The Value of Live Streamed Concerts in These Changing Times and How They’ll Stay Relevant

In this day and age, COVID-19 has simply become a part of our daily lives. It has impacted our social interactions, our ability to travel, and for some areas of the United States who have it significantly bad, our ability to do regular life activities such as eating in restaurants or going grocery shopping.

As many of us are well aware, COVID has had a huge negative effect on the live entertainment industry. With multiple concert venues closed or even shut down permanently, artists have turned to live streamed events as the best alternative to in-person performances. As audience members, it is easy to view these events at surface level. You may think “I’m basically watching this person perform on video and interact with me”. However for artists, the value of live streamed concerts is immense. It is the best way to receive real time feedback from their fans, and it helps them connect with their audience during a time where direct interaction is limited.

Live streamed concerts are also a much easier and less expensive way to promote new music. Rather than renting out large stadiums, paying for travel expenses, stage crew, and merchandise (along with the many other expenses of a tour), an artist can simply hop onto Instagram or YouTube Live to promote their latest project. It is much easier to access to fans as well, as the expenses of tickets and transportation do not apply. Therefore, their music is more likely to reach new potential fans, and hopefully draw in more audience members.

Even with ​Dr. Fauci’s prediction that concerts can make a comeback by this fall​, the varying levels of comfort amongst different people will help keep live streamed concerts relevant enough to continue hosting them. Many people may still have reservations about attending in person events, understandably so, after such a long time without them. However, the easy accessibility for fans to interact with their favorite musician is an aspect of live streamed performances that will keep these events going even after the pandemic has been resolved.

While we hope for in person concerts and tours to resume soon, the value of live streamed concerts has grown significantly in these unprecedented times. We are excited to see what new virtual events will pop up in the near future!