Struggle for Survival: Music Industry Adopts the Idea of Drive-in Concerts & Virtual Shows

Being heavily dependent on ticket revenues from live concerts, the music industry is struggling for survival during the Covid-19 pandemic. From freelance artists to big music events organisers, everyone is looking for new ways to make a living as crowded gatherings are no longer permissible in most countries. While some are opting for virtual shows over Zoom and Facebook, others are organising drive-in concerts to keep the cheques coming.

Rising concerns about the virus have led to the cancellation of some of the biggest music festivals even in the US. Consequently, travellers who loved to enjoy festivals like Coachella and Stagecoach are disappointed to wait till 2021. Even larger players like Live Nation have entered the field of drive-in concerts. Music lovers like D-Nice, Keith Urban and even Alan Jackson have also switched to drive-in concerts to keep their fans entertained.

Recently, country-singer and songwriter Garth Brooks performed a virtual concert at nearly 300 drive-in theatres across North America. As an organiser of the concert performance, Tri-Way Drive-In Theatre’s owner seemed to be quite excited about the idea.

Although flourishing at the moment, most organisers and musicians believe that the industry can’t survive solely on drive-in concerts and virtual shows. As per the Vice President at Odyssey Lighting in Grandville, US — Tom Lohman, “When you cut your revenue stream in half, to be able to accommodate the social distancing part, you don’t really have enough money then to do the event the same way.” Even the arrangement of cars in the show is an issue. Smaller cars have to be placed in the front or the event would turn into a disaster. On the other side, music lovers seem ecstatic about being able to enjoy music outdoors.

According to Turkish pop star Kenan Dogulu, who recently performed at a drive- in concert at Yenikapı Square, “Giving such a historical concert at such a time in such an environment adds different excitement”. Organisers of music concerts around the world are taking all precautions in order to avoid any spread of the virus.

To celebrate Canada’s birthday on July 1, singer Gord Bamford is set to perform a series of drive-in concerts, the proceeds of which will go to charity.

Although drive-in concerts and virtual shows have come as a respite to fans of popular artists across the world, it will take a long time for things to return to normalcy.