How's it going music lovers?
I'm Katie Daryl with a special episode of the Music High 5: 2020 A Year in Review.
This year had news outlets going over time to report on all the
events that slowly turned 2020 into a truly infamous time in history.
From political tension to the declaration of a
pandemic here are the top five headlines that affected music.
Number one, 2020's BLM movement.
Prompted by the murder of George Floyd artists stepped up and spoke
out against matters of racial injustice and police brutality.
From Jay-Z and his full-page ads dedicated to Floyd in several major newspapers
to Travis Barker and Machine Gun Kelly hit in the streets in LA during the nationwide protests.
Artists even released music inspired by the BLM protests
like Usher who released his self-directed music video for his song "I Cry".
And H.E.R. who released "I Can't Breathe".
Number two, 2020's fundraising events.
After the announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic, artists threw their support to many broadcast
and streaming events to raise money during lockdown like Global Citizens One World
Together streaming event curated by Lady Gaga in April which featured artists like Billie Eilish,
Stevie Wonder,
And Lizzo.
The broadcast raised almost 128 million dollars for the COVID-19
solidarity response fund and regional and local responders.
While Verizon's Pay It Forward, a weekly streaming series, supported small businesses impacted by
COVID-19 and raised over 2 million with the help from artists like Dave Matthews and Janelle Monae.
Let's not forget COVID-19 shut down world tours festivals and the doors on small venues.
Save Our Stages was born to support these independent venues
while raising awareness for the Save Our Stages act.
Artists like Miley Cyrus and The Foo Fighters joined together and played virtually
at small venues to raise almost 2 million dollars.
Number three, 2020's alternative concerts.
With stages shut down and social distancing keeping concerts at bay artists had to get
creative in order to share their music and keep us entertained living room concerts and performances
got posted like Post Malone's cover of "Come As You Are" during his tribute to Nirvana,
and Mariah Carey at home performing "Always Be My Baby".
Pay-per-view concerts also began to pop up like Corey Taylor's "Forum or Against Them"
and BTS's "Map of the Soul One".
And of course drive-in concerts.
Let's get to the backseat of the car baby!
How amazing for bands to perform to people in their cars
honking and flashing their lights with the likes of Blake Shelton and Garth Brooks.
Number four, artists for Trump.
2020 was jammed with campaigns and conventions from our two
presidential candidates, Trump and Biden and that pushed musicians to take sides.
Trump supporters like Lil Wayne and Lil Pump spoke out and Kid
Rock even performed at a campaign rally.
Heck, let's not forget Kanye.
He was first on team Trump, but then you know went rogue and tossed his hat in the ring.
What the what?
Which leads us to the other side of the coin and the number five spot.
Number five, artist for Biden.
Musicians rush to support Joe Biden like Lady Gaga, John Legend,
and Beyoncé with Alicia Keys even joining Kamala Harris on the campaign trail in Arizona.
While the original cast of the musical Hamilton performed for a fundraiser for Biden.
Social media had Biden fans in a frenzy after the election results came in
with P!nk saying she was brought to tears and Jennifer Lopez dancing in celebration.
Music news is always happening, so keep listening.
I'm Katie Darryl and that's the Music High 5.