INDUSTRY
Party Smart: The World’s First Socially Distanced Concert Is Going Down In Arkansas
The impact of COVID-19 effectively quashed the live concert industry, sending its artists, managers, agents, and promoters into a professional tailspin in the process. Their dealings have since migrated to the virtual music livestreaming landscape, which is becoming more and more robust with each passing day as major players in the industry, Like Twitch, Facebook, and SoundCloud, push their chips to the middle of the table. Due to social distancing ordinances and concerns about the health of patrons, the live music industry has remained dormant despite unwavering and incessant requests by venue owners to reopen amid crushing financial losses. Nevertheless, country-rock singer and Bishop Gunn frontman Travis McCready is primed to host the world’s first-ever socially distance...
SoundCloud Launches Its Own Twitch Channel for Original Live Programming
SoundCloud has officially thrown its hat into the music livestreaming ring by signing up for its own Twitch channel. On the heels of some big moves to bolster their position in the virtual music livestreaming space by other major companies, like Facebook, SoundCloud is making a concerted effort to intensify their endeavors in an increasingly robust streaming landscape in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the launch of its own Twitch channel, SoundCloud jumps into the fray to capitalize on the heightened consumer demand for livestreaming experiences by building out its own catalog of original content. SoundCloud will be airing panel discussions with industry experts, DJ and live music sets, and a number of interview series with artists, producers, and creator...
Spanish Government Initiates Three-Step Plan to Reintroduce Live Events Amid Pandemic
Spain’s government recently announced and initiated a three-phase plan to reintroduce live events into its cities, furthering its efforts to ease restrictions on large gatherings in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first phase of the plan, which allows “cultural events” to take place, is currently underway and will be rolling out on a case-by-case basis in each province, relative to the severity of the coronavirus outbreak in each respective area. According to Spanish news outlet The Local, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that bars and restaurants with terraces will be able to operate at 50% of their full capacity. The statement follows a preceding announcement that limited local venue owners to open its doors at only 30% capacity, which was u...
Annie Mac Is Launching a New Podcast About Overcoming Challenges and Navigating Change
Iconic Irish DJ and BBC Radio 1 host Annie Mac has announced the launch of a new podcast called “Changes With Annie Mac.” Mac, whose eponymous radio show has grown to be one of the most esteemed in all of dance music since its 2004 inception, is set to debut the podcast this Monday, May 4th, 2020. “Changes With Annie Mac” will examine the central motif of change, and its overarching effect on the way we choose to embrace it. Change can either define you or derail you, and the dichotomy between the two represents an absorbing topic of dialogue considering the harrowing times contrived by the COVID-19 pandemic. The show will feature in-depth conversations with illustrious singer Robyn, Syrian activist and filmmaker Waad Al-Kateab, and aut...
Freelancers Union Reports 84% of Applicants Have Yet to Receive Financial Assistance
Despite the ratification of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) over a month ago in the United States, new data from the Freelancers Union shows the majority of independent workers still have yet to receive financial assistance. The $2.2 trillion economic stimulus plan was believed to be especially essential to supporting freelance workers given the notion that this segment of the workforce is often ineligible for unemployment insurance. Freelancers constitute at least one-third of the US workforce, according to a recent report by Fast Company. Despite the original intent of the plan, the Freelancers Union recently stated that an overwhelming 84% of freelancers who have applied for relief have yet to receive monetary relief. While a simi...
Unitea’s Community Streaming App Is Empowering Artists to Promote Streaming
Unitea Music, a community-building streaming application designed to better connect artists with their fans, recently launched its Artist Digital Revenue Program. Unitea aims to create fan incentives for engaging with the music of their favorite artists. The platform operates under a point system called “Karma” that allows fans to generate and exchange Karma for rewards. Throughout the entire weekend of Room Service Music Festival, over 50,000 songs were streamed by fans, leading to the redemption of over 170 merchandise prizes. A headlining set by REZZ drew in an influx of listeners who streamed her music 3,000 times alone. The Artist Digital Revenue Program is proving artists have a lot to gain by focusing their efforts on Unitea as we...
