Abstract
Given the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and increasingly uncertain socio-economic conditions, cultural practice remains a stable canvas upon which young people draw the most agency and exercise a sense of freedom. This article reports on an international research collaboration, drawing on the voices of 77 young musicians from three countries—Australia, England and Portugal—who were interviewed about their music-making practices during lockdown. Despite reporting loss of jobs and income and the social distancing restrictions placed upon the ability to make music, most young music-makers were positive about the value of having more time, to be both producers and consumers of music. At the same time, however, our data also highlight increasing forms of inequality among young music-makers. This article argues that despite short-term gains in relation to developing musical practice, the longer-term impacts of COVID-19 on the music industry will affect the sector for years to come.
Highlights
Despite being heralded as the ‘new normal’, unprecedented social and economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are having a significant impact upon young people
We demonstrate that whilst a significant percentage of young musicians felt they benefitted from the time to ‘turn inwards’ to practice their craft, to work on the ‘business side’ and develop their social media profiles, the longerterm impacts present further economic instability and unemployment for years to come
Following an exploration of recent research around the precarious careers of young musicians, we report on an international comparative research project which sought to understand the importance of music-making for young people during the COVID-19 crisis
Summary
Despite being heralded as the ‘new normal’, unprecedented social and economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are having a significant impact upon young people. Analysis has signposted some important themes in relation to having more time and undertaking different music-making practices, socially distant collaboration and moving music online These are explored further in this article, where we argue that despite the ingenious ways music-making continued during lockdown, the longer-term impacts on the music industry mean that young people’s livelihoods and education will be impacted for many years to come. DIY culture encapsulates a vibrant and complex sphere of cultural practice, whereby individuals utilize formally and informally acquired creative skills to forge career paths in a socio-economic landscape characterized by precarious lifestyles and the gig economy (Threadgold, 2018) In this context, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a dislocating effect, setting off new patterns of disadvantage in a sphere of cultural practice and production that was already fragile and inherently predisposed to fluctuations in the economy
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