Sofar Sounds Launches ‘Listening Room’ Livestream

By Jem Aswad

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – Sofar Sounds — which has made a name and a business for itself by staging “secret gigs and intimate concerts” featuring emerging artists for an invited, engaged audience — is among the many businesses in the live-entertainment space that have been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic. While it was thriving both as a platform — it staged more than 10,000 concerts last year in North American and Europe — and a business, obviously it’s had to postpone its normal operations for the immediate future.

However, the company has launched a daily “ Listening Room ” livestream to support independent artists through the pandemic, where viewers can donate to artists directly or to the  Sofar Global Artist Fund .

The company stresses that 100% of the money donated will be distributed to artists. Last week, the company announced plans to  pay advances to artists for canceled shows (more info HERE ).

Upcoming Live Streams — more shows will be announced in the coming days, head here for an updated calendar .

Tuesday, March 31
7pm ET – Jake Wesley Rogers from Nashville

Wednesday, April 1
3pm ET – Lily Moore from London

Thursday, April 2
3pm ET – Lila Drew from Los Angeles

April 3
7pm EST – Ben Cosgrove from Boston

April 4
3pm EST – OKIEM from London

April 5
7pm EST – Copilot from Boston

April 6
3pm EST – Ciaran Lavery from London

The company recently reached a $460,000 settlement with the New York Department of Labor after an  article revealed its extensive use of unpaid volunteer workers . The company no longer uses volunteers and the settlement money has been distributed to people who worked for free at its events in New York over the years.