Virtual and Livestream Concerts Take the Music Industry by Storm Amid the Pandemic

The landscape of the music and entertainment industries has been forever changed by COVID-19.

While artists, labels and producers are still able to record and release music, the pandemic raises interesting questions about the future of performance art. With so many shutdowns causing children to stay home and forego music lessons, one music, art and education franchise is working to ensure all children are able to pursue performance and visual art education from home.

DEA Music & Art, a Staten Island-based music and art education franchise, had been steadily adapting amid these unprecedented past few months to allow all its students to continue learning, whether that be virtually or with safe, socially distanced in-person classes.

Virtual concerts rise

One of the largest obstacles DEA Music & Art had to overcome was how to reimagine their annual in-person concerts for students' friends and family. Founder of DEA Music & Art Magi Kapllani knew that cancelling the series of concerts in their entirety would not be fair to the students who have spent months practicing and preparing for it, so she decided to draw inspiration from some of the world’s top music artists and offer a series of virtual concerts.

“It's where we're heading,” Kapllani said. “Screens are becoming bigger, and livestreaming is taking over the industry, with celebs like Billie Eilish even performing over livestream.”

Alongside livestreaming concerts for students, Kapllani is also looking to increase revenue streams to her business through other methods as well. DEA Music & Art differs from other music education business models by offering recording studios for their students to use, allowing them to create recordings that can be easily shared with friends and family.

New revenue streams

“The revenue with the studio itself is an added bonus,” Kapllani said. “One of the good things that came out of this pandemic was that it pushed us to adapt so that we don't lose that edge. As for utilizing the recording studio and virtual concerts, not a lot of places do that here. We’re at the forefront of something that will be incorporated in the entertainment industry in the future. The way our customers embrace what we created is a very positive indicator of future success.”

Utilizing livestream concerts and incorporating the use of the recording studio has allowed Kapllani’s business to find marked success in a time when many businesses are struggling to get by. Kapllani is excited to continue pushing her business into the future by always looking for new ways to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the music education industry.

“I received so many messages from parents telling us how much their kids needed it [livestream] and how great it was to see,” said Kapllani. “It is so great to see how much the kids and parents put into livestream concerts.”

Now, Kapllani is preparing her business for growth outside of the greater New York City area. DEA Music & Art is primed for growth across the East Coast, and Kapllani is eager to help new franchise owners get up and running as they begin their journey with the brand.