Independent Musicians Evolving Through Covid-19

The coronavirus affects the whole world, the number of people who stay at home voluntarily or with a government decision is increasing day by day. So what will the effect of staying more people at home on artists whose livelihood is music? In this article, I will try to explain how the process has developed, and also evaluate what awaits us in the future of independent music.

I live as a musician and music educator. With the increase in the incidence of Corona cases in mid-March, the increase in panic and fear on this issue was also parallel. In 2 weeks, the cases grew exponentially and the number of patients increased to millions. Schools are closed, many disaster area was closed, and finally, the restrictions to go out were introduced for many cities. Even though some countries are successful in controlling the number of cases, there is no activity in them too. Restaurants and markets are open for a restricted short time in a day, it is forbidden to go out in groups. One of the first part of people to be influenced by these rapid developments was the independent artists who especially made a living by performing. Officially, first concerts and events above a thousand spectators were canceled. Currently all events are officially canceled. Future is unknown. Like many of my colleagues, my planned concerts and workshops were canceled in the coming weeks. Short term process may be circumvented for many. But the continuation of quarantine and restrictions will put many freelancers in difficult situation, including artists. Experts say that many countries seems difficult to get rid of this situation without major economic destructions.

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If this situation lasts long term, what will we have to do as artists and independent workers? One of the first options that come to mind is state aid. Some countries have an initiative to raise funds to support independent workers and artists, as well as to many institutions that have been damaged in this process. Countries have different possibilities to provide financial support to artists who cannot work because they remain in quarantine. Being lack of such possibilities leaving question marks in minds. How will it be effective, we will see by living together. Unfortunately, this will complicate the process for many artists.

When we think about what we can do other than state aid on this issue, the first thing that comes to our mind is the widespreading in music, chat, drawing and video sharing on social media. Collective artistic moments like the solidarity of people in Italy by making music on their balconies, has been adopted by many social media users and shared many times. So what are these social media art spreadings trying to tell us? The first thing that comes to my mind is that when there is a chaos that deeply shakes us, it unites us all, taking refuge in art, and relieves us. People who produce and ‘consume’ art want to express themselves through auditory and visual ways and open tiny doors to them in the stressful situation they are in. For example, while a famous pianist concert via live broadcast on Twitter, some famous music artists made a concert via Instagram. So what does this type of performance mean for musicians who appeal only to their audience, are known in small circles, have not many followers on social media, and earn many of their income through bars and small concert programs? Although many musicians present their art as a entertainment to the audience at the moment, it does not generate any income from it. But we can see the opposite examples. For example, some performance groups carried their regular shows to Instagram via live broadcast, they also shared IBAN numbers and asked the viewers to support them. Likewise, online platforms where artists can offer their performances for a fee started to be established in. I think demanding a fee for online concerts and performances will be the future of performing arts for at least a while.

Digital concerts are possible as long as there is internet. But is every artist ready for it? As I mentioned above, there are many musicians already using social media in this direction. But there are musicians who have more reservations about it and do not feel comfortable. In this sense, I performed my first concert last week online. Since I was used to interacting with people on stage, it was uncomfortable to me to sing for people behind the screen. Also, while I was singing, looking at the comments and hearts that appeared on the screen distracted me. However, I was very happy to have such an experience at the end of the performance. We are in a learning process as people who play music like different people working in many professions, and we will have to learn or study some details about the performance as if we have never done live music before.

As we go through different times, which we cannot predict the end of, we are being tested in different ways, both as artists and listeners, and we are taking new steps to improve ourselves. Although I do not believe that art will stop under any circumstances, I think it can change form and renew itself. In this sense, I think, we independent musicians will face with a brand new era in which we will continue to see effects of it also after Corona.