The really big stages remain forbidden for musicians and bands. How Würzburg artists stay afloat and whether that is enough.
The corona crisis and the associated measures also hit the cultural sector particularly hard. Concerts were postponed to the coming year or even canceled entirely – and sales slumped. Würzburg artists were not spared from this either. The musician Fabian Schwarz was on a European tour with his band “The New Black” when the first concerts were canceled and the first borders were closed.
Stopped at the gates of Milan
“A few shows were canceled during the tour. On the way to Milan we finally reversed and drove to Würzburg in the lockdown,” he recalls. Fortunately, the full-time guitar teacher was able to give his lessons online via video chat back in the cathedral city with almost no interference. Only the internet connection caused problems for some students. “The lessons with a student from Waldbüttelbrunn were almost impossible,” he recalls. In the meantime they have returned to face-to-face classes, but with “increased hygiene regulations.”
Photo: Christoph Weiß
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Tim Heberlein, too, had a similar experience. “We would have played a few concerts this summer,” says the singer of the post-hardcore band Devil May Care from Würzburg. Most people already have catch-up appointments, but you still have to see how to adapt to the current situation. Through so-called living room concerts, the artists try to reach people from home. “We give live concerts via social media, but with a limited cast,” the musician continues.
Band contest on the Internet
One of the initiators of such streams is the budding music producer Niko Gwozdz from Spiral Music Studio. The 21-year-old Würzburger and his team were even able to move an entire band contest to the online world a few weeks ago.
The competition was supposed to take place at the end of March in the Bechtolsheimer Hof. “When we had to cancel the contest, we decided to let the event take place online,” says Gwozdz. Twelve artists participated in “Kick Out Corona” and played from all corners of the world throughout the evening. “We even got an artist from the United States,” he says. The rating system ran on a specially programmed homepage, on which the stream can still be viewed today. “But the whole effort was worth it,” confirms Gwozdz.
But what does it look like financially?
From an economic perspective, living room concerts are unfortunately not much help, explains music consultant Oliver Plume from Oerlenbach (district of Bad Kissingen). He advises artists from all over Germany. “Live streams are a good way to present yourself, but the artists hardly earn anything,” he knows. The virtual donation proceeds are not comparable to the income from a concert. “I even have a little concern that these streams will further expose the ‘music costs nothing’ mentality,” said Plume.
The situation is serious
The situation is very serious and threatening the existence of some, the consultant continues: “Musicians who mainly generate their income through live performances hit it very hard,” said Plume. The country’s emergency aid would not reach everyone, which is why many had to register as unemployed.
Photo: Florian Benelly and Nico Gwozdz
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Income from festivals, folk festivals or weddings are now completely canceled. It is only the tip of the iceberg. “There is an entire industry involved here. From technicians and distributors to the organizers and the local clubs,” says the expert. The entire cultural scene now fears for your existence.
“There is an entire industry involved here. From technicians and distributors to the organizers and the local clubs.”
Music consultant Oliver Plume–
Support for the local scene
If you want to support your local artists, you can do this primarily by buying fan articles, CDs or recommending the music to friends. Plume: “I would like the local and regional radio stations here to focus a little more on local artists, because there are many great and local musicians that most people are not familiar with.”
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