‘Freedom Day’ pushed back to 19th July leaving music and events industries in peril
Last night, Boris Johnson dealt a potentially fatal blow to various artists, venues, and the music and events industries as a whole. Fans across the UK had prepared to utilise their combined spending power of more than £1 billion for the music and live events sector upon the planned easing on the 21st. However, this vital economic injection has been brought to a staggering halt as ‘Freedom Day’ has been delayed until the 19th July.
Almost a quarter of Brits have said that the number one thing they are excited about, ahead of even seeing loved ones or travelling, is the return to live events, gigs, and festivals. Now, the music and events industry are yet again having to re-organise shows, continue to pivot, and attempt to survive another month while unable to engage fans directly and get back on track.
Research from global music discovery and ticketing platform DICE has looked at the incredibly personal and valuable role music plays in our life, finding that almost a third of the nation agree that music has been the biggest support to their mental health over the past year, explaining the degree of anticipation from fans for a return to their beloved live events.
Key stats:
24% (38,388,000) agree that the number one thing that they are looking forward to after lockdown is going to gigs and festivals
31% (12,107,000) agree that live streaming and music have been the biggest support to their mental health over the last year
29% (8,448,000) agree that knowing that thousands of other people tune in to live streams with them makes them feel less alone
With many turning to music and their favourite artists when most isolated, a reliance on media such as live streams and digital interactions has formed. It has been reported that between March and April last year, the live-streaming sector grew by 45% as fans and creators sought entertainment and distraction, and DICE have hosted more than 6,000 live streams since they launched their live streaming service last April. With one of the reasons for the spike in listenership being that lockdown was such an isolated experience – the role of music and technology proved invaluable given it was one of the only mediums that could be enjoyed irrespective of the context that we were listening in.
Previously, DICE offered a way for fans to buy tickets to live events as well as discover new music and artists, but within weeks of the pandemic taking hold, the platform swiftly recalibrated their service offer to include a streaming platform. By tuning into these high quality virtual events and live streams, fans are able to connect and build on their emotionally charged relationships with their favourite artists during Covid-19.
Andrew Foggin, Global Head of Music at DICE, comments:
“Throughout lockdown, music has played a vital role in alleviating feelings of isolation and boosting moods. Fans miss live music and their desire to get closer to their favourite artists hasn’t diminished. Although nothing will replace in-person live shows, streaming offers fans the chance to get closer to their favourite artists and experience all the joys that a live event has to offer from the comfort of their own home.”
