How the COVID-19 Pandemic Facilitated a Surge of New Music

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world as we know it. From international lockdowns to the widespread digitization of social interaction, life has surely been turned upside down for many of us. That being said, one cultural aspect that remained alive even during the dark days of quarantines’ past was music, as many of us turned to streaming to cope with current events. Whilst the live music industry was hit hard by the inability for mass gatherings, artists were able to remotely produce and release new tunes for all of us to enjoy. In fact, there was a surge of new music being released in the months after the world’s first lockdowns began back in March of 2020. From the summer of 2020 and onwards, numerous artists released their own “pandemic albums.” This term has since been coined on the internet to refer to music produced during the periods of isolation we have unfortunately become accustomed to over the past two years. So, while the whole world was shut down, how were music artists still able to connect, create, and distribute new content?

At this point, absolutely everyone has had to participate in a form of remote work. Whether through video chatting or messaging platforms, we’ve all been shut inside our homes completing tasks traditionally reserved for school or work environments. However, for those who are involved in more creative endeavors, the barrier of remoteness may actually prove to be simply a new environment for artistic expression. For high profile artists such as Taylor Swift, who released two full length albums (Folklore and Evermore) made entirely during quarantine, this period has resulted in more time for new projects. The accessibility of music production through technology has played a huge role in productivity during the new era of isolation, as just about anyone is able to access tools online which enable them to create music from the comfort of their own home. One of the most recent viral examples of music born out of the pandemic and lockdowns is Bo Burnham’s 2021 Netflix special titled Inside, where the American comedian created an album and short film entirely by himself from his Los Angeles home. 

However, this trend isn’t specific to the pandemic, as genres such as Bedroom Pop which place emphasis on remoteness in music production have been growing in popularity for years. Despite this, this aspect of modern music-making is significant in its facilitation of creation during impersonal times. Just as someone can make music in their bedroom, they can also release said music to the masses from the same place. The existence and popularity of streaming services as means of music consumption have made releasing new content during the past couple of years relatively unchanged from before the pandemic. The need for purchasing music physically has been outdated for nearly two decades, and should you want music in a physical format, it can be easily ordered from the comfort of your own home. This being said, artists and consumers alike have already been participating in a highly digitized release model reliant on streaming services, and this was able to remain the same despite lockdowns and global crisis. 

So, not only is the production of music easily and remotely accessible, but the releasing of said music can likewise be done from the comfort of one’s bedroom. The already heavy reliance on online tools to create and distribute music led directly to the surge of post lockdown albums that we have come to appreciate. In fact, 2020 and 2021 have become known as a couple of the best years in regards to new music we’ve seen in a while. Whilst the importance and tragedy of the COVID-19 pandemic should never be forgotten as a difficult time for all, it is phenomena such as “pandemic albums” that help us to stay positive during these daunting and unfamiliar times.