Event Cancellation Announced: "Let's wait and see about the future developments"
In the heart of Europe, Austria's vibrant live music scene is facing a series of challenges, with the future of summer concerts uncertain. Ewald Tatar, the country's largest rock promoter, is at the helm, steering through these turbulent waters.
Recently, Tatar has registered all his employees for short-time work, a measure aimed at alleviating the financial burden on his workforce during this difficult period. Last year, he sold 71 percent of his company to CTS-Eventim, a move that has provided a degree of financial stability during these trying times.
However, the live offerings are likely to be pushed back by a whole year, as all major acts have already moved their tours to 2021. Yet, there is no broad evidence of a general increase in concert cancellations for acts booked in Austria. The cancellation of the Irish rap group Kneecap's concert in Vienna scheduled for September 2025, due to acute safety concerns and political pressure, appears to be an isolated case, influenced by local political factors and controversies rather than a wider tour-wide or cross-border cancellation wave.
Despite the cancellations, major tours continue successfully without indication that cancellations in Germany have caused ripple effects in Austria. Coldplay’s ongoing Music of the Spheres World Tour and Adele’s concert residency in Munich, for instance, continue without any cancellations noted in Austria due to this issue.
Tatar remains optimistic, focusing on managing the current situation without being influenced by negative statements. The potential return of freedom to travel, important for tours, might not occur until early 2022, according to virologists. Tatar is currently trying to reschedule as many shows as possible that cannot take place now.
The cancellation of the Frequency Festival, a significant event for Tatar, is a significant economic blow. No alternative plans for other business fields are being considered due to the focus on current issues. All events in Austria have been cancelled until the end of August, including the Frequency Festival in St. Pölten. Yet, there have been no cancellations from bands and acts booked for Austria since the announcement that Germany is cancelling all concerts until the end of August.
Having CTS-Eventim as a strong partner provides relief during the crisis. Tatar does not want to discuss topics related to implementing restrictions at concerts, leaving such discussions for a time when more is known about the progression of the pandemic. For now, his main concern is dealing with the current restrictions and seeing how things will go in the next few months.
As the live music industry navigates these challenging times, Tatar's resilience and determination serve as a beacon of hope for the future of summer concerts in Austria.
- The cancellation of events, such as the Frequency Festival, despite being an economic blow, has led Austin's largest rock promoter, Ewald Tatar, to focus on rescheduling shows instead of considering alternative ventures in other business fields.
- The live music industry's future in Austria remains uncertain, as major acts have pushed back their tours to 2021, but Tatar's partnership with CTS-Eventim has provided a degree of financial stability during these challenging times.
- Despite the cancellation of certain concerts due to acute safety concerns or political pressure, as seen with the Irish rap group Kneecap, there is no broad evidence of a general increase in concert cancellations for acts booked in Austria, unlike in Germany.
