Washington Post (01/12/21) Yahr, Emily
The virtualization of live events during the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to lasting improvements in entertainment accessibility, driven by outstanding quality as well as availability to people otherwise inhibited by geography, mobility or finances. "This is a shift in the way the business operates," declared StageIt CEO Stephen White. "It's not going back to the way it was before — live-streaming is definitely here to stay." Virtual events and tours have been a godsend to artists otherwise sidelined by lockdowns, thanks to online platforms like StageIt. "It's hard to imagine going back to 200 shows a year on the road, which is what I've done for my whole adult life," said Rhett Miller, lead singer of alt-country band the Old 97s, who held virtual shows on StageIt. White said StageIt is a strong supporter of a hybrid model combining live and virtual audiences, which should complement each other and appeal to fans not yet ready to return to live attendance.
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