By CLTure News
March 1, 2021
Live Nation recently revealed during a Q4 2020 earnings call that outdoor concerts could return as early as mid-summer. Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino said, “a clear outline to a 75% to 100%” capacity for outdoor U.S. events in 2021 was looking likely to be green-lit.”
The British government recently announced on Monday, February 22, that large-scale music events in the U.K. could resume at 100% capacity beginning on June 21. Live Nation and its subsidiary, Festival Republic, promptly announced Reading and Leeds Festival tickets would go on sale for August 27 and 29. Rapino confirmed on the earnings call that Reading & Leeds Festival had sold 100,000 tickets in 72 hours this week, and another Live Nation affiliated U.K. festival, Creamfields had sold its entire 70,000 capacity in just 48 hours, according to Music Business Worldwide.
Reading and Leeds 2021 📣 Following the government’s recent announcement, we can’t wait to get back to the fields this summer 🎉 LET’S GO 🍻 #RandL21https://t.co/se3B02oFyj pic.twitter.com/EzBLKr3S9T
— Reading & Leeds Fest (@OfficialRandL) February 24, 2021
This makes the outlook for outdoor concerts and festivals in the U.S. this year promising as states start to open up. “[We] think we’re better off waiting for a high bar capacity moment in most of the states to ramp up and talk to the artists about getting paid properly,” Rapino said as reported by Music Business Worldwide.
In North Carolina, on February 24, Governor Roy Cooper eased restrictions to allow outdoor sports venues to allow 30% capacity with indoor facilities that hold 5,000 or more people 15% capacity.
Although there hasn’t been any specific announcements about outdoor music venues and amphitheatres in North Carolina, Rapino seemed optimistic on the earnings call.
“We might have certain states that might not be ready, but we have enough states and enough artists willing to play the open slots if we get to that level in the right markets,” Rapino said. “So as long as these states open up to the right capacities, we can start in midsummer and in the southern U.S. we can go all the way into November.”
With more artists than ever wanting to tour and fans eager to make up for lost time, all signs point to even more concerts ahead. Thank you to all of our @LiveNation employees for their endless resilience and creativity – none of this would be possible without you pic.twitter.com/gdiapVYSyk
— Michael Rapino (@Michael_Rapino) February 25, 2021
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