The rapid spread of coronavirus has had an unprecedented global impact, hindering daily activities in countries all over the world. Its major impact on commerce and the economy has been mirrored in the entertainment industry as well. The global panic surrounding this pandemic has only been amplified by its constant domination of the news cycle, along with the reactions from celebrities and other well-known organizations. Many major festivals, sporting events, concerts, and movie debuts have been canceled or delayed due to fears of coronavirus, exhibiting the wide-reaching effects of this outbreak.
One industry that the coronavirus has impacted is the music industry. Music is something people can enjoy from the comfort of their own home, however the full experience of going to a concert has been compromised. Justin Bieber, for example, has downsized eight of his Changes Tour venues from stadiums to arenas amid growing fears of coronavirus. Ticket sales for this tour have been slow, likely because people are afraid to become exposed to coronavirus. Other artists like Taylor Swift and BTS aren’t yet affected, with sold-out stadium tour dates scheduled for the spring and summer, but it will be interesting to see if those events are compromised because of coronavirus fears. The potential lost revenue these artists could face is substantial.
A major event that has been compromised is the outrageously popular Coachella. The annual music festival’s April dates have been postponed until October to keep people safe from coronavirus, as cases have been confirmed in California. This has led to a mess in the form of refunded tickets, refunded hotel rooms, and over 175 performing acts whose long-term schedules may be compromised to fit these new dates. It will be a nightmare to make sure headliners and major artists do not have any scheduling conflicts, however putting public health first is the responsible thing to do.
The film and television industries have also been impacted by the spread of coronavirus. Major films like the new James Bond movie No Time To Die, along with A Quiet Place Part II, have been delayed indefinitely, as large gatherings in theaters only aid the spread of germs. These large gatherings have also been canceled for studio audiences at talk shows. Shows like The Tonight Show, The View, Jeopardy, and even The Ellen DeGeneres Show will begin taping without live studio audiences. Additionally, Broadway announced that it will be going dark until April 12, which is the longest the theater community has ever gone without running shows. These precautionary measures reflect just how far people are going in order to stay safe amidst this pandemic.
Coronavirus has been able to spread rapidly because of the intensely global age we live in. Contact with people from all over the world has become a part of many people’s daily lives due to the accessibility of transportation, and this contact unfortunately aids the spread of disease. This globalization is aided by events like The Olympics, which supports the joining of all nations and promotes peace through competitive sports. The 2020 Olympics are set to be held in Tokyo, Japan at the end of July. It is estimated that over 500,000 people will attend, but as of March 11, 492 people in Japan have tested positive for the virus. This puts one of the most popular global events in jeopardy and could make the Japanese government lose over 26 billion dollars.
Many people look to celebrities and the media for guidance in their daily lives and in times of crisis. It is important that the people who can use their social media platforms use them responsibly to create awareness in situations like this and keep people safe. Many celebrities and influencers have inundated their Instagrams with visuals on how to properly wash your hands and what precautions should be taken to stop the spread of coronavirus. The fact that so many popular events are being postponed or canceled could be an inconvenience to some, but it is ultimately the responsible thing to do in order to keep people safe. The entertainment industry relies on audiences to generate revenue, however, it is better to stay safe at home rather than go out to a concert or movie and risk getting sick. Only time can tell how this situation might escalate or repair itself, but we will just have to sit back and safely watch from a distance until then.