How live is live?

The rapid spread of COVID-19 during early 2020 had a sudden and devastating impact on live music. Music venues across the world were shut down in a matter of days, festivals cancelled and tours postponed. Music artists from internationally renowned performers such as The Rolling Stones down to amateur musicians responded to this sudden development by holding online performances, which presented as a novel response to a situation that many hoped would pass in a matter of months. As time progressed with no timeframe for a return to face-to-face live music events in physical venue settings, performers faced an uncertain future. This chapter draws on the findings of a project conducted in Australia, the UK, and Portugal during the second half of 2020, during which young musicians (amateur, semi-professional, and professional) between the ages of 18 and 35 were interviewed about the value of music-making as a source of well-being and connectivity during the COVID-19 crisis, as well as their strategies including online performances. The perseverance and innovation of musicians in moving online during the COVID-19 lockdowns underlines the importance of live performance and highlights possibilities for its future development. However, while responses were varied, many respondents felt that online performance restricted core qualities associated with live music including spontaneity, spectacle, and connection with the audience.