What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

It's been quite a while, but I think the "masks" were digital. The cover may have had a character wearing a mask of Beethoven. The protagonist worked for the company that sold the masks. I'm fairly sure I read this in the early '80s.

I know it's happening, but my mind is conflating this book with Charles Sheffield's Proteus series, so I have difficulty splitting plot points out.

If I remember right, there was definite business plotlines, his company had a monopoly on the newest technology for the masks.

This book seems to match the limited description you have provided but it was published in 2006: "Rainbows End" by Vernor Vinge

Other Similar books (they don't quite fit the time you believe you read the book):

"The cure" by Sonia Levitin (published 1999)

"Masks and Shadows" by Stephanie Burgis (published 2016)

Solved

I thought I remembered the fact that a "Q" was in the title but was afraid to post that as a search tip considering it was 40 years ago.

Clique
Nicholas Yermakov