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After more than a year in a global pandemic and with social gatherings being limited, artists have toyed with virtual concerts. And the results? A new modern solution (and cheaper) way of connecting fans with artists. Throughout the pandemic, artists have had to find a new way of connecting, performing, and releasing new music to fans and listeners. With so many platforms with live streaming appliances accessible, it’s a no-brainer that musicians took to social media apps and other live streaming platforms to perform live virtual concerts at home.
At the beginning of the new surge of virtual concerts, most were held on social media platforms like Instagram Live and other social media mediums with the same live streaming options. Musicians would sit down, whether on a couch or the floor, face to face with a camera and their music. A live chat of supporters and people watching could interact with the artist by asking questions or just commenting. This early version created an atmosphere and close culture between musicians and their fans that had never been seen before. A connection, not quite the same as live concerts, but not necessarily a bad connection - unless it was an actual bad wifi connection. But just as any other worker during the pandemic, they needed to find a way to make up lost revenue from canceled tours and shows that would’ve been done if COVID-19 had not put everything on halt. That’s when other live streaming services and tickets for exclusive private virtual rooms and general admission tickets were put into use. Artists began to formally plan virtual concerts in empty stadiums and theaters with tickets for sale. Some also partnered with other companies like Minecraft and Fortnite to hold virtual concerts within the respected games and platforms. Others would put on concerts with elaborate lighting and camera angles for charity. “We did see scenarios where people actually made more money than they might’ve on tour,” said Ben Baruch, owner of 11Elven Group, a management company that has been hosting a recurrent virtual festival throughout the pandemic. Although for some bigger mainstream artists live streaming and performing a couple of songs was just an afterthought to do when bored at home. For other smaller artists whose main revenue came from live shows, they used these new virtual concerts and ticket selling to stay afloat. But like in any other field, there is competition for the viewer and their money. So when big artists do a free live stream on Instagram captivating and taking the revenue from smaller artists, who charge for their put-together concerts, it can be difficult. Rapper Murs, who has been using Twitch for years to interact and perform for fans, knows firsthand how no amount of virtual concerts can make up for the income that live concerts can bring in. Although there are some ups and downs and disadvantages for the smaller artist through the use of virtual concerts, there is no denying that it creates a new and fresh way of performing never before experienced. It allows for artists to see what fans are saying live and first hand, it also creates a new environment for new ideas to come. For fans who can’t afford to go to a live concert, a virtual one is the next best thing. Bringing up the question of how accessible can the music industry make concerts for the everyday listener who may not be able to drop a bill to see their favorite musician live.
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AuthorScarlet Ruiz Archives
April 2021
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