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Many countries, such as the United States, Italy, France and Germany, entrust health certificates to revive the live music sector
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If during the winter Spain was almost the only place in Europe where concerts could be held, the trend now points the other way around: various countries are opening up to concerts and large festivals, especially thanks to covid passports. We study under these lines the cases of United States, Italy, France and Germany:
For a few months it seemed that the return of live music in the United States was on track after the stoppage that caused the pandemic but the persistence of the Delta variant has caused clouds to appear again on the scene, especially for the most massive appointments. The country’s political divisions also create a magma of regulations.
On New York, for example, this Tuesday a program comes into force, baptized Key to NYC Pass, for which it will be required to show proof of even partial vaccination to enter all concert venues, as well as Broadway, cinemas, gyms, restaurants, etc. Similar measures have been taken in cities like New Orleans or California. Meanwhile, in other states and cities, especially those governed by Republicans, any mandate is prohibited, which makes it impossible to require proof of vaccination or use of a mask, even if the artist or promoter wants it.
That legal gibberish puts asterisks to decisions like that of AEG Presents, one of the main promoters of concerts in the United States, which will require vaccination tests from October in all venues and festivals where it organizes concerts. Its main competitor, Live Nation, initially resisted but has ended up adopting the same measure for all the public and staff as of October.
Many venues and independent promoters have long required the public to be vaccinated or have a recent negative test and more and more artists are calling for the stricter policy that only allows the vaccinated to enter.
Also, many artists have taken measures such as ending the backstage passes or meetings with fans to curb the risks. And on her American tour, for example, Phoebe Bridgers has moved all her concerts from closed venues to open-air venues, in addition to demanding proof of immunization in states where doing so is legal.
Although the good precedents of festivals like Lollapalooza, which during three days in July brought together more than 400,000 people and with 90% of the attendees vaccinated registered only 200 infections, in August there was a cascade of cancellations or delays of tours, such as those of Nine Inch Nails, BTS, Garth Brooks or Stevie Nicks. Others are keeping their plans for now, including the Rolling Stones, who open their Missouri tour on the 26th.
Eric Clapton, a vaccine critic who has refused to perform in places where proof of immunization is required of the public, also maintains his American tour, mainly in closed venues in the south. By Idoya Noain
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To attend concerts or musical shows in Italy, it is necessary, in addition to wearing masks and keeping separate within the venues, to possess the so-called health passport, known as Green Pass in Italy. This document certifies that one has been vaccinated, has passed the disease or has done a PCR or antigen test in the 48 hours prior to the recital.
It is a measure introduced by the Government of Mario Draghi at the beginning of August and the majority of the population supports it. Even so, since its entry into force, there have been noisy protests against the demand for this document by organized groups of nonconformists, and also some controversy over various ‘raves’ that last month got out of control, with hundreds of young people who they crowded together and breached the coronavirus containment rules.
In fact, capacity restrictions still remain, although they are linked to the impact of the pandemic in the region in which one is. Currently, in effect, the map of Italy is divided into four colors, which reflect the situation of contagion: red (maximum risk, where the restrictions are greater), orange, yellow and white (minimum risk). In the white areas, the color in which all Italian regions are now found except Sicily (which is yellow), an open space capacity of 50% of the total capacity is allowed, for a maximum of 5,000 people.
Instead, the indoor limit is 35%, for a maximum of 2,500 people. And, in all cases, the seats are pre-assigned and, if the attendees are not living together, the distance of at least one meter within the venue must be maintained.
With that, to mitigate the economic damage that the industry continues to suffer, the Italian Government has recently allocated some 5 million euros for campaigns to inform about the resumption of the programming of theaters, concert halls and other places of live musical entertainment. On the other hand, the discos are still closed. By Irene Savio
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The vaccination passport (or covid-19 pass) is the main measure to celebrate concerts in France in times of pandemic. As with many other social and cultural activities, such as going to a bar, theater or cinema, the French Government opted for the health certificate to hold concerts and festivals in the midst of the coronavirus crisis. This document is mandatory for the assistants and workers of any musical activity in the presence of the public. Both in open and closed spaces, the covid-19 pass is required, which is available to people with a complete vaccination schedule or with a negative test of less than 72 hours.
Since July 21, those responsible for festivals and concerts apply this protocol in the neighboring country, more demanding than initially expected, before the appearance of the delta variant. The omnipresence of the vaccination passport meant that the rest of the restrictions were less. Capacity ranges from 100% at concerts and festivals in the open air to 75% indoors. The mask is mandatory in closed areas, but it is not required in open areas.
Despite being undemanding in capacity and use of masks, this protocol did not help the musical activities to regain pre-pandemic normality. The public was absent this summer from festivals and concerts. Empty chairs were a common sight. The presence of young people, the most common type of public at these events, was burdened by the requirement of the covid-19 pass since July, at a time when many twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings had not yet received the two punctures. Great summer festivals, such as Solidays in Paris or Eurockéennes in Belfort, ended up being canceled.
The music sector hopes, however, to achieve a comeback in September. More than 68% of the population is vaccinated, including many young people. Great festivals are held this month, such as Art Rock, the VYV Festival or the Fête de l’Humanité. The legendary Elton John will sing between October 10 and 13 at the Accord Arena in Paris, while the pop star Mika will do it on October 23 and 24 at the Philharmonic in the French capital. All these great acts will serve as a thermometer of the sanitary and economic efficiency of the vaccination passport. By Enric Bonet
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The celebration of concerts and music festivals in Germany is recovering little by little. Currently, the federal state governments decide which restrictions apply to events. And the debate over the measures is heating up as the end of summer approaches, and with it, the possibility of holding events outdoors due to the cold and bad weather.
The city-state of Hamburg has already introduced, for example, the option of the ‘2G’ model: promoters of events, museums, bars or restaurants have the option of allowing access only to people who can demonstrate that they are fully vaccinated or who have overcome the coronavirus. The model is criticized by those who consider it an indirect introduction of the obligation of the vaccine to participate in public life. The model, optional for now, eliminates the option of antigen testing or PCR as an alternative to immunization.
In the federal and cultural capital of Germany, Berlin, the ‘3G’ rule still applies for concerts and other outdoor events: only those vaccinated, recovered and tested with a negative result can enter. The number of attendees cannot exceed, in addition, the 2,000 people who will have to use a medicinal mask when they get up from their seats. If they want to dance, they have to wear the mask all the time.
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In closed spaces, the ‘3G’ rule also applies: attendees have to wear a mask all the time if the space does not have an automatic ventilation system and the number of attendees cannot exceed 1,000 people. Both in outdoor and indoor spaces, attendees must register with their personal data to be able to track it in case a coronavirus outbreak is generated.
The current restrictions cause, therefore, that the great concerts continue to be postponed until 2022 and even until 2023. German bestselling pop singer Helene Fischer is planning her first concert for August 2022 in Munich. Elton John wants to play at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin in March 2023. And the German rock band Rammstein already decided last March to postpone their tour scheduled for this summer to the spring of next year. By Andreu Jerez
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