It’s May 26th and I will be playing Buzzcocks records all night and watching a concert video. I was planning to do so anyway, only it won’t be the warm-up for the concert I’d been waiting months for. All the music venues are shut, and tours have been canceled. Artists are in dire straights, those that don’t have a large music catalog and savings, have had to go online to communicate with each other and fans. And many music venues may be shut permanently. Portland the music town is in danger.
The arts are suffering and many governments will not take the entertainment industry seriously. It’s a serious revenue and tax base for local governments, however bailouts won’t happen for small venues, some may not get the SBA Pandemic relief loans either. Venues pay taxes, artists pay taxes. Along with the film industry, music revenues are suffering massive losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic shut down. What is as a whole huge money-driven industry of sound, has come to a grinding halt on the promotion scene live. Everything has gone online broadcast, with some members of bands doing Zoom concerts. Online sales have gone up for digital and vinyl. The industry is adjusting, however, the classic music magazine is struggling, as the print industry was already starting to collapse, and many had shifted to online presence, however, with live shows not playing to physical audiences, the landscape has changed and adapted.
Steve has assured me that they hope to come back, let’s hope there’s a venue for them to play in.
Same thing going on in your town? Check out Change.org and other artist fundraising platforms. Help them pay rent.
Portland COVID Relief FUND on Go Fund Me https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/covid-19-oregon-musicians-relief-fund1
Articles:
Portland Music Gets Hit Hard by COVID Closures
Music Magazines Failing Amid COVID Crisis
Buzzcocks Farewell Performance 1981
Portland Musicians Relief Fund
San Francisco Relief for Artists
Lapsed Vinyl Goddess 