Amplifying Music: A Gathering of Perspectives on the Resilience of Live Music in Communities during the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Era

Storm Gloor
University of Colorado Denver

Abstract

As the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 spread throughout the United States in March of 2020, the live music industry was shaken by temporary closures of venues, cancellation of festivals, and postponements of tours, among other effects. However long and to what extent the damage to the music industry would be, one thing was certain. At some point there would need to be a return to (a possible “new”) normal. The Amplify Music virtual conference was one of the first gatherings of music industry stakeholders to immediately address issues around the industry’s resilience in this pandemic and what it might look like. Leaders from throughout the world participated in the twenty-five consecutive hour convening. This paper summarizes many of the perspectives, observations, and ideas presented in regard to the future of the United States music industry post-pandemic.

Keywords: coronavirus, COVID-19, Amplify Music, National Independent Venue Association, NIVA, livestreaming, resilience

Gloor, Storm. “Amplifying Music: A Gathering of Perspectives on the Resilience of Live Music in Communities during the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Era." Journal of the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association 20, no. 1 (2020): 13-43. https://doi.org/10.25101/20.1

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