March 2020 was a rare time in which almost everyone in the world had to change the way they went about their daily lives. That month, the CDC declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and everything was put on pause.
One of the primary issues was avoiding large gatherings or close contact whatsoever. This meant that schools, restaurants, and theaters experienced closures, whether that was temporary or permanent.
Due to this issue, many concerts were postponed—some even canceled. Some of the biggest of these being Taylor Swift’s Lover Fest and BTS’ Map of the Soul tour. In their cases, the entire tour was canceled due to unforeseen circumstances and the devastation caused by the pandemic.
Swift, who is known for her large-scale tours following each album, had to cancel in several countries worldwide. Her performances in Brazil, Poland, Denmark and Portugal were to be her first ever.
Swift, whose last tour concluded in 2018, remained unable to perform for her worldwide fans until the start of The Eras Tour, which began March 2023. BTS, who last toured in 2019, is still unable to perform due to South Korea’s mandatory military service. However, fans have enjoyed smaller-scale performances through NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts.
The hiatus, unheard of for fans of both artists, meant a rising level of anticipation for the next chance to see their favorite performers live.
The 1975, who were in the midst of their Music for Cars tour, canceled many of their remaining shows, a majority being in the United States. However, their next tour, At Their Very Best, was met with unforeseen demand, selling out many venues including Madison Square Garden.
Similarly, The Eras Tour experienced demand so immense that TicketMaster, who sold the tickets, experienced malfunctions. The anger from fans resulted in an ongoing investigation into the possible monopolization of its parent company, Live Nation. After the 2010 merger between the two companies, the live music industry is almost entirely controlled by one large business.
High demand for these concerts has meant that fewer fans were able to purchase tickets, whether that’s due to limited availability or inflated costs. To compensate, many artists have made an effort to record, or even live stream, their entire performance. For example, in October 2022, BTS live-streamed their concert in Busan for free.
Additionally, fans have made their own attempts at sharing the concert experience through apps like TikTok, where they can post clips of their favorite songs and moments from the show. Some artists are streaming through various websites, which requires the viewer to purchase the livestream.
The Eras Tour, which kicked off March 2023, was streamed on TikTok by fans sitting around the stadium. With millions unable to receive tickets, this provided a medium for those unable to attend to watch the excitement live.
Others record to catch moments unique to their experience. Kat, a USC student and avid concert-goer says many fans "will have their phone up, recording... all they care about is getting an interaction [with the performer]."
However, many question whether the increase in recording devices at concerts has ruined the experience of watching it in person.
Hagan Williams, another USC student, and intern at a Columbia concert venue recalls seeing many phones up in the crowd. “Even though it was older people, they still recorded a lot [of the concert]... the whole place was full of people with their phones,” Williams said about being backstage. “When I saw it from the stage perspective I was like, ‘Those people aren’t in the moment.’”
While fans who aren’t able to make it are glad to see moments through a screen, many question the value of live performances if the moments don't remain live.
