The Coachella festival could be postponed: As the "Billboard" magazine claims to have learned from well-informed sources, organizers are working on a plan to move the festival to October to avoid the acute coronavirus outbreak. The festival was originally scheduled to take place from April 10th to 19th. It will be determined within the next 48 hours whether the move to October is possible. If not, the festival will probably be canceled completely, writes "Billboard".
Postponing the big event by a few months is a huge challenge involving hundreds of artists, management and tens of thousands of employees. The autumn months are the most important concert time for musicians and bands, in which – after the festival season in summer – they mostly tour solo around the world. It is therefore very unlikely that the Coachella will get all planned headliners to adjust their calendars to the new festival date.
SXSW canceled at the last second
Last Monday, the Texas "South by Southwest" festival was canceled at the last minute, at the urging of the local health authority. It is the first time in the festival's 34-year history that the SXSW has failed. In a petition, residents previously called for the festival to be canceled, which is taking place in many different locations in the city. The short-term cancellation could become a major financial problem for the organizers: the festival's insurance does not cover a case like the coronavirus, as the organizer told the "Wall Street Journal".
Formula 1 fans in Australia also have to do without musical entertainment: Pop star Miley Cyrus (28, "Wrecking Ball") announced Tuesday morning with a tweet to be unable to play their benefit concert for the benefit of the bushfire victims due to the health risks – whereupon the entire concert evening, including the other artists, was canceled.
Pearl Jam postpone tour start
Pearl Jam have also decided not to take any unnecessary risks and to cancel or postpone the first stage of their "Gigato" tour. The music group shared on Monday evening via Twitter withthat the first show, scheduled for March 18 in Toronto, and the 13 subsequent dates through Canada and the United States, cannot be played for the time being. The international dates – like June 23 in Frankfurt – are still there.
Madonna also draws conclusions from the corona virus developments. After France also prevented events with a number of visitors of more than 1000 people, she canceled her two concerts on March 10th and 11th.