Creative and emergent modes: a conceptual map of online musical performances in the 21st century

This discussion provides a conceptual overview of online music performance. It focuses on the ways that musicians have been able to adapt to pluralistic modes of performance in online environments. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, social media platforms were increasingly providing avenues for developing fanbases and disseminating music. On-platform live streaming was progressively rolled out from 2011 to 2019, but the pandemic acted as an accelerator of activity. We examine not only the use of live streaming functions on social media, but the re-purposing of game and VR platforms for music performance. Our identification and analysis of performance modes was undertaken across musical genres and locations, and distinct patterns emerged. Each of the eight modes falls into a higher order concept of synchronous versus asynchronous through which we examine the central concept co-presence. The discussion concludes with a conceptual map for understanding the field to date and its future trajectory.