After having 17 of their shows cancelled in just two days (and more than $750,ooo of lost income), The Cat Empire have launched an initiative coined ‘Lockdown Get Down’, a movement aimed at helping musicians increase available income to survive during the coronavirus crisis.
With music-lovers and musicians themselves on lockdown across the planet in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19, this initiative is all about directing people at home towards streaming more of their favourite artists.
Their Lockdown Get Down movement is simple. The band suggest that alongside streaming your favourite artsts non-stop on your preferred streaming service, music lovers should also upgrade to paid streaming subscriptions where possible, create a playlist titled ‘Lockdown Get Down’ and share it, as well as post ‘Lockdown Get Down’ photos and videos with hashtags #lockdowngetdown and #thecatempire so the band can see you all rocking out at home.
“After giving so generously to bushfire recovery efforts around Australia recently, we know that people are low on cash reserves to help others. But this idea won’t cost you any more than what you are already paying to listen to music, and if you use a free streaming service, then it won’t cost you at all. However, it is important for our industry to educate music lovers to upgrade to paid subscriptions where manageable, which is significantly more beneficial to musicians than listening for free,” explains Correne Wilkie; Director Maven & Muse, Manager The Cat Empire
“Our industry is under serious global threat as gatherings in public spaces are not allowed to continue. There are no bail out packages for musicians, or songwriters, sculptors, photographers, creators… And yet, we desperately need the beauty of artists reflected in the world so we can find our way through the dark times.”
So, start streaming now, feel better yourself, and feel better about helping out musicians in the process by simply listening to more music.
