Page 53 - ION Indie Magazine MayJune 2020 Issue

This pandemic that is Covid-19 has our nation and the entire world in its grip. I think it’s
fair to say that the virus’s grasp has touched every person in some capacity. In the U.S.,
Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on our economy, with dire predictions that our nation’s
unemployment rates could reach the highest levels since The Great Depression.

Some of the hardest hit financially are those who are considered “non-essential.” In
other words, their jobs are not considered critical to our society’s day-in, day-out
operations. Of course, the entertainment industry as a whole has been severely
impacted, with those who earn their living in this realm left reeling and feeling the burn.

With gatherings of more than 10 people being banned, venues that feature live
entertainment are temporarily closed for business. Music events, festivals, and tours are
either completely cancelled or postponed, with some tentative dates rescheduled until
later in the year, with the hope that this crisis will be under control. Even Broadway has
gone dark – for the first time ever, due to public health concerns.

For the independent artist who already struggles to eke out a living in a saturated, highly
competitive market, Covid-19 has presented them with a quandary. After all, much of
their earning potential is based upon performance fees and merchandise sales. With
live music being virtually non-existent due to social distancing being instituted, many
artists and bands that had Spring/Summer tours scheduled in support of new music
releases are instead announcing cancellations. The bleak reality is, for most who earn
their living performing live music, Covid-19 represents a loss of much-needed revenue.
Indie artists are now scrambling to find ways to generate income and also, keep their
fanbases engaged.

I’ve always considered independent artists to be a tenacious group. They must be
resilient in order to persevere. The truth is that a relatively low percentage of artists
actually are turning a profit in today’s music atmosphere. Much like actors, models, and
others in the arts, it’s a hard road to maneuver. And now Covid-19 has raised its ugly
head, bringing with it even greater strife and the inability to conduct business as usual.

Thus, I put a call out on social media asking indie artists to share their personal accounts
of how Covid-19 has impacted their careers and what they are doing to keep their
music alive during this pandemic. Here is a snapshot of three different artists who shared
their insightful stories.