As many know, the music industry has been hit extremely hard during this time. With the virus forcing audiences inside, the live entertainment sector of the music industry was hit the hardest. Companies and venues are still trying to find innovative ways to bring live music back to our lives but one solution may be Drive-In concerts.
On April 24, a danish artist by the name of Mads Langer had a Drive-In concert through a limited frequency FM radio in Denmark. The concert was one of the first of its kind selling out of all 500 spaces within minutes. The artist states “I’m trying to adapt to the new reality as a performing artist and hopefully spread a little sunshine in your cars,”. With many artists, finding new ways to reconnect with their fans, Drive-In shows may be the safest and most effective way of doing this. Fans can still get the excitement of seeing their favorites in person while being around other music lovers in a safe environment. While still experimental, it may be exactly what is needed at this time to get through this virus as concerts may be the last stop on the reopening plan after this pandemic.
Another company that is trying something new during this time is Insomniac. They are bringing cancelled events such as EDC and Nocturnal Wonderland back into our lives through virtual raves. Ravers can still get their bass fix by tuning in to their favorite DJ’s, usually on Youtube Live. While this has brought a new face to the live entertainment industry it does make one wonder about the future of events such as this. While raves are a place for people to gather and leave their troubles behind, there are also a place for extremely intricate aesthetic backgrounds. Events such as “Fearless at Home a Live Stream Event” can truly transport the average concert going into a new universe. However, what will that mean if the full circle aesthetic is left to the viewer in their own home. Regardless of the outcome, being able to access this live music content is still a blessing in such a distressing time.
We can already see that artists are coming together right now in times of distress to band together and help the community. The Dave Matthews band for example, has an on-going drive-in series where each week they will choose a charity to donate to. Artists that are able to are showing again, that when it comes down to it, they are truly in it for the music. However, what does this mean for the future of venues. With national artist rediscovering that love of music, we may see larger acts take on shows in more intimate venues post Corona.
Aspiring music business professional, with a deep passion for live entertainment. Music is here to help us connect with each other and share experiences. My goal is to help spread the love of live music and encourage that connection.
