The Pandemic’s Hottest Concert Series
Musicians didn’t think twice about internet concerts before 2020. They could make more money in one night on the road than they could in a year on Twitch or Instagram Live. But the pandemic has stranded thousands of professional musicians at home, and brought out their innermost creativity.
Of all the biggest at-home concerts, nothing comes close to Verzuz, a recurring event that is part concert series, pert history lesson. Every few weeks, two musicians gather and take turns playing their biggest hits and telling stories from their careers. The project is the brainchild of Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, two producers responsible for some of the biggest hits of the past 25 years. The old friends started by talking live on Instagram from their respective homes. But what started as an impromptu conversation between two music industry kingpins quickly morphed into must-see programming.
Now in its second season, the show regularly draws millions of viewers for acts like Ashanti v. Keyshia Cole and E-40 v. Too $hort.
Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.