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Live Nation and AEG toursare suspended.
Some TV talk shows continue,eerily absent their lively studio audiences.
Major sporting events are off until further notice.
The brisk pace of the coronavirus outbreak is causing chaos in every sector of the entertainment industry.
In a perfect world, this would be offset by legislation allowing for paid leave.
In this broken one, ensuring peoples ability to abide unavoidable work stoppage is regrettably a partisan issue.)
The issue is that as much as it mirrors the old model, it doesnt pay as much.
That was the model in a boom time.
VIP ticket sales and nightclub appearances offer perks and access not everyone can get their hands on.
Its extra cash for the artist and a measure of clout and connectivity for fans.
Memories are big business.
Coronavirus is the nightmare scenario that calls the viability of this business structure into question.
Its the bottom falling out of the idea that everyone will always want to be in the room.
A major tributary for touring artists is drying up quick with no end in sight.
This isnt just a problem for artists and labels and the people who work around them.
If they cant make money, we cant have music.
What can we do?
Support, support, support.
If its in your budget, show love to an artist you like.
Hit up a merch store.
Keep running up streams and helping boost artists signals on social media.
In the long term, lets start thinking about better ways to navigate the relationship between artist and audience.
Fan-funded album projects cut overhead way down.
(Theirratesrun 10-15 percent on music and merch.)
Of course its not just the entertainment industry feeling the pinch from the current climate of social distancing.
But those who can should do what they can, whatever way they can.
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