VIRTUAL CONCERTS A LIFELINE FOR ARTISTS TO FANS

A GQ interview with David Crosby on 3/14 got us thinking about virtual concerts, in this new age of postponed shows and social distancing.

Crosby lamented that "If I lose the tours, I probably will lose my home,” explaining that his main source of income comes from touring, and that the tour he had planned from May through December is now up in the air.

Online platforms such as StageIt have been around for a decade, allowing artists to plan and execute DIY livestreamed shows for their fans, on any scale big or small. The cost for the fan to view/listen can either be free, a pay-what-you want virtual tip jar, or a fixed admission fee. Other apps in the sector include Crowdcast.io and Key.

Journalist Cherie Hu has created a resourceful paper on the topic, with detailed info and links to the above services, which you (and perhaps even Crosby's management) can peep here.

As Hu says in her paper, "Livestreaming is not a perfect financial substitute for real concerts," nor might it be nearly as lucrative, but it can serve as a temporary lifeline for artists to their fans, something much needed as the industry weathers the current storm of COVID-19.

If you or an artist you work with are planning an upcoming virtual concert and would like for us to help spread the word about it, please let us know the details here.