The global economy in recent years is confronting the potential threat of a ‘financial crash’, a looming danger emphasized by a group of experts. Issues like emerging markets’ debt problems, international trade disputes, and the pandemic caused by the coronavirus all suggest a possible global economic turmoil.
Particularly noteworthy in this context is the music industry. Being remarkably sensitive to global economic fluctuations, the repercussions of a financial crash pose significant concern to the music industry. In this article, we will explore the likely impacts of an anticipated financial crash on the music industry.
Firstly, the most direct impact that a financial crash would have on the music industry is ‘declining investment.’ A financial crash decreases corporations’ creditworthiness and encourages investors, who want to avoid risk, to withdraw their funds, leading to a decline in overall investment. With a decrease in the funding for discovering new artists or initiating new projects, there might be a potential hindrance to the vitality of the entire music industry.
Next, ‘consumer purchasing power decline’ is also a significant impact factor. Financial crashes generally cause an increase in unemployment rates and wage stagnation. Consequently, expenditures on entertainment get restricted among consumers, affecting revenues from live concert tickets and music streaming services in the music industry.
Furthermore, ‘difficulty in entering overseas markets’ can also become a problem. A financial crash usually leads to a decrease in the value of currency and intensification of trade regulations, making overseas tours and music distribution in foreign markets challenging for artists. This would particularly hit hard those artists targeting growth in emerging markets such as Asia and Africa.
However, not all impacts are negative. Financial crashes could also lead to the birth of ‘new business models.’ In a situation where resources are limited, artists and record companies might seek more efficient business models. For instance, new formats of music entertainment, like live streaming or concerts via virtual reality, could emerge.
As detailed above, an imminent financial crash would have various effects on the music industry. On the other hand, these crises can also be opportunities to unlock new potentials. How the music industry responds to these fluctuations and explores new business models will be a critical factor in its subsequent growth. The music industry has overcome numerous challenges so far. The impending financial crash will be another trial for the industry.
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