Music affected by coronavirus

[rainie]

when 9/11 happened almost 20 years ago, there was a huge ripple effect on the music industry, with Clear Channel infamously releasing a list of "banned songs" (including everything by Rage Against the Machine because they're patriot scum) and several songs suddenly becoming more topical and receiving a boost, most notably Enrique Iglesias's Hero, which received a special radio edit intercut with audio from the first responders.

i don't foresee *quite* the same impact, but we've already see a decent amount of music pushed back (including Sam Smith's album, which had to be renamed) and a few songs with their runs likely affected to some degree. for example, while it would have been a hit regardless, Caution by The Killers, shattered the record for most Alt adds in a week and is already #3 after less than a month. i can't prove anything, but i suspect its lyrics about running away and freedom are the escapism that's people are looking for right now. meaning, Death Bed by Powfu and Beedoobadee is off to a slow start at CHR despite getting excellent streaming numbers and sounding like a pop smash. we'll see what happens in the coming weeks, but it wouldn't surprise me if a song that explicitly about death receives some resistance during this epidemic (interesting it may have had the opposite effect for Alt, as its shooting up the charts over there).

anyways, can you guys think of any other examples of songs' runs who appear to be impacted by COVID-19? how much of an impact do you guys think it will have going forward?

[garrettlen]

Apr 7, 2020 18:07:46 GMT -5 rainie said:

when 9/11 happened almost 20 years ago, there was a huge ripple effect on the music industry, with Clear Channel infamously releasing a list of "banned songs" (including everything by Rage Against the Machine because they're patriot scum)

Clear Channel also became infamous for banning "Imagine" by John Lennon right after September 11th on their stations.

I mean, come on, "Imagine"?

I have no real use for Clear Channel/I Heart Radio.

[Juanca]

Imagine??!!!!
I didn’t know that. Why?

Speaking of 911, I remember Enya’s Only Time receiving a special edit as well. And in the Gulf War, new versions of Styx’ Show Me The Way and Annie Lennox’ Why

[rainie]

Apr 7, 2020 18:33:47 GMT -5 garrettlen said:

Apr 7, 2020 18:07:46 GMT -5 rainie said:

when 9/11 happened almost 20 years ago, there was a huge ripple effect on the music industry, with Clear Channel infamously releasing a list of "banned songs" (including everything by Rage Against the Machine because they're patriot scum)

Clear Channel also became infamous for banning "Imagine" by John Lennon right after September 11th on their stations.

I mean, come on, "Imagine"?

I have no real use for Clear Channel/I Heart Radio.

what the actual fuck??? Clear Channel can choke

[Deleted]

There aren't really any big hits out at the moment (that I can think of) that would be seen as insensitive given what's going on, so I don't see any immediate impact on the music scene like in the wake of 9/11. I think it will have more of an impact on future music.. I'm sure the isolation, downtime, cancelation/postponement of their tours, etc. will affect artists' creative processes.

[ry4n]

Billie Eilish's No Time To Die has quietly faded away. Although the movie was pushed back as well.

[walt91]

the title of powfu's "death bed" was quietly changed to "coffee for your head", I assume that had something to do with coronavirus

[narp]

A lot of album releases were pushed back, like the new The 1975 album, and songs having questionable titles like death bed by Powfu and Disaster by Bleeker being some recent examples on alt get title changes. In this case, the changes are “Coffee For Your Head” for death bed and “Give A Little Bit More” for Disaster. Clear Channel in general is shit for many different reasons though, not just banning songs.

[wjr15]

I know some albums like Gaga’s have been postponed because of the coronavirus. We’re supposed to be getting albums this year from Adele, Rihanna, and Katy but I’m not sure if those will be delayed or not. It could definitely interrupt album eras if there’s supposed to be big promo with albums (live performances, music videos, merchandise, etc)

On the other end of the spectrum, I can see a song like Break My Heart with the line “I should’ve stayed at home” going somewhat viral.

[Future Captain]

Plenty of death and apocalypse themed songs (death bed, If The World Was Ending) is gaining traction since the pandemic started.

[Deleted]

Apr 8, 2020 23:51:36 GMT -5 narp said:

A lot of album releases were pushed back, like the new The 1975 album

If you follow the 1975 you’ll know the album delay wasn’t because of the virus 😂

[𝓲𝓽'𝓼.𝓰𝓿]

Apr 9, 2020 16:41:40 GMT -5 Future Captain said:

Plenty of death and apocalypse themed songs (death bed, If The World Was Ending) is gaining traction since the pandemic started.

Feels weird that I listen to these songs as of late, not because of the effects of pandemic.

[narp]

That’s my fault, but at the time it did seem to be a reason. I don’t follow the band but I will listen to the album when it comes out.

[jamatthews83]

Drinking Alone by Carrie Underwood was flopping on country radio a couple of months ago, and now it's taking off.

[tekkenguy]

Does Toosie Slide count?

[Deleted]

A lot more albums have been pushed back since this thread was started (seems like most projects by major label acts are being pushed back), and I noticed the list of songs going for radio adds has thinned a lot. We're probably in for an unusually dry spring/summer (at least the early part of summer) music-wise when it comes to major label acts.

We're probably also going to see more music videos that are animated or shot quarantine webcam style.

[superdave3556]

Country song "What I'm Leaving For" by Lady Antebellum, a song about going out on tour and then coming back home, was pulled.
It was replaced by a more upbeat "Champagne Night"

[mkarns]

Apr 7, 2020 18:54:47 GMT -5 Juanca said:

Imagine??!!!!
I didn’t know that. Why?

Speaking of 911, I remember Enya’s Only Time receiving a special edit as well. And in the Gulf War, new versions of Styx’ Show Me The Way and Annie Lennox’ Why

"Why" wasn't released until spring 1992, over a year after the Gulf War.

In addition to the ridiculous Clear Channel post-9/11 list, for the second Iraq war, there was the stupid boycott of the Dixie Chicks at country radio. Nothing similar has happened regarding COVID-19 that I know of and hopefully won't.