Who were the “Lockdown Winners” on Spotify?

With touring and live events at a standstill from April 2020 to April 2021, both musicians and audiences turned to streaming. Music research and analytics platform Viberate looked into the numbers to pinpoint the artists who made the most of the situation on Spotify.

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Baby steps: Artist’s guide to getting back out there

As the world slowly reopens, artists are pulling the tarps off their touring vans, changing their strings, and getting ready to once again hit the road, but while the light at the end of the tunnel has unquestionably gotten brighter, with more and more shots in arms, anything resembling “normal” touring remains a ways off. Here, we look at a few tips for how to ease your band (and your audience) back into live music.

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Dipping a toe back in the water: How to execute a COVID-safe live event

While it’s important to remember that we are still deep in the throws of a global pandemic, there is something resembling a glimmer at the end of the tunnel, enough that artists, venues, and fans alike are salivating for live events to return. 

While anything resembling a normal show remains a ways off, as of yet, live music is once again entering the realm of possibility. In the following piece we offer some pointers on how to ease back into live shows, and certain precautions that should be taken, whether you’re an artist or a venue operator.

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Streaming won’t make up for the revenue lost by the lack of live gigs.

The Covid-19 pandemic boosted online music consumption like never before. Universal Music Group has recently reported that their streaming and subscription revenues grew by 15% to $4B in 2020, meaning they generated around $11M each day from streaming alone.

The market seems to be skyrocketing, streaming is praised as more democratic for all artists, it all sounds great in theory. But the question remains: can an artist (or label) rely solely on streaming for income?

I don’t think so.

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COVID-Proofing Your Venue

While a return to the packed concert halls of yore still appears to be some ways off, a lot of fans and artists alike have grown tired of live streaming shows, yearn for the face to face experience, and are looking for an alternative way to safely enjoy music in person. 

An overcrowded, poorly ventilated basement show might not fly, but with all the information we have gained about COVID-19 over the past year, there is more science available than ever on how to safely execute a live and in-person performance. 

Here, we offer some tips on how to make the experience as safe as possible for both artists and fans.

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4 Musical Projects To Pursue This Winter

While there have been some optimistic murmurings of live music returning in 2021, nothing is certain, and regardless of positive developments down the line, winter of 2020/21 seems certain to bring with it more of the social isolation we’ve become so familiar with. Fortunately for bands and artists, we already have an established creative outlet readymade for dealing with the challenges of isolations, challenges magnified by the darkest season of the year. When buckling up for a winter that may feel longer than most, consider taking on some of these musical projects.

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Best Home Upgrades For Musicians During The Ongoing Pandemic

Musicians have been hit hard throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, as several parts of the world are seeing a second surge of the virus, lockdowns and canceled shows don’t seem to be going away any time soon. 

So, many musicians have had to find ways to perform while keeping themselves and others safe. One of the best ways to do that is to perform at home. While having small house shows (especially outside) is possible, if you want to reach your fans all over the world, utilizing technology is necessary. 

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COVID-19 Risk Assessment Generator For Musicians

As some countries begin to open up and others continue to see further restrictions implemented, it’s clear that this pandemic is going to be with us in some shape or form for many months to come.

The consequences of Covid-19 restrictions have been severe for many industries around the world, perhaps hitting the live music and performance sector harder and more severely than most. As lockdown rules are eased once more, musicians will undoubtedly be raring to get back on stage and for many that will mean working to a new set of guidelines to ensure the safety of you, your fellow musicians and your audience.

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Top 10 Music Blogs You Should Follow In Lockdown

Blogging is arguably the most important activity on the Internet right now. Millions of people write their own blogs or read other people’s blogs and it is spreading like wildfire on the internet. Hundreds of blogging tools have made this task much easier. In addition, blogging is gaining momentum through the use of various devices.

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Is A Hybrid Concert Going To Be The Interim Solution For The Music Crowd?

What is a hybrid concert, you ask? It’s a simple combination of a live performance with a small in-person audience that is streamed live to music lovers who picked an online ticket to watch the event remotely. It’s working from home, only for your audience, while your biggest fans (or the most adventurous ones) still get the chance to be there in person and experience your music at the venue.

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5 Tips For Organizing An Outdoor Concert - Pandemic Style

In many parts of the US, winter is fast approaching, but there’s still time to squeeze in a few outdoor concerts before cold weather and an ever-present pandemic make in-person music unattainable. Here, we look at some key tips for making sure your outdoor show is as safe and enjoyable as possible.

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Why Live Nation's Drive-In Gigs Were Doomed From The Start

The sad news broke yesterday that Live Nation, promoters of the drive-in concert series scheduled to take place around the UK this summer, had cancelled all upcoming dates with immediate effect. The shows had been set to feature a number of artists - including Dizzee Rascal, The Streets, Skindred and even a full-scale production of the immensely popular musical Six.

So what went wrong? In this short post I’ll endeavour to uncover why this promising series of events failed to come to fruition, and what may take it’s place instead.

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