In the Time of Corona: The Solace of Art, Music and Literature in Dark Days

In the span of a few months, our world has changed incalculably – and we have been forced to adapt to new ways of living, working, playing, connecting and socializing.

While it is impossible to measure the full scope of these changes, there are perceptible shifts in the market that illustrate how we are collectively navigating the day-to-day reality of a global pandemic.

In recent reports, Spotify, the world’s leading music streaming service, noted that active users had increased by 30% over the previous year. It also noted that searches for “instrumental” or “calm” music had rocketed, and that listeners were making more playlists with “chill” music.

Spotify isn’t the only platform experiencing changes in consumer behavior. In April, Netflix reported its most successful quarter to date, garnering nearly 16 million new subscribers in the first three months of the year.

While there may be a host of explanations for these ballooning trends, including boredom and increased time at home, there may also be something else going on – something that throws into relief how, and in what, we are finding solace as we navigate our current circumstances.

Spotify and Netflix both, in essence, curate and provide access to stories, music and art – and this increase in subscriptions and streaming suggests that we are turning to art now more than ever.

Source: http://news.virginia.edu/content/time-corona-solace-art-music-and-literature-dark-days