The scourge of Covid-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe’s music industry: Peaching a multi-dimensional musical arts survival model for sustaining music artists’ lives.

Abstract

The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic imposed a devastating effect on the music industry as concerts were banned the world over. Globally, the Covid-19 crisis had a catastrophic impact on the music industry that sustains over twelve million workers including performers, recording, and publishing companies. This study sought to analyse how selected performing music artists in diverse genres, are battled the Covid-19 contagion to survive. Initiatives need to be taken at all levels to ensure that the music sector survives. Currently, concrete information is deficient on how artists can overcome the numerous challenges brought forth by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, creating tangible and reliable platforms for addressing issues surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic and epistemological survival strategies within the music industry in Zimbabwe is the major purpose of this study. A descriptive research design was employed to accomplish the study and data were amassed through online interviews with selected music artists. Data analysis was accomplished through thick descriptions. Research results indicated that Covid-19 brought about suffering due to the loss of revenues as live performances were banned resulting in financial distress. Also, music artists faced social challenges in relation to family dynamics as they tried to cope with the pandemic and its effects. Music artists ended up depressed and stressed as a result of quarantining and social distancing rules. A number of music artists succumbed to the coronavirus robbing the music industry of talented artists. Recommendations were made that music artists may adopt modern performance trends through online platforms.