How Musical Artists Are Spreading Their Talent in 2020

Many musical artists were forced to cut tours short and cancel concerts after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in March. Nevertheless, artists have continued to release songs for fans to enjoy from home. Some of the most popular songs of 2020, like “Stuck with U” by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, comment on life during the pandemic. Nowadays, people mainly listen to music through Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud, and other streaming platforms. A few artists, however, have found ways to virtually capture the experience of a live concert. Here’s how different musicians are spreading their music during these tough times:

Billie Eilish

Billie hosted her first virtual concert pretty recently on October 24. It took place at a studio stage in her hometown, Los Angeles. She worked with several production companies to create amazing 3D effects and visuals, the most memorable being animated spiders and sharks and a wall of her fans’ faces. Multiple roving cameras were able to capture Billie, her brother Finneas, and her drummer as they performed. They performed many of her hit songs including “bad guy” (2019), “when the party’s over” (2019), and “everything i wanted” (2019). Though it was $30 per ticket, the effects made by LED screens and extended reality sets made the audience feel as if they were actually there. During the show, participants were able to use a chatroom and buy merch.

John Legend

John Legend’s virtual concerts are pretty simple: they’re at home and live on Instagram, with nothing but a piano. He teamed up with The World Health Organization (WHO) in an event called “Together at Home.” His first virtual concert was on March 16, and since then he’s done several more. His wife is with him for all of his songs, and their daughter Luna has joined a few times, too. He sings a combination of his own songs, including “Stay with You” (2004) and “All of Me” (2013), as well as a few covers from artists like Miguel and Charlie Puth. He interacts with viewers in between songs and talks with his wife, so his virtual concerts consist of both music and conversation. Legend also performed along with P!nk, Cher, and a few other artists in a virtual concert in support of president-elect Joe Biden.

Coldplay

Chris Martin, lead singer of the popular British rock band Coldplay, has been also holding virtual concerts from his home through Instagram lives. Like Legend, Martin has partnered up with The WHO for “Together at Home,” though he’s only performed popular Coldplay songs like “Viva la Vida” (2008) and “Yellow” (2000). His virtual concerts, usually over an hour long, also include chatting with his fans. Coldplay’s last tour, “A Head Full of Dreams,” grossed about $523 million, the third highest-grossing tour ever, but in response to the pressures of the pandemic, Martin is reaching out to fans with these free performances.

Keith Urban

Keith Urban has also done several Instagram live virtual concerts that are free for all viewers to tune into. His first performance was on March 16, like Legend, and he’s held more concerts since then. Instead of streaming from home, he put on a mini concert at his studio with his wife, calling it “The Urban Underground.” He didn’t speak to his fans as much as Legend, focusing mainly on his music. His virtual concerts have ranged from 20 to 30 minutes long, a bit shorter than most other artists, but still packed with plenty of good tunes. Viewers have enjoyed listening to his concerts and dancing along—Urban’s wife can often be seen dancing in the background!

These are only a few of the many musical artists who have hosted live virtual performances for their fans. You can attend them easily, as most are free to watch, and some can be accessed on popular social media platforms like Instagram. It’s a great way to see some of your favorite celebrities while kicking back and listening to some music. And even if you don’t want to listen to music, you can tune into some of your favorite celebrities’ live streams and see what’s happening in their lives. Miley Cyrus launched a daily Instagram live last May in which she interacted virtually with celebrities such as Demi Lovato and Amy Schumer, as well as just talking to viewers. Artists aren’t able to perform live in front of fans, but you can still show support by tuning in to their virtual concerts once in a while.

Though quarantine is trying for many, there may be a silver lining. Virtual concerts are a great opportunity to see performances given by artists, of whom you might not be a die-hard fan without having to drop big bucks on tickets. You never know, maybe their music will become the latest addition to your playlist.