The impact of Covid-19 on the music industry

If you're reading this, chances are you're a fan of music, and I don't blame you.

Maybe, like me, you had plans to go to a few gigs this year, but they have now been scuppered by the global pandemic known as coronavirus. Our enjoyment may be on the line, but it goes deeper than that. A lot deeper.

We have to remember that on the other end of this, human beings aren't making any money from touring, album promotions or other similar activities. It is well documented that Covid-19 has hit the world's economies with the sort of critical hit we are used to seeing a Razor Leaf inflict, and there aren't enough Hyper Potions in the world that can bring some normality back soon enough.

Of course, it goes beyond the artists too. Think of all the venues that are currently losing money, just sitting there idly waiting for the green light to start hosting live entertainment again that won't require the use of a webcam. Until then, they can only wait. Some may be closed forever, while the lucky ones will be able to survive, but sacrifices will have been made e.g. furloughs, job cuts etc.

Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton (Credit: Chris Whippet)

In the UK, venues valued under £51,000 are entitled to a small grant of between £10,000 and £25,000. The majority of smaller venues are said to be in serious trouble, with roughly 83% of grassroots venues in the UK under threat of closure, which is why these grants are so important. Thankfully eviction isn't an option (for now), but the main issue for these venues is rent. The longer the lockdown is on for, the more likely that these venues get the touch of death.

Aside from live music, artist sales have also taken a knock, what with the temporary closure of shops that sell music such as HMV and independent retailers. Even online options have become more limited, with retailers deciding to focus on more essential items than CDs and vinyls. It seems that the easiest way to gain access to music is streaming services, but it is now common knowledge that musicians barely make any money from services such as Spotify or Apple Music.

Some artists (Biffy Clyro, Alanis Morissette, Dixie Chicks, Lamb Of God etc...) have even decided to delay the release of their albums because of the situation. What do you think? Should artists help us get through this by releasing new music, or should they wait so that they can promote it accordingly with tours and music videos?

Like a lot of retailers, music stores have been hit hard (Credit: Jennifer Boyer)

What to take away from this is that, just like with the majority of things in life, there is so much more to it than meets the eye. There are so many levels to this that it takes some time to process the domino effect that the downfall of the music industry will have on both the economy and the people who drive it.

When this is over, support your local music scene more than ever before. If you can, buy that record you like at your local music outlet, pay for that "slightly expensive" gig, and keep the industry afloat after it has taken such a whack. You can also support your favourite musicians by buying merchandise. If you can, buy it from their website so the revenue goes directly to them.

We may have lost our whole summer, maybe even the rest of the year, but we should spare a thought for those across the nation, whatever the industry, who have lost their jobs as well. Nobody could have predicted this, and as such, not many people will have prepared for such a situation.

Let's hope this is over soon and we can see our families, friends and favourite musicians.

Album review: Enter Shikari - Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible

Never one to stick to the rules, St Albans outfit Enter Shikari have continued to go for the

(Credit: ThereIsNoAlternative)

jugular with their form of vibrant, cutting music.

If you haven't listened to Enter Shikari before, they tend not to skirt the issues. A band which has previously challenged climate change deniers, the government and girls who have wronged them, the boys don't exactly follow the rule book. Each of their albums are part of their journey and shows a progression - album number six Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible is no different.

Produced by lead vocalist Rou Reynolds, Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible is a journey filled with both speed bumps and no speed limits. Compared to previous effort The Spark, it feels more stripped back, yet also more unhinged.

Filled with fast dance numbers such as opener The Great Unknown and the Faithless-esque T.I.N.A, the band flex their sugar-fuelled muscles to remind everyone of their rights to the British dance rock throne. The quartet have their fingers in many pies though, especially on this record. Some of those pies consist of the sweet, bubblegum fillings of Crossing The Rubicon and The Pressure's On, while others are for the more sophisticated palate such as Elegy For Extinction (recorded with the City Of Prague Symphony Orchestra, no less), as well as others that have the feel of  a more classic flavour that fans have become accustomed to such as The King and The Dreamer's Hotel.

It also wouldn't be an Enter Shikari album without a musical interlude or two, and nothing changes here. Apocaholics Anonymous is for the dubheads, while Reprise 3 harks back to breakthrough album Take To The Skies in both track name and lyrical content.

Fans know that where Enter Shikari's real strengths lie though is in their live show, and boy are there some tunes curated for such an event. Take the gargantuan pop hooks of Marionettes (II. The Ascent) for example, or Modern Living.... and its lyrical nods to Oasis and Phil Collins, whether intentional or not.

With most acts, an album featuring such a mishmash of styles would go over most people's heads and be classed as a mess, but this is Enter Shikari to a tee. References to each of the past forms they have taken on are well complimented by sounds from them we have not heard before. This is a group who aren't short of ideas and are still looking for more.

Rating: 8/10
Recommended songs: Modern Living...., Marionettes (II. The Ascent)