Is COVID killing live music again?

We’ve all heard this song before, but as the COVID variants continue their devastating march across the US, live music – and the venues and artists who depend on it – is once again in jeopardy.

Guest post by James Shotwell of Haulix

With new variants causing a surge in COVID-19 infections, many are beginning to worry about the future of live music (again).

Live music is in jeopardy. We’ve been saying that in one way or another for almost 18 months at this point, but now we have yet another reason. The two latest coronavirus variants, Delta and Lambda, are causing massive spikes and infection rates worldwide. Vaccines help, but they do not prevent infection. Nobody knows what will happen next week, let alone in a month.

Experts and health officials have been warning of COVID-19’s lingering presence for months. The news of live music’s return has run concurrently with warnings about emerging COVID variants and the need for vaccines since at least March. Those vaccinated were expecting smooth sailing as we headed into a jam-packed fall tour season, but that future is a lot more uncertain today.

In his latest Music Biz COVID-19 concert update, host James Shotwell walks viewers through the latest coronavirus headlines, their impact on live music, and how the industry reacts to the latest pandemic developments. He explains how a lack of communication is causing industry-wide anxiety and what can be done to fix it before things worsen. Check it out:

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the music industry, but if there is one thing we know for certain, people who work in entertainment are resilient. No one in this career path believes things will ever go their way. Learning to adapt is part of the job. We cannot know where the rest of 2021 will take us, but we do believe in the power of people working together to solve big problems. If we can communicate with one another, we can do anything.

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James Shotwell is the Director of Customer Engagement at Haulix and host of the company’s podcast, Inside Music. He is also a public speaker known for promoting careers in the entertainment industry, as well as an entertainment journalist with over a decade of experience. His bylines include Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, Substream Magazine, Nu Sound, and Under The Gun Review, among other popular outlets.