When the pandemic struck, many businesses had no other choice to close down and readjust to challenging conditions. These changes also impacted the entertainment industry severely. But, even in a post-pandemic society, humanity’s entertainment lifestyle could drastically change.
For a start, many performers have been personally affected, as restrictions on gatherings and traveling have tightened due to COVID-19.
It was brutal for music artists that mainly made earnings from live music. Not only were performers impacted, but others in the industry, including sound engineers, security guards, and many more people. While popular artists were able to profit online from virtual events, smaller artists faced difficulty. Streaming activity on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music first increased by 20% in 2020, but soon slowed down to an increase of about 14%. However, the sales for recorded music in physical forms were taking a turn for the worse. Although at the beginning of the year it was increasing by around 5%, there was a deep decrease of 20% by the first half of 2020.
Entertainment institutions, from theaters to museums, had decided to take extra precautions while they were still standing in early 2020 before the pandemic became serious – including primarily disinfecting areas frequently.
Eventually, those establishments did have to close.
With theaters and production studios closed, there was a harsh decline in revenue. In 2020, fewer movies and TV shows were being rolled out, causing release dates to be pushed by months or years. Consumers turned to digital entertainment, and online streaming services like Netflix, Disney, and even Amazon saw a surge in profits and subscriptions.
Even with the Pandemic running rampant, many theaters have decided to reopen to the public, uncertain about what the future could possibly bring. New movie releases have attracted many back to theaters even with the rise of streaming services. Though theaters have seen an overall decline in recent years, they appear to be becoming more popular.
Concert and performance venues have also been attempting to get make a comeback by loosening restrictions. Many venues and festivals have started to enforce vaccinations or negative COVID-19 tests for guest entry. These efforts have not been easy. During the summer, many had to cancel tours and events with the rise of new variants.
There are also artists actively refusing to accept COVID-19 vaccination protocols for performances. One example is Van Morrison, a 76-year-old Irish rock artist who refused to get vaccinated in order to perform at the Santa Barbara Bowl; instead opting to take a COVID-19 test. Audiences have also opposed masking rules in concert halls. This poses an issue for artists like Béla Fleck; who was willing to play if the audience was masked and vaccinated, which was refused by some attendees.
The MoCo Student interviewed some students, to get their opinions on this issue. They all seemed to be indifferent to whether these kinds of events stayed virtual or moved back to in-person. “I expect it [the entertainment industry] to decline profit-wise compared to during COVID, however, it will still be at a higher market price than pre-pandemic life.” Says Go, an eighth grader at Cabin John Middle School. “Also, I think it’s great that performers are being more recognized… it’s a hard industry, and I hope that people in it have a better chance of making it.” An eighth grader from Georgetown Day School had mentioned, “It doesn’t really make a large impact on my life. Sure, I enjoy movies, TV shows, and music but I don’t make a living from it or anything.”.
While the entertainment industry is attempting to cope and adapt in a mid-pandemic world, things can never quite go back to pre-pandemic entertainment.
Written by Qwyen Le of Cabin John Middle School
Photo courtesy of May Pham of Walter Johnson High School