Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
In a recent report from Billboard, Recognizing national concerns over the spread of the coronavirus, Live Nation is instructing its touring shows to prepare to return home, recognizing national concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. The announcement affects all Live Nation tours, domestically and internationally.
Earlier Thursday (March 12) the company told employees it is recognizing large gatherings around the world are being canceled and the company will be postponing current touring arena shows through the end of the month. Some select shows will play out over the next few days, but the remainder of the concerts will be postponed.
Live Nation is also instructing its employees to work remotely and not come into the office. The company’s Beverly Hills headquarters will be mostly closed until the end of March.
On a call, company executive told employees that March is generally a slow month and that Live Nation will re-evaluate the situation at the beginning of April with the goal of resuming touring in May or June.
Live Nation is not planning any layoffs and company officials told staff it is well positioned to weather the closure.
Tours affected include Billie Eilish, Jason Aldean, Zac Brown Band, Cher, Kiss, Post Malone, Tool, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Chris Stapleton and many others.
In a related story, on Thursday (March 12) New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a state-wide ban on social gatherings of 500 people or more as a way to combat the spread of coronavirus.
The governor took to social media to state, “We are taking new actions to reduce the density of people across the state. Starting Friday at 5pm, gatherings with 500 people or more will not be permitted in NYS.”
He added that venues with an occupancy of 500 or less will be legally required to host a maximum of half the capacity.
The ban will hit Broadway theaters beginning at 5 p.m. EST Thursday and will include many concerts throughout the city.
Madison Square Garden alone will be forced to cancel or postpone shows from Billie Eilish on Sunday, Billy Joel on Tuesday and a previously announced postponement for Pearl Jam originally scheduled for March 30. Radio City Music Hall will also see cancellation or postponement of shows from Third Eye Blind, Thom Yorke‘s Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes and more.
Additional venues that will lose concerts throughout the month of March include Brooklyn Bowl, Bowery Ballroom, Terminal 5 and Brooklyn Steel, among many more. Wire, Nathaniel Rateliff, Against Me! and Sudan Archives all have affected shows.
Wednesday night, Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, postponed all three dates for Phil Lesh‘s birthday celebration scheduled for this weekend due to concerns about the coronavirus.
