Are live streams the new touring? As previously reported by Scenes media, live streams have become the new way to watch live music in our pandemic world.
We hate to boast, but we saw the potential for this three years ago with Scenes Live Sessions (with 900+ artists having performed to date), but we are glad for others to join the party. It’s a big world and the more great music the better.
Artists have begun to host live streams from their houses to showcase new music and give their fans a little something to help them through quarantine.
Now, as the world is opening up again, live streaming is coming to the venues as well.
While it’s still unsafe to have thousands of fans together in an arena, nothing prevents an artist from putting on a full production, except perhaps for the lack of ticket sales.
Fully produced concerts are now becoming a new live-streaming trend. This opens up more job opportunities for those who were recently out of work due to COVID. To set up for a show, venues need to hire a production crew, lighting, sound crew, and others involved.
Social distancing precautions still have to be taken, but venue performances—even to empty seats—produce more paying jobs.
“Right now, we’re trying to put some work on the staff that has been several months without doing anything and not getting paid. Most of the workforce are freelancers, so it has been hard for them. At least with this, they can do something and get paid. It’s a way to start doing things and reactivating show business,” says Eduardo Cajina, GM of the 18,500-person capacity El Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan
A recent example would be Brad Paisley’s virtual concert sponsored by Bud Light. They released a fully produced concert by Paisley which garnered more than 1-1.5 million views within the first few days of its release. That’s as many or more people than an artist might reach during an entire tour.
Jason Isbell raised money from his live concert for Musicares. In Mexico, virtual concerts have raised money for Asociación Civil MEXIMM A.C., which helps out music professionals in need.
“Make no mistake, this does not replace the live concert someday. We all know that,” Paisley said. “We have been thrown the test of all tests, haven’t we? This is a stop gap and all of us are doing different things. All of us have a desire to continue to reach people.”
So, is live streaming the new touring? You know, we had this idea a while back about…like YEAH.
