Are COVID Delta Variant Fears Killing the Live Concert Comeback?

Just before the July 4th weekend, the traditional launch date of the summer concert season of live music, the music industry was hailing a post-pandemic comeback, predicting the live concert business would bounce back to pre-COVID levels as early as August or September. But in the last few weeks, as infections and hospitalizations from COVID-19 variants have risen in many parts of the world, top acts like Garth Brooks, Nine Inch Nails, Stevie Nicks and Michael Bublé have canceled upcoming tour dates — and on Friday K-pop sensation BTS canceled its upcoming world tour. “Due to changing circumstances beyond our control, it has become difficult to resume performances at the same scale and timeline as previously planned,” the band’s label, Big Hit Music, said in a statement. Rob Ellin, chairman and CEO of LiveXLive premium live music streaming network, told TheWrap that the rise in COVID anxiety is already putting a damper on hopes of a live-performance comeback this year. “Big tours and big bands are going to have a very difficult time until the middle of next year,” he said. However, Sam Hunt, executive vice president and managing executive for Wasserman Music, said differing levels of tolerance for COVID...

Read original story Are COVID Delta Variant Fears Killing the Live Concert Comeback? At TheWrap