‘It’s Turned Me from a Professional to a “Bedroom DJ” Once Again’: COVID-19 and New Forms of Inequality for Young Music-Makers

Given the unprecedented circumstances of COVID-19 pandemic and increasingly uncertain socio-economic conditions, cultural practice remains a stable canvas upon which young people draw most agency exercise sense freedom. This article reports on an international research collaboration, drawing voices 77 musicians from three countries—Australia, England Portugal—who were interviewed about their music-making practices during lockdown. Despite reporting loss jobs income social distancing restrictions placed ability to make music, music-makers positive value having more time, be both producers consumers music. At same however, our data also highlight increasing forms inequality among music-makers. argues that despite short-term gains in relation developing musical practice, longer-term impacts music industry will affect sector for years come.