Throughout the pandemic, an increasing number of artists live-streamed shows online and got a response from fans, but no one can fool themselves into thinking that digital gigs are an adequate replacement for live concerts. But assuming the concert world does open up soon, there may be both psychological and physical barriers for fans looking to re-enter the fray.
According to consumer data collected by YouGov in Australia, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark and the Philippines, on average nearly half (43%) of people are uncomfortable about visiting live events such as sports, music concerts, festivals; while just 38% say they are comfortable. Drilling down into the six markets, nearly half of the population in Canada (48%) and more than half in Australia (54%) and the Philippines (53%) say they are uncomfortable; while in the US, UK and Denmark a majority say they are comfortable attending this type of live event.
Denmark and the UK have the highest percentage of people who are comfortable attending concerts. The easing of the lockdown has been delayed in the UK due to increases in the number of cases of the Delta variant - a delay that will reportedly lead to the cancellation of around 5,000 concerts over the next month across Britain. However, this doesn’t seem to bother the Brits as half of the population in the UK – 46% are comfortable attending music concerts and live events. In the US, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the end of most of New York’s remaining pandemic rules after the state reached 70% of adults with at least one dose of a COVID vaccine. Live Nation Entertainment says venue booking for concerts are rebounding as artists have planned events that stretch into the next year. American fans seem to be responding to the excitement as a plurality of them (43%) say they are comfortable attending live shows once the lockdown measures ease and events open.
By contrast, more than half of the population in Australia (54%), the Philippines (53%) and nearly half of the population in Canada (48%) are uncomfortable about attending concerts.
The data by YouGov also highlights that half of the population in Australia (51%), Canada (50%) and the Philippines (53%) who are uncomfortable with attending concerts are scared that they’ll contact the virus and get severely unwell.
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Methodology: YouGov Profiles is based on continuously collected data and rolling surveys, rather than from a single limited questionnaire. Profiles data referenced is based on a sample size of adults in UK, US, Canada, Australia, Philippines, and Denmark. Online interviews were conducted over the last 30 days. Profiles data is nationally representative and weighted by age, gender, education, region, and race. Learn more about Profiles.
