Music as Magic Breaking and Recasting the Spell of Live Music in Naarm/Melbourne

The idea of ‘magic' has long been used to make sense of music’s intangibility, the mystery of creative music making, and the transformative effects on audiences and other participants in music culture. This article argues that the negative effects of the pandemic lockdowns on music in Naarm/Melbourne highlight already-existing challenges in music work and break the magic spell associated with music. Using key examples from popular music studies, industry reports and new government policies, we offer an analysis of the limits of music as magic, followed by a perspective on the gradual, if fragile, ‘re-enchantment’ of the local music industry.