6 minute read
Index In Brief
from IQ102 Preview
by IQ Magazine
IN BRIEFINDEX
The concert business digest
Nightclubs and dance music festivals lost more than three quarters of their value in 2020 due to Covid-19 opening restrictions, the IMS Business Report 2021 reveals.
BTS 2021 Muster Sowoozoo, a twoday virtual concert with the K-pop superstars, is attended by 1.33 million unique viewers from 195 countries.
Wild Mint, one of Russia’s biggest festivals, is left RUB47million (€540,000) in debt after local authorities cancel the event at the 11th hour.
Campaigners in Europe, Asia and Australasia warn that the move towards digital and mobile tickets for events, attractions and transport, accelerated by the pandemic, risks broadening the ‘digital divide’ and excluding older people as life returns to normal.
Viagogo is investigated in Australia for allegedly breaching anti-ticket touting laws in the state of New South Wales, where it is illegal to resell a ticket for more than 10% over face value. Lina Ugrinovska, one of the best-known booking agents in the Balkans, launches her own agency, Banana & Salt, offering international booking, consulting, training and educational services for artists and music professionals.
Live Nation teams up with nine of Denmark’s biggest festivals – Roskilde Festival, NorthSide, Heartland, Copenhell, Smukfest, Tinderbox, Jelling Musikfestival, Nibe Festival and Grøn – for a oneoff event marking the reopening of the country, Back to Live, set for 4 September.
Australia’s TEG announces the launch of TEG Rockefeller, a new global partnership and joint venture with the Rockefeller Company of New York.
The findings of the Ambition Live Again test concert in France show that attending a show is not associated with an increased risk of transmission when certain hygiene and testing protocols are followed. There were zero Covid-19 infections during a pilot event series, Modellprojekt Kultur/Reallabor Leipzig, held across nine venues in May and June, organisers announce.
ID&T announces it is taking the Dutch government to court over new Covid-19 restrictions, which are reimposed just weeks after they were lifted.
The EAA’s Arena Resilience Alliance publishes a report analysing findings from more than 20 test events hosted at 12 of its partner arenas across Europe.
Serbia’s Exit Festival takes place, attracting 42,000 festivalgoers from more than 70 countries on the opening day alone and recording no Covid-19 infections across the weekend.
Slovakia’s Pohoda on the Ground did not record a single positive Covid-19 result throughout the “extraordinary” five days it took place, according to organisers. CTS Eventim confirms it will receive €102m government aid for November–December 2020 “to strengthen the result for the current financial year and the company’s liquidity.”
The UK’s entertainment and media industry is forecast to return to growth and be the biggest market in western Europe by 2025, according to PwC’s Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2021–2025.
Live Nation confirms that Theresa Velasquez, who was a senior vicepresident of strategic partnerships for the company, lost her life in June’s tragic apartment block collapse in Miami.
Within hours of rules being relaxed, UK vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi announces that full vaccinations will be required for entry into nightclubs and venues with large crowds from September.
Ticketmaster will provide digital ticketing technology for six Oak View Group arenas as part of a newly announced global partnership between the two firms.
MIXED REACTIONS TO COVID PASSPORTS IN EUROPE
As governments across Europe implement or consider enforcing ‘Covid passes’ or ‘passports’ as a condition of entry to concerts and other indoor events, there’s been a mixed response from the live industry.
Since 21 July, concertgoers in France are required to show a Pass Sanitaire before entering any venue over 50-capacity. The digital or paper document proves the holder has either had a negative Covid test recently or had both vaccinations (or one in the case of single-dose vaccines.)
For events with more than 1,000 attendees, this law has been in place since May. Angelo Gopee, general manager of Live Nation France, says the tightening of the rules means additional work for venues, security and staff.
“We have a festival this weekend in Fontainbleu with 2,500 people per night for seated shows. We have put in place a Covid control point before security, so people can show their Pass Sanitaire. It’s not ideal, but there’s nothing else we can do for now.
“I think people should see this move as an opportunity to see more concerts.”
AEG Presents France GM and VP, Arnaud Meersseman tells IQ: “There were protests against the Pass Sanitaire – I think about 100,000 people across 20 cities came out, but polling shows 62% of people approve of the pass.
“There has been some moaning in the industry about the potential impact on ticket sales because it adds another layer of friction for the customer at a time when the sector has been hit hard already. But I don’t agree. I think this is the best way to get back to business and to nudge people into getting their vaccinations. It will take a while to come into play and it’s very new, but because people have to use this pass for transport and to go to restaurants, I think it will soon become second nature.”
In the UK, the government insists it will push ahead with plans for vaccine passes. Prime minister Boris Johnson announced that from September people will have to prove they have had both vaccinations as a condition of entry to nightclubs, venues, and other crowded indoor settings.
Phil Bowdery, chair of the Concert Promoters Association told IQ: “With September only a few months away, what the live music sector urgently needs from government is clarity, details and guidelines. Any new proposals should be designed primarily to make venues as safe as possible, which is why we are surprised that testing seems to have fallen away given the entire Event Research Programme was based on that.
“We are also crystal clear that there must be fairness in how this is applied. Small music venues – the same size as many pubs, restaurants and other hospitality businesses, which are likely not to be affected by this policy – must not be treated any differently when it comes to the need for proof-of-vaccine certification.”
In Austria, people have to show proof of a negative Covid test or of being fully vaccinated before attending venues, bars theatres and other indoor spaces. The country offers free tests at drop-in centres. Other countries, such as Italy and Ireland, are considering implementing similar protocols for indoor events.
In Belgium, the federal government has launched its Covid Safe Ticket (CTS), a domestic health pass that will certify the Covid-19 status of attendees to major entertainment and sports events.
The CTS may be used for events of over 1,500 people to certify that all attendees are either fully vaccinated or have returned a negative Covid-19 test in the previous 48 hours. The pass, originally planned to be introduced on 1 July, will apply to outdoor events from 13 August and indoor events from 1 September.
While the ‘safe ticket’ eliminates the need for social distancing, promoters must implement a crowd management plan, as well as ensuring adequate ventilation (in the case of indoor shows), which is measured by a CO2 meter, according to the Belgian government.
Covid Safe Tickets are not mandatory – event organisers are free to put on shows without them – but non-safe ticketed events must comply with social distancing regulations and ensure all guests wear a mask, according to Flemish prime minister Jan Jambon.
Phil Bowdery | Chair of the Concert Promoters Association
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