As millions of people around the world remain in lockdown amid strict coronavirus social distancing regulations, a large proportion of artists have started taking their live shows online with a series of intimate home concerts as a temporary means of entertainment relief. However, it appears that the limited period of time could be hanging around for longer than first thought.(faroutmagazine.com)
SSD plans to announce a lineup consisting of music and comedy this Tuesday (July 7) with tickets going on sale next Friday (July 10). Performances are set to begin next month.
A new study conducted by the New York Times has examined the current coronavirus crisis and, at times, touched on the potential length of the quarantine measures. One expert, offering his take on the immediate future, claimed that the realistic return of concerts won’t enter the discussions until “fall 2021 at the earliest.”
The music industry today stands to lose nearly $9 billion if concert stages remain dark for the rest of the year, Pollstar reports. Structural changes may need to be made, and that could lengthen the wait for shows to return.
Live music venues might require a temperature check with your cover charge or proof of immunity. Measures like those would allow many parts of the economy to spring back to life, though the degree and length of immunity for those who've contracted this novel coronavirus is still unclear.
Zeke Emanuel, an oncologist and bioethicist of the Center For American Progress, has claimed that a return to live concerts as we know them are a long way away from returning: “Restarting the economy has to be done in stages, and it does have to start with more physical distancing at a work site that allows people who are at lower risk to come back,” he said as part of a large feature in the New York Times. “Certain kinds of construction, or manufacturing or offices, in which you can maintain six-foot distances are more reasonable to start sooner.”
He continued: “Larger gatherings—conferences, concerts, sporting events—when people say they’re going to reschedule this conference or graduation event for October 2020, I have no idea how they think that’s a plausible possibility. I think those things will be the last to return. Realistically, we’re talking fall 2021 at the earliest.”
"Absolutely every person I've spoken to who knows their stuff says that this is going to be a long process," Atlantic science writer Ed Yong told CNN. "It shouldn't be rushed, and we should not expect everything to snap back to the way it was. Really large mass gatherings like big sporting events, concerts, conferences - those may not be part of our future for the next year, and we need to plan to be psychologically and socially resilient for what's to come."
