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What Is the Point of Mastering If the Mix Is Good? A Guide to Understanding Mastering's Role

August 26, 2024

For many newer producers, it can be confusing to understand the importance of mastering, especially when your mix feels polished and balanced. However, mastering is an essential step in the...

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Write a Vocal Melody That Stands Out: Tips for Phrasing and Dynamics

August 25, 2024

If you’ve been writing music for a decade but are just starting to dive into vocal melodies, you’re not alone in facing challenges with phrasing and creating vocal dynamics that don’t feel repetitive.

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Add FX and Ear Candy to Your Tracks: Tips for Taking Your Sketch to the Next Level

August 23, 2024

Adding FX and ear candy can feel like a daunting task, especially when you start to overthink the process. However, these little details are often what bring a track to life, adding depth, excitement.

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Recreate a Vocal Stutter Effect Like Skrillex: A Step-by-Step Guide

August 21, 2024

If you’ve just stepped into the world of music production, vocal stutters can be a fun and impactful technique to add excitement and energy to your tracks. You’ve heard that fast vocal stutter at...

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Get a Great Sounding Synth: The Deadmau5 Approach

August 21, 2024

If you’ve been experimenting with synthesizers, you know the quest for a perfect synth sound can be a challenging but rewarding process. Whether you’re looking for something clean yet huge, or...

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Make Music Again: Overcoming Creative Burnout Like Pharrell Williams

August 21, 2024

Hey there, fellow music creators! Whether you’re balancing a day job, DJ gigs, and music production, or just feeling creatively stuck, you’re not alone. Many of us hit a wall at some point, where...

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Master Your Craft as a Beatmaker: The J Dilla Way

August 21, 2024

In this article, we’ll explore the most efficient ways to master your creative process as a beatmaker, and how you can learn from one of the most respected producers in the game: J Dilla.

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Bumbershoot Festival 2024: A Creative Celebration in Seattle

August 8, 2024

This Labor Day weekend, Bumbershoot Arts and Music Festival returns to Seattle Center from August 31 to September 1, 2024. With a rich history spanning over 50 years, Bumbershoot continues to be a...

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Ohana Festival 2024: A Must-Attend Event for Music Creators

August 8, 2024

As the summer winds down and the crisp autumn air begins to roll in, music enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating one of California’s premier music festivals. The Ohana Festival, set to take place...

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Desert Daze 2024: A Creative Oasis for Music Enthusiasts

August 8, 2024

As the vibrant hues of summer give way to the golden tones of fall, the anticipation for one of California’s most eclectic music festivals begins to build. This October, the 2024 Desert Daze music...

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How to Create a Joyful Song Like "Happy" by Pharrell Williams

July 24, 2024

Creating a song that radiates joy and energy, much like Pharrell Williams' hit "Happy," is an exciting challenge for any music creator. Whether you're a seasoned producer or just starting out...

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Why Nas' Illmatic Deserves the Top Spot: Rap Lyricism at its Finest

July 17, 2024

Nas’ debut album, Illmatic, has been crowned the greatest rap album of all time by Billboard, and for good reason. Celebrated for its lyrical brilliance and profound storytelling, Illmatic set...

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Has the Pandemic Changed the World of Live Music?

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Photo: Spencer Davis / Unsplash

For the last two years, there has been something missing in the lives of music lovers around the world—live music. The advent of a global pandemic meant the absence of concerts, festivals, and all other manners of live performances, which previously accounted for over 50% of music industry revenue worldwide.

Now, in the current—and hopefully post-pandemic—reality, the industry faces a new question. Will live music return to the way it once was, or has the pandemic changed it in some tangible way?

On the surface, it seems like concerts have bounced back as big names in music resume their long-awaited tours in larger venues.

“Live music is back and bigger than ever,” Michael Hann wrote for the Guardian back in February 2022, but the industry remains “horribly uncertain.” Restrictions have left some artists and show crew members expressing frustration with the concert experience.

Matt Cox, a keyboard technician interviewed in the aforementioned Guardian article, says that “there’s a more corporate feel to [concerts] now, with so many rules and regulations. It’s taken some of the gloss off it, made it a bit more nine to five.”

For other crew members, the unpredictability directly impacts their livelihoods—the persistent possibility of tour cancellations means constantly looking for back-up plans to counteract income instability.

The same goes for live music venues, which were hit particularly hard by COVID-19 regulations. Even before the pandemic, the live music venue sector was already facing tight profit margins. In some cases, venues did not survive the loss of income associated with pandemic restrictions; in cases they did, staffing shortages and rising costs have contributed to a variety of challenges, from delays to poor experience.

Audiences have also noticed some changes. In a video posted last month, YouTube creator Nicole Rafiee discussed why recent concerts have felt unpleasant, and users of the platform have cited a number of different reasons, including a “pandemic maturity gap” or lack of “concert etiquette” between pre- and post-pandemic audiences.

If this is making the live music landscape feel somewhat bleak, know that it isn’t all bad news.

While the pandemic has been particularly difficult on new artists looking for platforms and opportunities, a desire among audiences for more intimate venues and interactive live music experiences might prove to be a factor driving them towards smaller, local shows by up-and-coming artists.

“The silver lining of the pandemic is people kind of realize how much they miss this, this community that we’ve called live music and how much it means to them and their lives,” said Mo Tarmohamed, owner of a small music venue, in an interview with BCIT News. With the support of the community, the industry is slowly but surely bouncing back.