Tuning in to the world

As the coronavirus lockdown continues with no clear end in sight, musicians and other artists have been putting out content in hopes of connecting with their fans, and, in some cases, helping those who need it. Although traditional concerts aren’t currently possible, musicians and singers have found a variety of opportunities to keep releasing music and engaging with people. 

During this quarantine, releasing new music, especially collabs, has been challenging without the ability to meet in person. Despite these challenges, pop artists Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber released the song “Stuck with U" together on May 8. 

Stuck With U cover art

Photo: "Stuck With U," the collaboration between Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, was highly promoted on Instagram (courtesy of Silent Records Ventures, Def Jam, and Republic)

"Stuck With U," the collaboration between Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, was highly promoted on Instagram (courtesy of Silent Records Ventures, Def Jam, and Republic)

The music video features clips sent in from quarantined fans and celebrities showing who they are “stuck with,” which helps to minimize the potential awkwardness of the two artists never being together in person during the video. As a result, it reads as a genuine, if slightly heavy-handed, attempt to connect with people who feel isolated and alone.

Along with releasing new works, musicians have been recording their own mini-concerts on Youtube and Instagram. Hayley Kiyoko held a mini-concert on June 28 as part of an ongoing Pride celebration. In this video, Kiyoko and her backup artists recorded their parts separately and had the final product edited together. This “concert” was well received, with around 88 thousand views, and presented a way for Kiyoko to give back to her fans.

Many artists are feeling the need to reach out to their fans through livestreams on Youtube or Instagram. These livestreams are ways to connect with fans and to gain support. Additionally, it adds a layer of realism to these artists, as they are giving the fans a chance to understand that they are going through some of the same problems. They also serve as a means to show support to issues that their audiences care about, especially the COVID-19 epidemic and Black Lives Matter protests.  

An interesting thing to consider is the apparent irony of artists trying to empathize with ordinary people, despite the obvious fact that rich artists are in a far better position than many people who might have lost their jobs or be at a health risk. One way that many artists have reconciled this fact is through charity work like running fundraisers.

Due to the recent events, including Black Lives Matter protests, COVID-19 cases rising, and many more, it is common to see a livestream or video run by a famous singer to raise money for one of the many charities that help COVID-19 sufferers, or to Black Lives Matter Foundations. In fact, “Stuck with U” was a fundraiser, with a link on the video leading to the First Responders Children's Foundation, a charity that supports first responders. 

The only issue with those fundraisers is that it asks people to give their money, as opposed to the celebrities who can afford it. However, many musicians have been donating to various charities over the past few months. For example, The Weeknd donated $1,000,000 to COVID-19 relief efforts, and Future and Madonna have donated masks. All these efforts help many people, and are ways for the artists to show that they care about current events and are using their fame for good.

The COVID-19 outbreak has meant that musicians cannot traditionally connect with or help people, but many have been finding a way. Whether through collaborations, online concerts, or donations to charities, most artists have been finding a way to use their fame and talent in a productive way during these uncertain times.