With the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis preventing virtually all crowd-based live events from proceeding as planned, concert-promotion giant Live Nation has unveiled a “Live at Home” streaming initiative. Additionally, the company has established a “Crew Nation” fund—and pledged $10 million—to help behind-the-scenes employees financially.
Live at Home compiles “daily live streams” from leading artists, including the events’ times, platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitch, etc.), and general content. In terms of the latter, everything from performances to Q&A sessions—essentially any live media involving prominent musicians—is featured. Plus, Live at Home visitors can navigate to the advertised digital functions with a simple click.
Per Live at Home’s current schedule, The Killers are set to answer fans’ questions this afternoon, Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard will host another charitable livestream tomorrow evening, and country legend Dolly Parton will read bedtime stories to children nightly, as part of her newly created Goodnight with Dolly series. Of course, these noteworthy happenings represent a small portion of the total livestreams showcased on Live at Home.
Live at Home’s livestream roster will be updated weekly, presumably until the coronavirus pandemic subsides.
The Crew Nation charitable fund, for its part, will support “the touring and venue crews who depend on shows to make a living.” Live Nation has contributed $5 million to the fund outright and has pledged to match the next $5 million submitted by the public. Contributions can be made via PayPal, and 100 percent of net profits from the Crew Nation Store, which offers Live Nation-branded merchandise, will be forwarded to the fund.
In establishing a charity for those who are suffering because of the coronavirus crisis, Live Nation has joined the likes of the Recording Academy and MusiCares, Spotify, and several other brands and organizations.
Expectedly, the novel coronavirus has had a significant impact on Live Nation’s immediate profitability and operations. About two weeks back, the company united with AEG Presents, a competing concert promoter, and others to form a coronavirus-response coalition.
AEG Presents has delayed Coachella and Stagecoach until October, and Live Nation has indefinitely postponed all concerts.