Tag: novel coronavirus

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Van Morrison calls out COVID “Pseudoscience,” Demands Live Music Return at Full Capacity

Van Morrison COVID 19 Concerts
NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 28: Van Morrison perform during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2019 50th Anniversary at Fair Grounds Race Course on April 28, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

The “Brown Eyed Girl” songwriter is having a hard time convincing other musicians to join his efforts, but he persists.

Van Morrison is claiming COVID-19 “pseudoscience” is holding back the music industry and wants other musicians to join him in demanding an immediate return to concerts with full capacity audience.

The aging rock icon made his beliefs clear with a recently launched campaign on his official website that claims socially-distanced gigs are not economically viable.  “I call on my fellow singers, musicians, writers, producers, promoters, and others in the industry to fight with me on this. Come forward, stand up, fight the pseudo-science and speak up,” he said.

News of Morrison’s position on live music restrictions comes just weeks before he is set to play a series of socially-distanced gigs in France. “This is not a sign of compliance or acceptance of the current state of affairs, this is to get my band up and running and out of the doldrums,” he wrote. “This is also not the answer going forward. We need to be playing to full capacity audiences going forward.”

Social distancing helps limit opportunities to come in contact with contaminated surfaces and infected people outside the home. Although the risk of severe illness may be different for everyone, anyone can get and spread COVID-19.

The music industry has spent the last six months trying to adjust to the new normal, with many claiming that socially-distant events are not a sustainable business plan. However, since posting his thoughts last Friday, Morrison has not received outspoken support from virtually anyone in the industry.

Even Morrison’s fans are on the fence. After sharing his comments on Facebook, supporters of Morrison were quick to reply. “The science is real,” one wrote. “We love you, Van, but calling pandemic management protocols ‘pseudo-science’ is probably the dumbest and certainly the most dangerous idea you’ve ever put your name to,” wrote another.

Meanwhile, at least one venue in the UK is adapting to the new normal. The Virgin Money Unity Arena opened in August with elevated platforms that allow for fans to enjoy live music while maintaining a safe distance from other concert goers.

Analysts believe live music won’t return in a traditional sense until summer 2021 at the earliest. Live Nation, one of the world’s largest promoters of concerts and entertainment, has canceled the rest of its 2020 performance schedule in the United States. Experts predict Q1 of next year may be canceled as well.

If you hate this news as much as the Van Morrison and everyone else, there are actions to take. You can wear a mask, practice social distancing, and urge others to do the same. You can refrain from gathering in large groups and risking exposure until a vaccine exists. You can protect yourself and others. If that happens, then maybe the music will return sooner than expected.

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Legislators Introduce “Save Our Stages Act” To Help Independent Venues

The fight is far from over, but there is new hope that independent venues across the United States may soon receive some much needed financial relief.

The battle cry of NIVA, the National Independent Venue Association, has been loud and clear since day one: Save our stages. While many sectors of the economy have benefitted from the federal relief programs made available in response to the coronavirus pandemic, indie venues and the people who work in them were left out in the cold. That is, until today.

Earlier today, Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota introduced a new piece of legislation called the “Save Our Stages Act”. It’s a relief bill that aims to provide financial support to music and entertainment venues across the country, particularly those that are in danger of shutting down permanently, reports Rolling Stone.

According to a press release, the “Save Our Stages Act” will offer six months of financial support to “keep venues afloat, pay employees, and preserve a critical economic sector for communities across America.” The legislation is geared towards operators, promoters, and talent reps at primarily small, independent venues.

The specific grant amounts would range in price, being either 45% of a business’ operation costs from the previous year or $12 million in total — whichever is the lesser amount. Venues that are granted money are then allowed to use those funds to pay off “costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic” as well as rent, utilities, mortgages, personal protective equipment, maintenance, administrative costs, taxes, and expenses to meet local and federal social distancing guidelines.

News of the “Save Our Stages Act” comes after a NIVE study revealed that 90% of all independent venues are likely to shudder forever if the pandemic stretches into September. Several venues have already announcing a permanent closing, including The Satellite in Los Angeles. The recent surge of new COVID-19 cases makes the possibility of any shows happening in 2020 highly unlikely, which is why this legislation matters.

You can still do your part to help. Join Haulix and countless others in demanding this legislation pass by filling out the form on NIVA’s website.

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How To Save The Music Business In 5 Minutes or Less

The music industry is in dire straits (and we don’t mean the band). COVID-19 has brought countless hardships on artists and professionals alike, but worse things are on the horizon.

There was a time in mid-March when most people believed the fall of 2020 would be normal. The coronavirus, they thought, would be a thing we joked about by the time leaves began to change. Those people were wrong, and every day comes with new evidence that this pandemic will be with us for the foreseeable future.

Recent reports about the music business claim that 90% of all independently owned venues are in trouble. With no federal funding to help cover expenses while live music is on hold, many venues are bleeding cash as they attempt to cover fixed costs (such as rent) without revenue. Some establishments are already going under, like The Satellite in Los Angeles, and hundreds more are likely to follow if the pandemic stretches into September.

The importance of independent venues is impossible to overstate. Virtually all musicians rely on these performances spaces to build their audience as they rise through the industry ranks. Today’s stadium headliners were only club acts using independent venues to travel the country before everyone knew their name. Tomorrow’s big stars aspire to play these spaces in the coming years. Independent venues are, in many ways, the backbone of the entire music business.

NIVA, the National Independent Venue Association, has a solution to the current problem. The organization has launched a campaign called #SaveOurStages, which aims to convince legislators that live music deserves relief funding from the federal government. They are asking fans and artists around the world to join in their demands by filling out a simple form on their site: https://www.saveourstages.com/.

In the latest Music Biz, host James Shotwell breaks down the current situation, the potential outcomes, and why it matters that everyone does their part. You can play a role in shaping the future of music. Please help us out. We need you.

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How Coronavirus Is Changing The Music Business [July 2020]

Three months into the coronavirus pandemic, Music Biz takes a look at where we’re at and where we go from here.

Anyone still betting that they get to attend a concert in the remaining half of 2020 would be wise to cash in their chips and stay home. The coronavirus pandemic is surging throughout the United States, and many parts of the country are seeing their worst case numbers to date. That boom is causing many reopening plans to be placed on hold, if not rolled back altogether, and that does not bode well for live music in the immediate future.

But the impact of COVID-19 on music goes beyond concerts. Thousands of industry professionals are laid off, with many more expected to join the unemployed ranks in the weeks to come. There are also venues on the brink of closure, labels bleeding money due to low album sales, and increasing uncertainty about when things will feel ‘normal’ again. To say the mood of the industry is anxious would be an understatement. People are scared.

That said, there is still hope. Tough times force us to adapt, and that change is often a good thing. The entire industry is currently evolving faster than it has at any other point in the last century. Marketing plans for artists and albums of all sizes are being overhauled to meet the demands of a socially distant world. Elsewhere, new jobs are popping up as the needs of the industry shift. There is a lot to be optimistic about, even if it doesn’t seem that way right now.

So, where we go from here is anyone’s guess. In this episode of Music Biz, host James Shotwell applies our current understanding of the virus and our response to it. He takes this information and uses it to make an informed guess about the future of our industry. Will live music return? Of course! When? Well, that’s a tough question to answer.

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COVID Concerts: The Good, The Bad, and The Irresponsible [VIDEO]

With coronavirus spread reaching record highs in the United States, Music Biz examines two recent performances and what they tell us about the future of concerts.

Here’s something you might not want to hear: Coronavirus isn’t going away. The disease, which first began to spread around the world at the end of 2019, has infected more than ten million people worldwide. Here in the United States, several parts of the country are experiencing record-high daily case rates. Other parts of the world are fairing better, but the point remains: COVID-19 is far from defeated.

As states and countries attempt to navigate reopening after months of lockdown, several places are now allowing live music to resume. There are rules in place to ensure the safety of staff and patrons alike, but recent events have shown that enforcing these policies can be difficult. Even if venues ask patrons to act or behave a certain way, there are little to no laws that require consumers to follow any guidelines.

The last weekend in June will go down in the history books as a time in the world of COVID concerts. Two significant events took place in two different countries, and the fallout from those performances are making headlines around the globe. The first, a reality TV star turned country musician performing in front of nearly 1,000 people in Tennessee as the state sees a surge in new cases, is being shamed by virtually everyone. The second, a so-called “Corona Safe” stadium show in Germany, is being praised as a glimpse at the future of live music.

This week on Music Biz, host James Shotwell examines these two performances and what makes them unique. He explains the criticism behind both events, as well as what the attendance of each show can tell us about how consumers feel about the return of live music.

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The First COVID-Era Music Festival Takes Place In Wisconsin This July [VIDEO]

Static-X is among a number of leading rock and metal bands scheduled to appear during the three-day outdoor music festival.

Coronavirus is still a problem. We shouldn’t have to say that, but every week, people everywhere express their desire to see life return to “normal.” The problem is, normal as we knew it is gone. Even if a vaccine is available in the next week or month, the world is changing, and there is nothing short of another ice age that can turn back the clock.

Some people are accepting of these changes. Others, however, are willing to fight tooth and nail to see regain a sense of control over their existence. People want to go out and see friends, eat at diners, and watch live music. They want to feel a sense of community that Zoom and Skype and other digital streaming platforms cannot duplicate.

Q & Z Expo Center in Ringle, Wisconsin, is ran by promoters who share the frustrations that many have with the current state of the world. They want events to return as well, and they’re doing their best to make that happen with a recently announced three-day event set to take place July 16-18. The so-called ‘mini-fest’ will feature performances from rock and metal bands, including Static-X, Dope, and Blacktop Mojo, to anyone willing to risk getting sick.

In the announcement of the gig, organizers wrote:

“As humans we NEED other human contact. MUSIC in itself is great, but the live streams as I am sure you all know is just not the same we need LIVE , feel it to the bones, run shivers up your spine MUSIC with people around us. Takes us all away on a trip that unless you have felt it you won’t understand.”

The event will host up to 2,000 music fans in a space that traditionally holds 10,000, which should allow for social distancing. Whether or not distancing will be required is not known, nor are any rules related to wearing masks.

In this Music Biz News update, host James Shotwell details the event, the plans to keep people safe, and how the world might not be as ready for live music as the festival organizers seem to believe.

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Inside The First Socially Distant Concert [Video]

A new era of live music kicked off in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on Monday, May 18. The crowd was ready, the artists were thrilled, but no one could ignore the elephant in the room.

Everyone asking when America would see live music return caught a glimpse of what the immediate future holds Monday night, May 18, when Bishop Gunn frontman Travis McCready hit the stage at TempleLive in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Hailed as the first “socially distant” concert, the performance welcomed a tiny crowd into a massive space with new rules put in place to keep everyone safe from COVID-19.

The capacity for the TempleLive performance was 229, a fraction of the venue’s standard 1000. Though its unclear how many tickets were sold, photos and videos of the event reveal people scattered throughout the site in what Ticketmaster is calling “fan pods.” The concept, which is likely to gain popularity in the months ahead, allows consumers to purchase enough tickets to sit with friends without allowing other attendees to sit too close.

Other new ideas implemented for the event included temperature checks for all attendees, limits on bathroom occupancy, and the placement of twenty-five sanitation stations throughout the venue.

In our latest Music Biz News update, host James Shotwell takes us inside TempleLive in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to learn how the event came together, what it looked like, and we may lie ahead for the future of live music.

Until there is a vaccine for coronavirus that is widely available to the general public we will likely see more “socially distant” concerts taking place. Whether or not they look like this event is anybody’s guess. Hosting live music in the age of COVID is an experiment, and anyone attending is a test subject. Rules and regulations will shift as needed to ensure the safety and comfort of the crowd. If that doesn’t feel safe to you, go ahead and stay home. Music is resilient. The concerts you dream of will inevitably return. We’re just not sure when that will happen.

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America’s First ‘Socially Distant’ Concert Is Cancelled

Arkansas’ Governor has issued a cease and desist order against TempleLive for their plans to host America’s first “socially distant” concert later this week.

Music publications around the world have spent the better part of two weeks covering an upcoming May 15 performance from Travis McCready. The Bishop Gunn frontman was set to headline the first “socially distant” concert in the United States at TempleLive, which was also going to serve as a testing ground for live music in the age of COVID-19. However, a last-minute intervention from the state’s governor has canceled the event.

Arkansas, like most US states, is still working to slow the spread of coronavirus through a statewide lockdown. The current restrictions on public activities expire May 18, which is three days after the McCready concert was set to happen. The staff at TempleLive was making efforts to make the show as safe as possible, including cutting capacity from 1800 to just 229. Still, Governor Hutchinson decided this week those efforts were not enough.

The proposed seating chart for the first “socially distant” concert, which was canceled earlier this week.

“You can’t just arbitrarily determine when the restrictions are lifted. That is something that is done based on a public health requirement,” said Hutchinson at a news conference, citing guidelines for venues that stipulated events of 50 people or more must be operating at less than 34 percent capacity and must have plans approved by the Department of Health. He added, “Clearly, it is three days before we determined it was an appropriate time to open up to a limited capacity in some of those informal venues, and even if you’re going to have 250 people at a venue, you still have to have a specific plan that would be approved by the Department of Health. None of that was done in this case.”

It’s surprising to see the decision to cancel the event happen so close to the show date. After all, the media has been covering the concert since early May. Those in a position to deny the event have no doubt been aware of its existence as long as the rest of us, if not longer.

TempleLive has not announced any additional concerts at this time, but the news of this cancelation is yet another example of our ‘new normal.’ As we covered in this week’s Music Biz 101, the live music business is going to be experimenting with events for the foreseeable future. Shows will happen, but what they look like, how they operate, and how often they occur will change frequently. Some states may allow concerts for a short while only to ban them again as COVID-19 infection rates vary. For now, the best thing any of us can do is be patient. Live music isn’t going away forever. We will sing and dance together again.

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90% of Ticketholders Do No Want Refunds; They Want Concerts

A recent global survey of 10,000 concertgoers reveals consumers are anxious to see live music returns.

Live Nation issued its first-quarter 2020 results earlier this week amid concerns that the continuing proliferation of coronavirus around the globe would place a financial pinch on the entertainment giant. Not surprisingly, the report exposed a business struggling to adapt even though the lockdown began in the last three weeks of the quarter: Revenues were down 20% year-on-year, concert revenue was down 25% (from $1.318 billion to $993.4 million) ticketing was down 16% and, significantly, fan attendance was down 6.2%. However, CEO Michael Rapino remains optimistic about his company’s future, though he admits it may be the third or fourth quarter of 2021 before things feel normal again.

To reinforce his positivity, Rapino shared insights from a global survey of more than 10,000 concertgoers about their feelings regarding live music. The result show an overwhelming support for the performancers and an eagerness to see concerts return with over 90% of consumers choosing to hold onto tickets rather than request refunds. Additionally 91% say they’re likely to return to music venues after COVID-19 fears subside, which is higher than movie theaters, conferences, and other places where large groups of people typically gather.

Elsewhere in the report, 79% of fans are planning to return to a music venue within four months of coronavirus restrictions lifting. If the current plan in the US stays in place, that would mean that the overwhelming majority of concertgoers plan to step foot inside a venue by September or October 2020.

Additionally, 72% claim that watching livestream events makes them more excited for future concerts, which is good because the entire industry is hoping streaming can sustain fan engagement until things return to normal.

You can find the full report here.

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How To Save Independent Venues When You Have No Money To Spare

Independent venues around the country are joining forces to ask for help, and you can play a significant role in making sure they survive the coronavirus pandemic.

Have you heard about NIVA? Otherwise known as the National Independent Venue Association, NIVA brings together more than 800 venues across the country in an attempt to keep their businesses afloat while COVID-19 makes live performances impossible. Independent venues are more vulnerable to permanent shutdowns amid the coronavirus pandemic because they do not have the multi-million dollar backing venues owned by Live Nation or AEG possess. Their independence grants them the ability to take a chance on talent that may not normally get a chance to shine, and they need your help to survive these chaotic times.

NIVA is calling on all fans of live music to write their senators and representatives to demand the government help these organizations stay alive. Visiting the NIVA website will allow you to quickly fill out of a form letter and send it to those in power with just a couple of clicks. It takes only a few moments to complete. Please do your part.

A message from NIVA reads:

National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is securing financial support to preserve the national ecosystem of independent venues and promoters. These entertainment hubs are critical to their local economies and tax bases as employers, tourism destinations, and revenue generators for neighboring businesses such as restaurants, hotels, and retail. Independent venues exist in every state across the country; they were the first to be closed, they will be the last to open. The economic recovery process will extend past just reopening the front doors, requiring solutions unique to the industry.

The vast majority of musicians rely on independent venues to tour and sustain their careers. Your efforts to keep these businesses going will make an impact on the livelihood of your favorite artists and the artists you’ve yet to discover. Action is needed. Do your part.

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