As concerts and festivals are getting cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak, musicians are increasingly turning to livestreaming platforms to host concerts for fans while in isolation.
The concert notification app ‘Bandsintown’ are launching a new service where fans can choose to watch performances live when bands livestream their shows. Bandsintown will enable fans to access shows being hosted through Facebook and Instagram live features.
Bandsintown and Twitch are apps helping musicians gain back some of the money they lost due to show cancellations. The platforms are also keeping fans and musicians connected during these lonely self-isolation times.
Besides these apps, sites like NPR, Billboard and Vulture are regularly updating lists of live shows taking place in the upcoming weeks. While lesser known bands have been taking advantage of streaming platforms to reach fans for years, the last two months saw a growing participation from established artists entering streaming platforms.
Practicing social distancing now will save lives, but thanks to musicians streaming concerts for free, fans do not need to be isolated from new music and connecting with their favorite artists. Musicians are encouraging fans to buy songs from their favorite artists at this time to support them. For most artists, especially newcomers, proceeds from ticket sales and money from songs sold online are their only sources of income. While the pandemic has affected millions around the world, the hardest hit are those barely making it off the ground and needing the support of live shows to gain a foothold in the music industry.
By Tanzia Haq
