Yesterday, a report from Billboard indicated that Ticketmaster is working on a plan that would require concert attendees to have either been vaccinated for the coronavirus disease or tested within 24-72 hours before a show, in order to be admitted into a venue.
The report noted the plan was still in development and would require the fan to link their Ticketmaster app with a third-party health app like Digital Health Pass from IBM or the CLEAR Health Pass, as well as vaccine/testing apps like CVS Minute Clinic. The app would verify the fan's status to allow them entry into the show.
There seemed to be an overwhelming backlash to the proposed plan, with the majority of users who took our informal poll saying they would sit out the concerts. Ticketmaster has released a new statement clarifying their position, saying nothing is concrete yet, and they will base requirements on local guidelines.
"It was widely misreported yesterday that Ticketmaster will be requiring vaccine status/test results for future events. This is not true. Ticketmaster does not have the power to set policies around safety/entry requirements, which would include vaccines and/or testing protocols. That is up to the discretion of the event organizer. We are indeed exploring these options, but it is still only a potential concept. And Ticketmaster will not be able to require such parameters — it would always be up to the event organizer."
Earlier this week, the CEO of Live Nation, a subsidiary of Ticketmaster, noted they are working on a “roadmap to get back to live safely,” with plans to "scale shows in summer 2021."
