Live Nation’s CEO Michael Rapino is optimistic that large-scale concerts in the U.S. can return this coming summer. In a Q4 earnings call for Live Nation (reported by Music Business Insider), Rapino said that “a clear outline to a 75% to 100%” capacity for outdoor U.S. events in 2021 was looking likely to be green-lit.” (Quote via SPIN report.)
“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 continued. “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.
“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,” he concluded.
Rapino also posted a tweet expressing his optimism: “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,” he wrote. “Thank you to all of our @LiveNation employees for their endless resilience and creativity – none of this would be possible without you.”
This past week, the British government released a timeline stating that large music events could return to the U.K. at 100% capacity by June 21. Live Nation then released 100,000 tickets for the Reading & Leeds festival (set for Aug. 27 and 29), which have already sold out.
12 Comments comments associated with this post
Joe Biden
March 1, 2021 at 5:34 pmYou young whippersnappers dont know diddly. Old people dont like crowds and unless yer favrite band likes to play at 4pm after the senior discount at Waffle House then how are “vaccinated” people going to be at concerts… yeeehh hickety hawww. Y’all… you aint gettin vaccinated until 2022. have you seen how many of us survived the pandemic? We are everywhere! This Michael guy seems like a nice young feller but hes frankly full of the old dogs anal glans secretions if he thinks you kids are going to get to go to a big hoe down. soaking of how Down, grannie is over here butt naked on the pianie so its time for my little blue pill! Wooo Hoo!! And my nitro glycerine!
ross thompson
March 1, 2021 at 8:22 pmThe stupidest post of the day. Congrats
bob p's sitting down
March 2, 2021 at 11:40 amJoe, is it true that the black and latinx community doesn’t know how to use the internet, thus will not be able to get tix to these fantastic festivals of which Live Nation speaks? If this is the case, then Live Nation is racist, much like yourself for stating as such.
Dustin Ryan Taylor
March 5, 2021 at 9:37 amracist asshole
Steve
March 1, 2021 at 5:16 pmThe artists are going to have to buy into the idea of touring again, they’re taking a bigger risk than the fans. Many of them are high risk because of their age or any other number of reasons. If any of them get infected it could mean cancelling multiple shows(or worse) and no one wants that. If they want to impose rules for their own safety I’m ok with that but still not sure if I’d go myself right away.
it's time
March 1, 2021 at 4:38 pmVaccinated people could safely attend at this point with minimal precautions, even at indoor venues. In a couple months tens of millions more will be immune. Plenty of demand to start rolling out shows this summer. No reason to hold back any longer, Covid will never be gone, it will remain seasonal like the flu and at this point, we need to learn how to live with it and work around it. Fees suck, same as it ever was……
HumboldtRick
March 1, 2021 at 4:11 pmLarge live music events will NOT happen this summer. We will still be dealing with this pandemic through the end of the year. I would suggest that live music events will resume in 2022. If they start earlier, they will just be putting fans and musicians in danger. Only the foolish will attend.
shakeit
March 1, 2021 at 4:33 pmBRING IT! I WILL PAY THE 30% SURCHARGES TOO.
BANDS ARE SUFFERING AND FANS ARE SUFFERING. ENOUGH ALREADY. LET’S GO!
HumboldtMorty
March 1, 2021 at 4:43 pmI’m a fool for live music. Vaccinated people could safely attend at this point with minimal precautions, even at indoor venues. In a couple months tens of millions more will be immune. Plenty of demand to start rolling out shows this summer. No reason to hold back any longer, Covid will never be gone, it will remain seasonal like the flu and at this point, we need to learn how to live with it and work around it. Some older musicians might prefer to stay home but I suspect most bands are chomping at the bit to get back put there, especially when there are lots of options to play outside at large venues with slightly reduced capacity to allow for some shoulder room. High risk people should avoid these events until they feel safer, that can be a personal choice when it comes to concerts, unlike going to grocery store, doctors, and other truly essential outings. Let’s go on an adventure again!
Billy
March 1, 2021 at 10:03 pmDon’t forget about the people that got covid and natural immunity, which is way better then a vaccine can provide! If people are getting these stupid vaccination cards, I want my natural immunity card then! It’s all a bunch off bullshit!!!!
Not my first rodeo.
March 1, 2021 at 3:50 pmLive Bastard is going to ROYALLY screw ticketholders for the foreseeable future. What until you see the list of fees, local fees, covid fees, sweaty balls fees, missed revenue fees. I can easily guess a 30% surcharge on EVERY one of their concerts… Also, OF COPURSE Rapino is going to sound bullish, he needs to fo his share price to go up. Man, I’m buying at the ticket booth day of or I’ll buy from a sucker… Um I mean another fan.
wah
March 1, 2021 at 3:45 pmnow if live nation would go away with ticket master…. i’m sure they’ll dick us with more charges to make up with “lost revenue”