We all know by now how hard this virus is affecting humanity worldwide. Millions are sick and millions of others have lost their jobs or been furloughed. Schools and businesses are shut down and strict quarantine protocols are in place all throughout the world. Music is one way people are coping but how are music makers and players doing in these trying times? From Bach to rock, musicians have been hit hard by this whole thing. Single person music makers, like rappers, singers, and soloists, are being as affected as are concert bands, popular bands, and orchestras. The reasons? They are a lot of people who meet in public places to perform or create music and with the quarantine rules in place, they can’t do what they usually do. Some people who are paid to perform are not making money. Different types of performers are being affected in different ways.

Many popular rock bands have been getting together online and performing for charity during lockdown like the New Jersey rock band Fountains of Wayne. They came together virtually in April to perform for New Jersey COVID-19 relief, after their lead singer, Adam Schlesinger, died from coronavirus. The Jersey 4 Jersey concert featured different New Jersey artists including Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi in order to raise money for the NJ Pandemic Relief Fund. Even though these bands and performers have not been able to perform live and get money from ticket sales, they are still getting money from the people buying their music. Other smaller bands that aren’t livestreaming on TV don’t have the same opportunities.

Another group of bands and how they are being affected by coronavirus are classical bands, orchestras, and concert bands. These groups of musicians are getting hit harder because of the fact that they are composed of dozens of people, and most of the time, the only way they earn money is by performing in front of thousands. The Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops use ticket sales to make up half of their budget according to their website. With no one able to go to their concerts due to the lockdown, they have very little money coming in to pay all their bills and musicians. While musicians can all practice at home, they are not getting money from performing and the players could run out of money. So, if bands and symphonies can’t find another way to perform and earn money, they may not make it. These orchestras and bands are asking for donations to help but the economy and money concerns may make less people able to help. Classical bands need to figure out a way to earn money or their players may lose their jobs as the group goes bankrupt.

Music is something that is a part of everyday life. We hear music in advertising, movies, in the car and while playing video games. For all of these examples of music, there are musicians that rely on opportunities for income. But, if musicians that people look up to for inspiration suddenly stop doing what they are doing, every area of our daily lives can change. There needs to be a way to get the bands performing again, whether they are popular rock bands or symphony orchestras they could lose enough money to not be able to play music anymore. All bands, whether classical or modern, need people to listen and buy their music or society’s favorite music could fade away.