MUAI 450 The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Music Industry (2025)

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the music industry. Music industry professionals and music enthusiasts were struck by an abrupt change in function. Working at the 2025 National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) festival revealed the persistence of some of these changes. The most profound result of the COVID-19 crisis was the music industry’s switch to social media and other forms of online communication to promote products and music performance. Businesses began to abandon traditional on-site live events such as NAMM, trade shows, and in-person concerts. Today, the music industry focusses increasingly on digital and internet-based music distribution.