In recent weeks, cancellations and postponements of concerts or tours are common in Asia. The cause is the rapid spread of the Coronavirus Covid-19 in mainland China and in other countries of the continent, including South Korea and Iran, which have been particularly affected. The number of contaminations in the world now stands at 80,147 while 2,699 deaths have been recorded according to a last assessment.
The epidemic has a direct impact on the music industry and more particularly on the live market. According to the support structure of the French music industry abroad Bureau Export, the Chinese Performing Arts Association estimates that around 20,000 shows were canceled or postponed between January and March in China and Hong Kong. Total cost of these disruptions: $ 286 million.
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International artists have had to interrupt their tour of Asia, at the behest of the major leading groups in the live industry. Playing the card of caution, the two producers of musical events AEG and Live Nation Asia have indeed preferred to postpone or cancel the concert series of Khalid and Ozzy Osbourne. Like the Korean promoter International Creative Agency (ICA) who works in particular with musicians Post Malone, Camila Cabello and Kenny G.
Wave of cancellations
Scheduled in the region at the end of March, the British rapper Stormzy was also affected by this wave of cancellations. " I was very impatient to take the #HITH (Heavy in the Head, his second album) world tour to sold out concerts, but due to concerns about the coronavirus, I unfortunately have to postpone this part of the tour, "he wrote in an Instagram post. " I promise I will come back, " he added, calling on viewers to turn to their dealers. His world tour started in Dubai last week, his next concert is scheduled for February 20 in Berlin.
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The Boston Symphony Orchestra also canceled its tour of the continent. Directed by Andris Nelsons, the training was to take place from February 6 to 16 in several cities in Asia including Seoul, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Asian artists are not spared the phenomenon. The K-Pop group SEVENTEEN, expected in Paris on March 5 at the Seine Musicale, had to reschedule its tour and its French concert " as part of health precautions related to the spread of the coronavirus ", specifies Live Nation France on Twitter. Requested by Le Figaro , the concert organizer did not wish to respond to our requests for the moment.
SEVENTEEN cancels its WORLD TOUR TO YOU IN PARIS concert and concert as part of health precautions linked to the spread of the coronavirus. The concert planned for March 5 at Seine Musicale is therefore canceled. Places are refundable at your point of purchase.
- Live Nation France (@LivenationFR) February 9, 2020Brand New Music had decided for the same reasons to postpone the European tour of the Korean group AB6IX, including a French date scheduled for February 23 at the Casino de Paris. Other artists have suffered a similar fate, such as the boy bands GOT7, NCT Dream and the singer Taeyeon, all from South Korea. And the stars of K-pop BTS announced Friday the cancellation of giant concerts planned for April in Seoul. The number of coronavirus cases has crossed the 2,000 mark in South Korea, the most affected country after China. The Chinese National Symphony Orchestra has canceled all of its performances scheduled for February in Beijing.