Raving during COVID-19 has certainly changed the way people experience music. The Insomniac Park ‘N Rave Series is keeping the party spirit going with drive-in raves. The crew at Desert Hearts is one of the many electronic artists booked during the month-long event lineup. Read more
Electronic music artists have been struggling to stay afloat this year because of COVID-19. There’s been a lack of government help within the music industry, and at times, administrations have suggested artists find new jobs. What about the places musical artists would play each weekend? Whatâs going on with them? Without additional financial help throughout the end of the year, music venues and nightclubs are at risk of closing permanently, and some already have. While some have found ways to keep the lights, for how much longer can they serve as art galleries or as a dining option?
The U.S. Election is only a day away, and artists are talking. DJs and producers are using their social media to encourage voting in the U.S. Election and also share their opinion about Biden and Trump. For many, the 2020 presidential race has taken on a deeper meaning than most U.S. elections. It represents more than simply voting for a leader but voting someone out. It’s an opportunity to recover not only from a pandemic but the damage the country’s current president has created in his four-year term. The U.S. presidential candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump have exchanged plenty of insults in what has become a chaotic election. These house music and techno artists share their thoughts about the election and are showing a favorite between Biden and Trump.
Governments around the world are showing little budget priorities to fund the creative sector. So, where does this leave artists? DJs and producers are taking matters into their own hands. They’re picking up side hustles to make money during COVID-19. Many haven’t had a proper gig in more than six months. For some, touring was their primary source of income. While it’s uncertain when events will come back, life isn’t stopping. The show must go on. Check out how some artists are tapping into their other talents and creating side hustles to help bring in money. Read more
From a global pandemic to racial strife, 2020 is giving the world major growing pains. The time in isolation has augmented social injustices that in a non-COVID-19 era would probably go unnoticed. Overlooked not because people didn’t care, but because their every day consumes all of their attention. For good or for bad, that’s just how it’s been; however, it’s time things change, right? People, especially younger generations, are mobilizing to help each other and make a difference. So when it comes to DJs and producers, should artists keep silent when it comes to activism?
Earlier this summer EDM duo the Chainsmokers played a charity concert in Southampton, New York, alongside Goldman Sachs executive David M. Solomon (aka DJ D-Sol) which made headline for violating COVID-19 regulations.
Footage from the concert went viral, showing attendees rammed up against one another, not social distancing and not wearing masks. Shortly after video emerged, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo went on record and stated that the Department of Health would officially investigate the event.
How would you like it if someone told you your job was expendable? Thanks for coming, but you’re not needed anymore. These may not have been the exact words UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak said in a recent interview, but what he said certainly didn’t inspire confidence in the government’s intention to help struggling artists during COVID-19. He encouraged artists to consider “new opportunities” that will be made available through government resources. “I can’t pretend that everyone can do exactly the same job that they were doing at the beginning of this crisis,â said Sunak. The UK has already lost almost 750,000 jobs since the start of the pandemic, and the UK Chancellor expects that number to grow.
France is quickly following in the footsteps of Italy and Spain, but not exactly for the right reasons. As Paris sees a rise in COVID-19 cases, the French capital is closing bars again to help curve the spike, especially among a younger demographic. In August, both Italy and Spain faced a similar situation, closing nightclubs due to a wave of COVID-19 outbreaks. While health authorities blamed holidays and those vacationing, COVID-19 continues to confound officials and communities around the world. The pandemic’s “hotspots” continue to change as well as the age group it affects. “These are braking measures because the epidemic is moving too fast,” police chief Didier Lallement said during a press conference on Monday. “We have to slow it down so that our health system is not overwhelmed.”
The saying goes, “when you do good, you feel good,” and 2020 could certainly use a lot of good. It is a year to take a long hard look at how you’re showing up for not only yourself but others. Taking on issues from climate change to racial and health inequities artists are using their platforms to create more than music. These artists do good with the platforms they’ve created via music.
Without question, social media has revolutionized the way people live, but not all that shines is gold. What goes on the other side of the screen? Netflix’s The Social Dilemma, the streaming giant’s newest documentary, takes viewers behind the curtain (or screen) with not-so-talked about topics. Seen as a “tool of persuasion” it has created unconscious habits controlling the minds of consumers. Some see this persuasive technology as the best thing since sliced bread but others view it as the virtual Pandora’s box warning that without regulation social media could breakdown societies. Privacy concerns aren’t the only topic Netflix’s The Social Dilemma tackles. It also looks into its effects on mental health in the United States, a serious known issue within the music industry.
