To combat the pandemic, in March 2020 public authorities worldwide enforced emergency measures, controlling public spaces and restricting personal freedom, which had serious repercussions on social and community life. In France, as elsewhere, live music became potentially high risk and a source of contagion, which justified limiting and even banning venues where live music meant contact, movement, assembling or sharing. As such, musical events had to take new forms, adapt, resist and innovate. The MUSICOVID research project includes an analysis of the musical experience during the health crisis and of the socio-political rules and regulations restricting musical creativity, and also looks at the innovative ways these restrictions have been circumnavigated and transposed. It also studies the artistic devices used to add a touch of magic to an uncertain world and, more broadly, the use of music to help cope with the pandemic.