artists from all corners of the industry and continues to rise in popularity.
Direct (Virtual) Connection
With more time at home and no one on tour, musicians are using technology to instill intimate, long-term connections with their fans. Through livestreams on Twitch, Instagram, TikTok, and many other platforms, artists are getting personal in ways they never did before.
Hoedown Throwdown
Research shows that during the pandemic, while some music genre listening trends remained stagnant (pop and dance genres, for example), others have seen a streaming surge, including…country. Experts suggest that the reasoning is both technological and emotional, as some new listeners sought comfort in the soothing, nostalgic sounds of the genre, while other preexisting country fans may have finally caved and subscribed to online streaming platforms.
Tech Concerts
As music consumption has become increasingly digital, third-party platforms have stepped up as concert spaces. For example, in 2020, Fortnite hosted a live rap concert that attracted almost 30 million viewers. The potential for cross-industry partnerships is predicted to only grow, engaging users and promoting artists in new ways.
Music as a Mission
2020 was a turbulent year and a time when many musicians realized the full potential of their musical impact. For many artists, their new music became a cultural revolution to encourage a world reimagined, particularly for those lifting up the Black Lives Matter movement after the death of George Floyd. Artists like Anderson Paak, Alicia Keys, H.E.R., Beyonce, and many others used their platforms to cry out for systemic change.
Where-to Next
I want to acknowledge that although there have been many surprising wins, the music industry is struggling. According to a poll by RAND in August 2020, unemployment is particularly high for this sector; 27.4 percent of performing artists reported being unemployed, and all musicians have lost approximately two-thirds of their income in 2020. This is a challenging time for those who depend on open venues to earn a living.
The artist community is a strong one, and I look forward to seeing it in full force again safely. In the meantime, you can support Minnesotan musicians by listening to their music (of course) or reading about other options of support at the Minnesota Music Coalition website.
Looking forward to standing elbow to elbow with you at First Ave again soon. For now, stay healthy, safe, and musically literate!