Ticketing Giant to Aid Event Re-Starts | Music News

Following the good, early news from Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, Ticketmaster is said to be deep in planning for a post-COVID concerts restart.

Earlier this week, Pfizer, producers of Viagra, said a vaccine it had been developing with German partner BioNTech SE was 90% effective against COVID-19, based on large-scale studies. The medical community is cautiously optimistic, and Australia’s Government has pounced with a deal to nab 10 million doses, which will cover five million people based on the two required doses.

Live Nation’s ticketing subsidiary is reportedly building a framework for a safe return to touring, by leveraging smart-phone technology and science.

The in-development project pulls the levers on the Ticketmaster digital ticket app, third party health information companies and vaccine distribution providers. After buying a ticket for the show, the punter would need to verify that they’ve been vaccinated or test negative for the novel coronavirus within a specific timeframe. Once given the green light, that information would be passed along a digital chain and made available to the concert-goer.

Ticketmaster President Mark Yovich said “We’re already seeing many third-party health care providers prepare to handle the vetting — whether that is getting a vaccine, taking a test, or other methods of review and approval – which could then be linked via a digital ticket so everyone entering the event is verified.

“Ticketmaster’s goal is to provide enough flexibility and options that venues and fans have multiple paths to return to events, and is working to create integrations to our API and leading digital ticketing technology as we will look to tap into the top solutions based on what’s green-lit by officials and desired by clients.”

It has been reported that a decision on whether to require proof of vaccination would sit with the event organiser, not with Ticketmaster.

With close to zero income flowing into its coffers for months, Live Nation and Ticketmaster, the leading players in the space, are totally exposed to the pandemic. Since March, the touring titan has tested the waters for COVID-safe productions, which have included socially-distanced shows and drive-in concerts.

In recent months, LN announced a Global Relief Fund had raised US$15 million, to support 15,000 roadies, techs and all the backstage crew now out of work due to the pandemic.