Last week, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, or FCA, launched a campaign to encourage people to stay off the road, as well as to applaud the efforts of frontline workers. Today came word that FCA is giving people something to do while they are home. FCA announced live, weekly, musical performances that will be broadcasted through Facebook Live watch parties. The streaming events begin tonight. 

The start

In recent weeks videos have been showing up online of people across the globe sharing live spontaneous musical events. Videos of people in Italy joining together in serenading each other from balconies were popular at the beginning of this global pandemic. Soon, other professional musicians and entertainers started doing living room video performances and creative classes. Eventually, all industries started studying and implementing ways they could still get the message of hope and emotional refreshment out via online videos during these trying times. Indeed, even the popular Saturday Night Live television show recently did their first show via home video. 

FCA has seen these efforts and is doing what it can to encourage the public as well. The live performances coordinated with the music industry is a step in that direction and could spark more events depending on how long the pandemic continues, or could conceivably be carried out beyond the pandemic, if not by FCA, then possibly by other manufacturers or industries. 

The announcement

From the FCA press release this morning, 

“The weekly live performances via Facebook Live Watch Party will also include a Q&A, and other entertainment, from the artists’ own living rooms into the homes of their fans. The weekly #MusicMonday living room performance series launches tonight, Monday, April 13 at 7 p.m. ET and is set to run at least through the month of April.”

The press release continues, 

“The artists include X Ambassadors (April 13), Dermot Kennedy (April 20) and Ari Lennox (April 27).

Olivier Francois, Chief Marketing Officer of FCA said, 

“We want to both connect and bring comfort through music to all Americans as we face this crisis together. And also to encourage our community of owners, fans and followers to pledge to stay at home, when possible, for their health and the health of their loved ones.” 

Where to find them

The performances will be a half-hour in length and be streamed live from the artist’s living rooms. Each of the home-based performances will begin at 7 p.m. (EST), and will be available across FCA’s Facebook social media channels of Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Fiat, and RAM. The artist’s own social media pages will also cover the events.

As the world comes to grips with cabin fever from respective municipality quarantine requirements, binge-watching Netflix, Amazon, and Disney shows only goes so far. FCA is offering a live music alternative than can fill a small amount of time with real people, not marketing created personas with high production value stages and strobe lights to support them. These living room performances will add to the message that we are all in this together, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, gender, or country of origin. All of us are staying in. All of us need encouragement. All of us have some way we can give back through it all. Streaming musical performances are just one way to give back and help humanity right now.