BIGSOUND day one was a big one (and you can catch up with our day one wrap-up over here) and day two was even bigger!
Here's all the action from day two of BIGSOUND 2020.
----------------------------
READ MORE:
- BIGSOUND Day One Highlights
- Tones & I At BIGSOUND 2020: ‘It Actually Feels Like I Blacked Out For A Year’
- Even If You Don't Love Tom Morello's Music, You Still Need To Hear His BIGSOUND Keynote
----------------------------
The United Nations Of The Music Industry Shitshow
The United Nations Of The Music Industry Shitshow panel looked to discuss how communities across the world are dealing with the impacts of COVID and rebuilding their music economies. Travelling across the globe is a big task, so much so the panel was split into two parts. The first part featured Angela Dorgan is the CEO of Ireland’s national resource organisation for musicians First Music Contact, the Arts Council funded; Sat Bisla from A&R Worldwide and President & Founder of MUSEXPO, Rev. Moose from Marauder and the Managing Partner/Executive Director of NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) and Erin Benjamin, President & CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association. The second part featured Chief Executive of the New Zealand Music Commission Cath Anderson, COO of Indian label and publisher Times Music Mandar Thakur and Japan Music Culture Expor Tak Furuichi consultant. Both were moderated by Leigh Treweek from Handshake Media (owner of this website).
The panels found that even with various parts of the world at different stages in their battle with COVID, the music industry has done it hard everywhere. From rising cases in India, Ireland going back into hard lockdown, Japan having a “soft” lockdown to New Zealand's freedom of movement, the response from the music industry has been similar across the globe.
First and foremost obviously the pandemic has seen the music industry has been decimated across the globe, particularly live music with venues shut and large gatherings banned. “It’s a disaster,” said Benjamin. “To use words like decimated and palliative, would not be overstating the situation.” “Live music has been hammered mercilessly,” said Thakur.
Pursuing Government support is one angle being taken around the world. During the panels Ireland and New Zealand’s responses were particularly applauded, and a common theme was it was forcing organisations to deal with Governments that hadn't really done so in the past (“Arts are what sustains you during the pandemic,” Dorgan said). There was bringing attention to highlight the value that music and and art in general holds for society and giving it the respect it deserves, something that they haven’t especially thought about before. Plus disparate organisations are coming together to unite for a common cause to save the arts industry. “The only way to get through this is to collaborate,” Rev Moose said.
With a lot of regular activities in the music industry not happening, the panel found individuals and companies have been diversifying revenue streams. “What’s supposed to be an apples and oranges business, we’re now in the fruit basket business,” Bisla said, as examples were given as various businesses and individuals pivoted. People are also taking advantage of existing technologies more - with the explosion of streaming being an obvious example, with more people utilising and monetising this, even though the medium has been around for a long time.
But despite the, yes, shitshow, that the music industry finds itself in now, the panel found some rays of hope that've come from this experience of the pandemic so far, from many of the points already mentioned, including thriving with new revenue streams, pulling together as an industry, increase in creativity, more opportunities for locals acts with international borders closed. “Artists will always lead us out of these things,” Dorgan said.
Nat's What I Reckon - BIGSOUND Cooking Show
Few people have done well out of this absolute bin fire of a year but Nat’s What I Reckon has landed alright. The comedian and musician found a global following this year off the back of his isolation cooking series which takes packet sauces, processed meats and fake Béchamel to task. Now, Nat drops by BIGSOUND to cook up a storm on the barbie. Joined by Briggs for an epic BIGSOUND sausage sizzle. When one of the key quotes is that they’re “just buckling up for some real heartburn”, you know you’re in for a treat. Check it out via the BIGSOUND delegates portal.
COVID F*cked My Tour Lyf: Artist Lifestyle Roundtable
Despite the panel’s (excellent) name, COVID F*cked My Tour Lyf was less about the virus than the nuts, bolts and occasional failings of touring as a profession.
The bio for the event states "For a lot of artists, live music is not only their main stream of income, it is also a way of life", and host, Mojo Ruiz de Luzuriaga - better-known as Mo’Ju - established early that the conversation would revolve around the impact that touring has on artists personally rather than the logistical issues of the industry’s forced convalescence.
Among guests Ecca Vandal, Ella Hooper and Jaguar Jonze, the themes that seemed to float to the top again and again were balance and boundaries.
The four spoke about the rise of streaming as a replacement for shows, which Hooper called a double-edged sword, saying in many cases it’s been another platform that devalues artists by demanding content without recompense (outside of "exposure"). There was a general feeling that while the accessibility of streaming is excellent it also requires compromise in quality and, in a way, privacy.
After speaking about the hectic schedules, lacklustre diet and risk of burnout that can come with life on the road, Mo’Ju asked how each of the others maintained their mental and physical health (say it with us: balance and boundaries) and how they’ve reevaluated their approaches during the break.
Hopper shared that the industry has come miles away from the "cockforest" of repressed feeling, substance abuse and generally bad self-care behaviours it was in the '90s but still has a ways to go. Broadly the best practice sounds like building a team that can recognise and respect an artist’s health needs over whatever other pressures are in play. Also, skip the after-party. It was agreed on all fronts that after-parties suck and will drain your lifeforce.
The complications in maintaining relationships with people left at home developed into a chat about people respecting venues and shows as a workplace - while elements of being an artist are fun it’s still a job and musicians need the space to do it.
After some wholesome 'tour goss' about a drunken drummer wrestling alligators in his sleep, Mo’Ju finished a deeply engaging roundtable with a comment on the value of gigs and the visceral experience of just being in a room watching a band together.
-------------------------
Stay tuned for more coverage throughout the day.
Comments