A New Paradigm of Engagement for the Socially Distanced Artist

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 has presented many challenges to the music industry and to artists who rely on live music not only as a source of revenue but also as an integral part of their release strategy and audience engagement. It is important to examine the modalities of artistic expression when faced with a new “socially distant” paradigm. This article describes how, while many of the platforms used by independent artists have been in place for years, the COVID pandemic is promoting further disruptive innovation from a technological perspective to meet consumer demand and a deeper and more engaging method of expression cultivated by artists when working remotely from their audience.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• music industry
• live music
• music artist
• Internet
• platform

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. P2 refers to the online country-music mailing list POSTCARD2.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Richard Frenneaux

Richard Frenneaux is a PhD student currently working on his thesis addressing competencies developed by artists within the new music industry at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University. Richard began his career as principal songwriter, front man, and producer of the band Red Light Company (Sony ATV/ Columbia Records). Achieved a number 13 album in the UK charts. He then moved into writing and production, which provided the opportunity to work with many artists, from remixing Lana Del Rey’s “Born to Die” to working alongside artists such as Natasha Bedingfield, Laura Welsh to collaborations with producer Flood (U2, Depeche Mode).

Andy Bennett

Andy Bennett is Professor of Cultural Sociology in the School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science at Griffith University. He has written and edited numerous books includingPopular Music and Youth Culture, Music, Style and Aging, British Progressive Pop 1970 – 1980 and Music Scenes (co-edited with Richard A. Peterson). He is a Faculty Fellow of the Yale Centre for Cultural Sociology, an International Research Fellow of the Finnish Youth Research Network, a founding member of the Consortium for Youth, Generations and Culture and a founding member of the Regional Music Research Group.