A New World of Live Streams: How to Support Creatives Right Now

With stay-at-home orders put in place around the world to slow the spread of COVID-19, people have become bored. Our generation has been so used to having unlimited things to do, places to go, etc. and the world has never been more connected. But with a pandemic, we have had to take a sudden step back and learn how to entertain ourselves, from home.

Not being able to see live music has been depressing for many; for me, live music was a major part of my identity and now I’ve been forced to explore new meanings and hobbies. It’s almost as though the slow of events is leading to… concert withdrawals? Let’s make that a term okay? Just millennial things.

That being said, there’s been one way for us, live music junkies, to get our “fix,” and that is through live streams. Live streaming on platforms, such as Twitch, went up 50% from March to May, with 1.645 billion hours being watched per a month. To put that number into perspective: that’s over ~2,300~ LIFETIMES PER A MONTH.

This insane growth, in the sector of live streaming, has led to creatives being more connected with their fans than ever. It’s probable that even after life returns to “normal” (whenever that may be) we will still be seeing creatives using these platforms just as much.

You can use platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitch, etc) to show your favorite creatives some love, but creatives are in need of more help than just that. With the world of events at a standstill, many are struggling to make ends meet. The best way to support creatives is to buy their products directly or even donate directly to them if they have offered a way. Or donate on their live streams if they have offered a way to. The industry is sure to have lasting impacts from the shutdown, but if you have the resources to aid in creatives continuing their art, make sure to share the fam love!