2020年上半年美国音乐报告.docxVIP

WIntroduction W HAT A DIFFERENCE A FEW MONTHS MAKE. IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT wasn’t even six months ago that Shakira and Jennifer Lopez performed for a tightly packed crowd of over 60,000 people in Miami at the Super Bowl, while Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas picked up five Grammys at what turned out to be 2020’s last major music business gathering since COVID-19 halted live events. By Friday, March 13, the NBA and NHL had suspended play, the NCAA had canceled its spring tournaments, and theaters and live music venues had closed. As “safer at home” orders spread throughout the country, our homes became our offices, our schools, our daycares and our social hubs. Quickly and dramatically, life had changed. Our routines were disrupted, and we struggled to find balance. Still, the music industry was experiencing a strong start to the year. Audio streaming was growing through early March, up 20% over the same period in 2019. Vinyl, fresh off its 14th straight year of growth, also was up an astonishing 45%. Total audio consumption was up 15% in the first 10 weeks of the year. As working from home became a reality for many, some of the key music listening hours, such as during commutes, were disrupted. But one thing that has remained consistent as the pandemic has unfolded is entertainment’s place in helping consumers escape, relax and feel energized. In fact, in our recent consumer research studies, 73% of people said they would go crazy without entertainment during this time. Then, just as many communities began to slowly reopen, the nation was shaken by the senseless May 25 killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. This event, coupled with other recent acts of racial injustice, activated a widespread public outcry for social reform. Protests, marches and rallies took place across the nation as our attention focused on Black Lives Matter and police reform. The artistic community, as it always has, responded with powerful music — Lil Baby, Meek Mill, Bey