The Cadence: Virtual Concert Smoking Section
by Joshua Glazer & Chris Monaco
It’s been a rather quiet week for music, perhaps because everyone is too distracted with their doom-scrolling (2020’s worst addition to the lexicon). But 2021 is shaping up nicely if the news regarding concerts and livestreams is any indication.
In the meantime, we’re left to wonder why exactly USC thought the r/MusicIndustryLA subreddit was a good place to post this ad?
TAKEAWAYS
The most salient statements from recent industry articles.
1. Fauci Suggests Theaters Could Reopen ‘Some Time in the Fall’
Everyone’s favorite immunologist showed some optimism when he said he hopes live events can start to return in the fall of 2021 during a web conference held by the Association of Performing Arts Professionals. The opinion was based on a German study that found indoor concerts to be “low to very low” in spreading the virus as long as adequate precautions like ventilation, capacity and hygiene are maintained.
Takeaway: “I think you can then start getting back to almost full capacity of seating.”
2. Governors Ball 2021 Dates Announced
Governors Ball took the, uh, ballsy step of being the first major American music festival to announce dates for an in-person event to take place September 24-26, 2021. The lineup will be different from the 2020 edition that was canceled due to COVID, and organizers are promising refunds for 2021 if things don’t work out as planned.
Takeaway: “Given that vaccines are rolling out and many experts predict a return to live music events in the Fall, we are hopeful.”
3. Virtual Concerts: A New Video Format
According to MIDiA, music live streaming ticket revenue surpassed half a billion dollars in 2020 (which is a sliver of good news, for sure).
As the title suggests, the media and tech analysis company made a point to reframe live streaming from a concert surrogate to a video format. What might seem like a subtle difference could become more important in the future as industry players debate how to divvy up this newly baked pie.
Takeaway: The vendor landscape is complex and increasingly fragmented. But most importantly, it is characterized by companies wanting to own as much of the value chain as possible and trying to achieve as much as they can before the giants of the traditional live sector get back on their feet.
People Mover
Greg Thompson Leaps From Maverick to Big Loud Management as President/Partner
DJ and Music Tech journalist Dani Deahl is now Editorial Director, Output Inc.
Former Mixmag editor Valerie Lee has landed at Twitch as Premium Music Content Manager.
