2020 will certainly go down in the annals of music history as not only one of the most difficult, but also among the most seminal. The music community—and the entertainment industry at large—have had to completely rethink their strategies in order to stay afloat. AEG, Live Nation, and a number of other music industry giants …
Tag Archives: pandemic
One Year, Two Children and a Global Pandemic Later, Anna Lunoe Is Back [Interview]
“What are you going to do once you’re done with all this music stuff?” If you’re a musician, you’ve almost certainly been asked this question, whether by a journalist, friend or parent. It’s fair game—the demands of touring and releasing new material make it particularly difficult for full-time artists to maintain and pursue meaningful relationships …
Damn the Pan(demic)! Save the Portal! D&B/Bass Portal to Put on a Massive, Weekend-Long Livestream
If you’ve been lucky enough to catch a live stream or very high-quality live set from a festival or show in Europe and the UK in recent years, chances are D&B or Bass Portal are behind it. The Prague-based film and stream crew regularly film some of the largest festivals in the world, including Let …
James Blake talks missing clubbing during the coronavirus pandemic
James Blake has spoken about his “yearning” for the return of the clubbing scene, which has been broadly shut down in 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic. The live music and nightlife sectors have been decimated by the pandemic, with lockdown and quarantine measures forcing the closure of many venues, clubs and festival spaces throughout the …
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Jade Bird on the “community” of her new single ‘Headstart’ and making an album in a pandemic
Not many people would want to land in America in the middle of one of the most tense elections in recent memory, but Jade Bird has accidentally done just that. “We were trying to keep up with it last night but it’s so hard,” she says the morning after arriving in Nashville, when votes are …
Damon Albarn says artists ‘should be allowed’ to perform during pandemic
by: Jessica Mao Nov 2, 2020 In a new interview with Sky News, Damon Albarn expressed his view that it is necessary for live music to continue during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gorillaz frontman called for live music’s revival, voicing his concerns that the COVID-19 crisis entailed not only a “medical emergency but an existential …
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Defected Records to Staff New Livestream Festival Series With Nightlife Professionals Displaced by Pandemic
Standing in solidarity with the global events industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Defected Records is launching a series of livestream events featuring a roster of top dance music talent. The announcement follows in the wake of the venerated UK imprint’s successful virtual festivals, which were delivered weekly in the first half of the year. Defected’s …
Spotify’s mental health playlist streams skyrocket amid ongoing pandemic
by: Rugby Scruggs Oct 13, 2020 To raise awareness for mental health on World Mental Health Day, October 10, Spotify gathered streaming data from playlists on the platform designed to soothe the mind. Playlists related to mental health keywords such as “mindfulness,” “calm,” and “self-care” saw streaming increases of 57 percent over the last year. …
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“Songs are Forgotten”: Danny Howard Says the Pandemic Impacts Longevity of Music Releases
As the pandemic continues to wreck havoc throughout the US and Europe, the nightlife industry is finding it difficult to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Public health restrictions including lockdowns have left clubs and industry professions in distress, with limited direction on how to move forward. BBC Radio personality Danny Howard …
UK chancellor suggests that musicians should find alternate jobs amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
by: Sami Weisband Oct 9, 2020 Much like the United States, the United Kingdom is experiencing a devastating unemployment crisis. In response to increasing unemployment numbers and economic deficit, the UK’s government has launched multiple economic plans to offset job losses, leaving creative fields without extra funding, including the music, arts, and nightlife industries. In …