Coronavirus Update: Artists Turn to Twitch As Gigs Get Canceled; Bandcamp Waives Sales Fees For A Day

Musicians are deeply impacted by the coronavirus pandemic as shows for up to several months are getting canceled. With insecurities mounting, several artists are resorting to platforms like Twitch to live stream their performances.

Meanwhile, Bandcamp has decided to waive off the sales fees for a day in solidarity with the artists.

Bandcamp CEO and co-founder Ethan Diamond announced that the company wants to raise awareness around the COVID-19’s impact on the life of a musician. “We’re waiving our revenue share on sales today (Friday, March 20th, from midnight to midnight Pacific Time), and rallying the Bandcamp community to put much-needed money directly into artists’ pockets,” Diamond wrote in a Bandcamp blogpost.

Diamond also asked the fans of the artists to support them in this testing time. “It may sound simple, but the best way to help artists is with your direct financial support, and we hope you’ll join us both today and through the coming months as we work to support artists in this challenging time," it went on.

With the gig calendar drying up, artists are finding different ways to showcase their work and earn money. Twitch is a platform that is being used by musicians. The earning potential through live streams on Twitch is the highest, musician Marc Rebillet told The Verge.

With the government recommending public gathering of fewer than 10 people, events, festivals, and conferences are getting canceled. Musicians rely heavily on shows and private events, which are the main source of income apart from teaching.

Now, musicians are moving to digital platforms like Twitch to perform during the coronavirus pandemic. Twitch offers several ways to make money. According to Twitch streamer Ducky, the platform is “more financially focused.”

“It supports different tiers of subscriptions and donations," Ducky said. She added that people can subscribe to a channel for free using their Amazon Prime account. Moreover, fans can also tip in small amounts with Cheers.

With the conventional way of earning sources drying up, the live-streaming platforms give hope to musicians and fans get to enjoy their music from their living room. It is indeed a win-win.