Will the Music Stop for South African Live Performers?

As the world sought to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, concerts and festivals were postponed or cancelled, which was a major blow for the entertainment industry. "For people working in South Africa's live music sector, 2020 has been "devastating". That was the term that researchers read most frequently in response to the country's largest-ever live music and Covid-19 survey, published in November. Relief funding was designed to cover cancellations in the first quarter - but most musicians hadn't confirmed all their bookings by then. And from April onwards, during the lockdown, there have been minimal earnings. If 2020 was dry, January to Easter 2021 will be the Sahara desert," writes Gwen Ansell for The Conversation.