Live Nation Announces New COVID-19 Best Practices For Artists, Concertgoers, Staff

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Over the last two weeks, many states, cities, and businesses have responded to the growing spread of COVID-19, specifically the extremely contagious Delta variant that is running rampant across the United States and the rest of the world. Included in many of these responses are vaccine requirements, such as those recently announced by President Joe Biden for federal employees and some Nashville music venues.

With the U.S. reporting over 100,000 new cases of COVID on average each day, the nationwide vaccine campaign has begun to see a bit of an uptick as over 70% of Americans have received at least one of the three available vaccines to those 12 years or older.

Last week, Live Nation, the world’s leading entertainment and ticketing company, announced that they have developed best practices that will allow artists the option to require their concertgoers and staff to be fully vaccinated or show a negative test result for entry at their U.S. shows. This is not a requirement and will be completely determined by the artist.

Live Nation has already implemented this model at many major events over the past few weeks, including at Lollapalooza in Chicago. As shared by Live Nation’s President and CFO Joe Berchtold from the company’s earnings call on Aug. 3, over 90% of the festival’s patrons were fully vaccinated, signaling positive commitment and support of being vaccinated in order to attend shows.

“We are working to ensure we are reopening in the best way possible for staff, artists, crew, fans, and communities at large. Our teams have worked together to put new processes in place so that artists doing shows with Live Nation in the U.S. can require all attendees and staff to be fully vaccinated or show a negative test result for entry, where permitted by law,” said Live Nation’s CEO Michael Rapino in a letter to the company’s staff. “We know people are eager to return to live events and we hope these measures encourage even more people to get vaccinated. That is the number one thing anyone can do to take care of those around them and we are encouraging as many shows as possible to adopt this model.”

Additionally, Live Nation will be requiring all employees in the U.S. be vaccinated in order to enter any of its events, venues, or offices—with limited exceptions as may be required by law—beginning Oct. 4 as their offices are set to reopen.

“We’ve seen great vaccination enthusiasm among our staff so far, and we want to ensure we’re taking every step possible to keep you all safe,” Rapino explained. “Our business and our industry is about uniting people and vaccines are one of the greatest tools for making sure that everyone can continue to enjoy live music together.”

For more information regarding CDC guidance, vaccinations, and the Delta variant, click here.

Lydia Farthing
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