In the midst of all the continuing malaise triggered by the COVID pandemic here, one of the lesser noted consequences is the effect on the music industry. Going in, one has to note that well prior to the epidemic, there has been a decline here, as well as in the Caribbean generally, for those whose income derives from the playing or selling of music in its various forms. Overall, the music forms indigenous to us – soca, reggae, cadence, calypso, etc. – have been hit hard in the past few decades both in the number of outlets selling that material on CDs and tapes, as well as in the significant decline of bands playing live in our various hotels, restaurants, bars, etc. Music concerts, as well, sometimes featuring visiting foreign bands, have recently also been almost totally curtailed, and it is noticeable that even the array of push carts selling Caribbean music CDS, commonly seen in previous years, are no longer seen on the city streets in Georgetown or New Amsterdam and some record stores have gone out of business.
