When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the entertainment industry was adversely affected because musicians could no longer hold music concerts, and revelers could no longer access entertainment joints. To respond to the growing cases of the Covid-19 governments all around the world, imposed containments measures which included banning public gatherings, ordering the closure of the bars, and prohibiting alcoholic drinks in restaurants. With the implementation of these interventions, businesses including players in the entertainment sector suffered due to the lack of customers. With imposing of the curfew laws, some of the businesses sustained losses, leading to their eventual dissolution. With the cancelation of the concerts and adoption of new measures, some players in the entertainment sector found a way to bypass the effects of the pandemic.
The virtual concerts became popular during the pandemic as musicians streamed live concerts to entertain their followers and fans. Artists used various streaming sites including Zoom, Facebook and YouTube that made it possible for them to keep their fans entertained, and engaged given that some of these sites have features that allow the interaction of the audience. In the United States (U.S.) and other countries, Keith Urban among other artists brought concerts into people’s homes. By organizing these virtual events, the musicians managed to connect with their fans, and for some artists such as Elton John, these events provided the means of raising money for charities.
In the United Kingdom (U.S.), the culture and entertainment sectors suffered following the outbreak of the Covid-19, and this prompted the government to allocated money to help keep businesses afloat, and to support thousands of employees who lost their jobs. The other measures the government took to reduce the impact of the pandemic on businesses that operated in these sectors include offering tax-reliefs, and offering financial support to the people affected by the pandemic. These measures, to a certain degree, helped prevent serious economic impact of the pandemic on the entertainment sector.
Although the pandemic negatively affected businesses in the entertainment sector, these businesses can learn important lessons from this experience. An important lesson that players can learn from this pandemic is that internet is a tool that one can leverage to grow their business, and provide customers with a wide range of services. The other lesson is that businesses should also look for opportunities and adapt during an uncertain event because the future of these players will depend on how well they adapt in uncertain circumstances.