The Music Never Stops

The dance community has always been a tight-knit group. During the coronavirus crisis, it is affirming that it can still bring people together.

Concerts and festivals have had to be canceled or rescheduled because of the coronavirus. Not to mention the countless nightclubs across the country that also had to close down. Therefore, DJs and producers have been bringing the party to social media with everyone confined to their homes itching to dance.

It all started with Instagram Live and has transformed into something pretty special. Companies and DJs have been hosting live streams throughout the week to encourage people to stay home and be safe.

Insomniac held its first live stream on March 20, the weekend of the now-rescheduled Beyond Wonderland. After the success of its first live stream, Insomniac has been hosting weekly virtual rave-a-thons every weekend centered around their year-round festivals. For those that miss the camaraderie that dance music brings, it has become a reason to look forward to the weekend.

But its not just to entertain the public. Some companies have taken the opportunity to help raise money for those affected by the coronavirus.

Beatport, an American electronic music-oriented music store, held a 34-hour live stream with globally famous DJs performing from their homes around the world to help raise money and bring some normalcy to the dance community. The live stream helped raise more than $180,000 for the WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and the Association for Electronic Music members’ COVID-19 Hardship Fund.

Digital Mirage, a 3-day online music festival, also helped raise over $300,000 for the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, an organization that provides financial assistance to career musicians and music industry workers.

With so much uncertainty, live streams have become the new norm. Music has always had the power to bring people together, and now more than ever, it is doing just that.