CHANGES
Data Shows Canadians Wary of
Going to Concerts Again, Even
After Restrictions Are Lifted
Recent research from Abacus Data that was commissioned
by Music Canada, which looked into how
Canadians’ feelings around music have changed
during the pandemic, indicates it could take up to
six months after physical distancing restrictions are
lifted for even self-identified “live music lovers” to
feel comfortable going to concerts again.
The findings show that it will be at least six
months after government restrictions are lifted
before many feel comfortable going to: bars/pubs
(28%); small-venue concerts (35%); large-venue
concerts (42%); festivals (41%); and community
events with live music (31%). Also, 59% said they are unlikely to go to concert venues or bars until there is a vaccine for COVID-19, even if
they reopen with reduced capacity to allow for physical distancing.
Another striking finding is that 50% of respondents said they may never feel comfortable going to a concert in the United States again,
with another 32% saying it would take at least six months before they felt comfortable again.
Overall, older Canadians expressed longer time horizons before they would feel comfortable going to live events again, as did women generally.
The research also demonstrated how important music has been in helping Canadians to get through the pandemic. Nearly two-thirds (58%)
of respondents reported feeling worse about the pandemic because of the cancellation of live music events. Half of those identified as “live music
lovers” also reported listening to more music during the pandemic, and for the vast majority (86%), listening to music is a way to relieve stress.
For more information on the findings, go to www.abacusdata.ca/live-music-after-pandemic.
Canadian Music Market Grew 8% in 2019; Streaming
Now Generates Half of Global Recorded Music Revenue
According to the IFPI’s latest Global Music
Report, which details the recorded music
industry’s financial results for 2019, total
revenues for the global recorded music
market grew by 8.2% to US$20.2 billion
last year. This continued growth, which
has been fairly consistent in recent years,
was again driven by the streaming market.
Streaming revenue grew by 22.9%
to US$11.4 billion and for the first time
accounted for more than half (56.1%) of
global recorded music revenue. Growth
in streaming more than offset a -5.3% decline in physical revenue, a slower rate than
2018. The numbers are for 2019 only and do not reflect the more recent effects of
COVID-19.
The report also showed that the U.S. and Canada grew by 10.4%, remaining the largest
region for recorded music revenues, accounting for 39.1% of the global market. The
U.S. grew by 10.5%, its fifth consecutive year of growth. Canada, which was largely flat in
2018, increased by 8.1%.
Streaming’s overall growth was driven by a 24.1% increase in paid subscription
streaming with nearly all markets reporting growth. Worldwide, there were 341 million
users of paid streaming services at the end of 2019 (+33.5%), with paid streaming
accounting for 42% of total recorded music revenue.
For more information, go to www.ifpi.org.
‘Alberta Spotlight’ Launched
to Pay Province’s Musicians
for Recorded Performances
The Government of Alberta, in partnership
with Alberta Music, the National Music
Centre, CKUA Radio Network, and Stagehand,
has launched the Alberta Spotlight online
series, which is meant to connect Albertans
across the province with music while paying
professional and semi-professional musicians
for their online performances.
The Government of Alberta has pledged
$125,000 to support the initiative. Selected
artists will receive a $1,000 grant to create a
three-song, pre-recorded, high-quality video
to be shared via partner websites and social
media channels. There is no hard deadline
and applications will be accepted until all the
funding has been allocated.
For more information, including eligibility
criteria, go to www.albertamusic.org/
programs/alberta-spotlight.
12 CANADIAN MUSICIAN