SEASON 1 / Episode 4: Future Of The Music Industry

Will there be in-person concerts in 2020 or 2021?

Is 2020 the death of the concert industry? At this point, I wonder if I will experience live music in a concert arena again? Before, I would find it annoying to be shoulder to shoulder and crammed into a stadium full of screaming fans. But now, I crave being in a room full of people, something I never thought I would end up saying. 

COVID-19 has thrown many industries into a world of uncertainty. The music industry has had to pump the brakes in the early days of the pandemic. Unfortunately, health professionals said that singing is a way to spread the virus. All famous musicians or people starting their music careers have been affected by this pandemic. The future of live music performance hangs in the balance; in Canada, we know that major live concerts won't occur until phase four, and there is no start date for that stage. Currently all theatre and music venues are shut down and might not be open until the summer of 2020. Let's face it; this is the reality we could all be in for a long time. 

However, not all is lost; musicians are continually trying to figure out ways to salvage this art and industry. A few months into the pandemic, we have already experienced live music events on zoom. It wasn't just a way for musicians to express themselves, but to entertain the public who were bored and scared of sitting in their homes every day unsure of what would happen. On top of that, it was a way to raise money for the World Health Organization. Other online concerts are still happening throughout the pandemic. For example, Facebook Live front man for the Guess Who Burton Cummings sits at a piano every week and gives everyone on Facebook a free concert. It's great to see so many musicians using their talents to make people feel good during this weird time. Music as we know it heals; it mends our mind, soul and provides us with an escape from what is going on in the world. 

At the moment, there are so many "what if's" in the music industry. So I wanted to talk to a professional singer to find out their views of the music industry's future post COVID-19. In this episode, I had a great conversation with Juno Nominee and owner of Studio Cloud 30, Warren Dean Flandez, about the future of the music industry, awards show and what it's like to be an entrepreneur in this new world. We discuss all the latest and innovative ways performers get their music out to their fans and bring them happiness in an uncertain time.