New services like Topeka are helping fans connect in real time with an artist over Google Hangouts. When live music touring suddenly ground to a halt in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, country singer Randy Rogers didn't take long to realize he needed to think of new ways to generate income -- and fast.
A family friend came up with a novel suggestion: Her company's Zoom meetings were dull. Would he consider doing a paid virtual performance to liven them up? "She was telling me about these Zoom meetings of 150 employees staring at the computer, you know?
And it'd be boring," says Rogers, adding he was shocked to learn that these drop-ins sometimes paid as much as full-blown performances. "I literally just tell a few stories, play a