This article appeared in Entertainment Law & Finance, your monthly source for real-world news and strategy from major players in entertainment, contract and intellectual property law — serious analysis of the issues and case law that affect your practice.

It is no revelation that the entire music industry is struggling due to the unexpected arrival of COVID. From the cancellations of shows and festivals to album release delays, COVID created a ripple effect the likes of which have been unparalleled — felt by musicians, venue owners, promoters, record labels, music publishers, booking and management agencies — and the list goes on. The large players such as the major labels, music publishers, agencies and talent buyers, while not emerging from this pandemic unscathed, will most certainly survive.

However, many musicians and independent music businesses will not fare as well as their larger-player counterparts. Because live performances with an audience have been next to impossible since March 2020, many musicians have pivoted to livestreaming performances for their social media audiences to experience.