Indie Artists Turn to Livestreaming as Coronavirus Crisis Unfolds

While many artists are staging their own one-offs, others are planning online festivals and concert series that will live exclusively online. Kelly McCartney, host of the Hangin’ & Sangin’ Q&A series and director of the Rainey Day Fund, alongside singer-songwriter Natalia Zukerman, is launching “Shut In & Sing,” kicking off March 19th with livestreamed performances from Chely Wright, Lori McKenna, Anthony D’Amato, Jill Sobule, Kim Richey, and more. Profits will be split between the participants, and the programming will be aired via Stageit.

“Once it started becoming clear that shows and tours were going to get canceled, Natalia Zukerman and I started talking about creative ways to do livestreams that would build community and connection while also helping to make up some of the financial losses that we and all our friends were facing,” McCartney says. “In a matter of days, we had interest from close to 60 artists. The plan is to keep the series going for as long as we need to or can.”