4. The Music Industry Disrupted: The COVID Era

It is hard to overstate the impact the pandemic had on the music industry, particularly for live music events. As David Bowie predicted, touring and performing live had become the only unique things left for musicians. In the streaming and peer to peer file sharing era, touring has become a vital part of any musician’s income. Many legendary bands and musicians have hit the road again in recent years, using touring as their primary means to make a living. But during the COVID pandemic, most were unable to tour, eliminating this source of income. This chapter discusses the impact of the pandemic on the music industry, and the ways that industry players adapted to the loss of revenue associated with pandemic lockdowns.