Doctor Fauci - Concerts Could Return Fall 2021

I have dubbed 2021 the year of "wait and see"! If we have learned anything from 2020 it is that it is impossible to predict the future with certainty. So, we wait and see what will happen. With that being said, we do have to lean on experts to give us direction.

When it comes to the eventual return of live music events naturally we look to a company such as Live Nation to lead the way and set a new standard. With this pandemic however concert promoters cannot go it alone so we look to the our medical experts and who better to ask than Doctor Anthony Fauci?

According to the New York Times Doctor Fauci took part in a virtual conference, on Saturday, held by the Association of Performing Arts People. During this conference Fauci said that he believed theaters and other venues could reopen “some time in the fall of 2021,” Well that would be great news!

So what needs to happen in order for this to become reality? Doctor Fauci went on to say that the timeline would depend on the vaccination rollout, and suggested that audiences might still be required to wear masks for some time. Fauci and other experts suggest that the country would need to reach an effective level of herd immunity, which he defined as vaccinating from 70 percent to 85 percent of the population.

Concert promoters would love for this to happen sooner and some may be looking for a Summer return for live concert events. Back in December Joe Birchtold, President of Live Nation, appeared on the CNBC program Squawk Alley where he expressed his confidence in a Summer return. Birchtold stated "It's our expectation in general that we will be able to get back to full capacity shows and we won't need social distancing, certainly outdoors by next Summer."

Will shows return by Summer? Fall? We will have to wait and see.