INDUSTRY
Spotify Extends Work From Home Arrangement Through End of 2020 For All Employees
Spotify is extending their remote work from home arrangement for all global employees through the end of the 2020 calendar year. The company operates over 50 offices and employs over 5,000 full time workers globally. The move to extend remote work until at least 2021 will allow the company to dictate phasing in their global office and reopen at their own pace. In a statement to Variety, a Spotify spokesperson commented, “We will continue to track local government guidelines city-by-city and take a phased approach of opening our offices when we deem it safe to do so.” The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rapidly reshape the work environment, accelerating a trend towards remote work from home arrangements. Tech companies have been leading the trend. Most notably, Jack Dor...
Historic Venue The Stud, Oldest Gay Bar In San Francisco, Is Closing Its Doors
COVID-19 has claimed its latest victim, the historic San Francisco gay bar The Stud. The storied venue located at 399 9th Street had stood the test of time as arguably the most popular LGBT club in the Bay Area, operating for over 50 years. Now, for the first time since 1966, The Stud is shutting its doors. Representatives from The Stud took to Facebook to share the heartbreaking news. “The Stud is the country’s only cooperatively owned LGBT venue and has been in operation for 55 years,” said co-owner Honey Mahogany in a press statement obtained by Bay Area Reporter. “Because of a lack of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the historic bar will be announcing that they are permanently closing their location and will be holding a drag funeral to hono...
Live Music Events Will Return to Italy Next Month
Following the onset of COVID-19, Italy emerged as one of the world’s hardest hit countries. The virus had a devastating impact, shuttering the country and forcing its residents into lockdown in a matter of weeks. As of May 19th 2020, Italy has reported over 226,000 cases of the virus, but that number is assumed to be much higher due to those who are asymptomatic as well as those who opted to quarantine and recover from home. As other countries begin to ease restrictions on COVID-19-related ordinances, the government of Italy has followed suit by revealing its plans to reopen the country, which has been dormant in lockdown since early March. The reopening of Italy is an optimistic development in the global COVID-19 saga, but it of course comes with a myriad of safety-related cave...
NYC Nightlife United Launches Emergency Fund for COVID-19 Relief
Relief efforts to support a distressed nightlife sector are underway in New York. NYC Nightlife United is an emergency relief source aiming to support venues and staff impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The effort is being led by the combined forces of AdHoc Presents, Brooklyn-based venue Friends and Lovers, arts nonprofit The Solo Foundation, and PR firm Grandstand Media. Small businesses will be part of the first phase of relief distribution. Starting June 5th, eligible New York-based businesses will be able to apply for up to $20,000 in aid. The start date for individual relief applications is expected to arrive one month later on July 5th. In a statement provided to Rolling Stone, Ric Leichtung of AdHoc Presents communicated the need for a targeted approac...
Take a Look Inside This Eerie Socially Distanced Concert In Arkansas
Earlier this month, we reported on the nation’s first ostensible socially distanced concert to arise out of the COVID-19 pandemic, a show in Arkansas headlined by country-rock singer and Bishop Gunn frontman Travis McCready. The show, planned at Fort Smith venue TempleLive, immediately became a controversial topic in the music industry at large due to its potential safety-related repercussions. After the planned concert went viral, Arkansas’ government issued a cease-and-desist letter to TempleLive, who metaphorically ripped it to shreds and moved forward with the show anyway. Power to the people. TempleLive’s 1,100-person maximum capacity was diminished to accommodate 229 seats, which were sporadically filled with masked revelers. Those patrons were requir...
MLB’s Texas Rangers to Host “Concert In Your Car” Series at Stadium Parking Lot
The newly finished Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers, is set to begin hosting socially distanced concerts in the stadium parking lot. The “Concert In Your Car” series starts in June and will host Eli Young Band, Josh Abbott Band & Kevin Fowler, Whiskey Myers, and Pat Green. The framework will allow fans to watch the concerts from the comfort of their vehicles. A stage in the parking lot, video projections, and an FM audio transmission of the music will all be in place to connect attendees with the show. The strategy presents a potential blueprint for concert organizers looking to successfully navigate the challenges associated with the current COVID-19 environment. The Arlington-based stadium was originally scheduled to open on March 23rd, 2020 for spri...
Fortnite’s Mobile Microtransactions Brought In Over $1 Billion In Two Years
Despite being completely free-to-play, the video game behemoth Fortnite Battle Royale has passed $1 billion in microtransaction sales from the mobile version of the game. For those unfamiliar with their sales model, the base game is free for all to enjoy but players can buy in-game items like character, weapon, and parachute skins to customize their fighter. As reported by Digital Music News, the mobile app analytics firm SensorTower released a breakdown of developers Epic Games‘ mobile in-game revenue over the past year. As you can see, sales are up considerably over the past month, seemingly due to the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced most of the world to forego many of our favorite pastimes and stay indoors, leaving more time for video games. Sen...
Historic Nightclub Studio 54 Launches New Label
Historic nightclub and staple of the disco era Studio 54 is launching a label titled Studio 54 Music. The new venture will strive to bring the spirited sounds of disco to today’s modern dance music audiences. The imprint is launching with its first compilation release titled Night Magic Vol. 1, an EP that reworks four disco classics. Don Ray‘s “Got To Have Loving,” T-Connection‘s “At Midnight,” Brainstorm‘s “Lovin’ Is Really My Game,” and Voyage‘s “Souvenirs” are all being brought into the modern era with new reworked versions. The decadent nightclub Studio 54 opened in 1977 and had a reputation for being one of the hottest and craziest party spots in the world. Under the club’...
This Berlin Club Reopened Over the Weekend, But You’re Not Allowed to Dance
Berlin venue Sisyphos announced its reopening on Friday, May 14th, which will adhere to newly imposed safety guidelines instated by the German government. Sisyphos is officially open for business all weekend between the hours of 15:00-22:00. The reopening of the popular club located in Germany’s capital serves as a foreshadowing of more and more venues who are on the verge of reestablishing their operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic that effectively quashed the nightlife industry. Delighted Sisyphos representatives took to Facebook to share a little slice of optimism filled with umbrella and heart emojis ahead of the club’s reintroduction. While patrons are not allowed to dance due to strict social distancing ordinances, they are able to order drinks, ...
Inside The Event Safety Alliance’s Reopening Guide: Concerts Will Look Entirely Different In the Wake of the Pandemic
There’s still no telling when concerts, events, and public gatherings will be allowed to resume in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic. But an industry report now predicts that should events return, they certainly won’t look anything like the way they did before. According to a new report by the Event Safety Alliance (ESA), attendees at potential concerts and events in the future may still have to continue on with social distancing guidelines that mandate a six-foot separation between people. This means no rail-riding, crowd-surfing, mosh pits, grinding, cheeky back rubs, human pyramids, or any other type of physical interaction one might expect to experience at a music show. Furthermore, attendees could be subject to being cordoned in their own ̶...
Dallas Nightlife Takes a Brutal Blow with Closing of Iconic Club Lizard Lounge
After 28 years of operation as the go-to hub of electronic dance music at the epicenter of Dallas nightlife, iconic local venue Lizard Lounge is tragically closing its doors for good. Citing increased costs to maintain its business due to the impact of COVID-19, Lizard Lounge owner Don Nedler took to Facebook to share the devastating news. “We had to make the most difficult decision today. After 28 years, we’re going to close Lizard Lounge,” he wrote. “The cost to maintain the business during the shutdown was overwhelming. I’d like to thank our employees. They‘re the best I’m the business. Thank you to everyone who enjoyed an evening, celebrated a special event or just came by for a drink and some great music. I’ve loved every minute of it and I’m not ...
92% of Indie UK Festivals are Facing Shutdowns Without Government Support
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has released a new report that foresees a collapse of 92% of independent UK festivals if the government does not step in to help. As of now, the nation’s festival sector will be facing potential refunds of up to £800 million ($977 million) this summer due to the fact that around 90% of all festivals in the region will not take place in 2020 because of COVID-19. The outcome of the pandemic has been devastating across the board for businesses, but the live event industry is seeing an even bigger hit in that it is the last on the totem pole for re-opening and funding. The AIF reports that their members have already taken a massive loss with average sunk costs of £375,000 ($458,000) that are not recoupable...
