Starting today, May 4th, the Governor of Missouri, Mike Parson, is allowing his state to host concerts and other large-scale events. Introduced in the state’s “Show Me Strong” recovery plan, Missouri will become the first in the U.S. to permit in-person live music events since the start of the global health crisis. In a quote obtained by Billboard, a section of the new plan details the now-permitted events. “There are currently no limitations on social gatherings as long as necessary precautions are taken and six feet of distance can be maintained between individuals and/or families,” said Parson. Venues in large cities like St. Louis will not be opening their doors, as leaders on the local level have decided to uphold stay-in-place measures. I...
This is an opinion column. The thoughts and viewpoints expressed are those of the author, Steve Adelman. Steve Adelman is the co-founder of the AVALON nightclub brand and a thirty-year veteran of the nightlife industry. He is currently working on his first book, a behind-the-scenes look at clubbing in major cities around the world. COVID-19 has landed like a live grenade in the laps of the entire planet, altering public behavior to a point where it may take years to return to ‘normal’. For businesses, the psychological and economic tolls have been devastating, with entire industries changing the set manner in which they conduct themselves. ‘Curbside Pickup’ and ‘Non-Contact Delivery’ have now become a part of our everyday dialogue. No industry has been hit harder than Nightlife, whose enti...
The charity organization Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (LNADJ) has announced an absolutely gargantuan COVID-19 relief livestream event. Dubbed SetForLove, the event will feature over 2,000 DJs, who will be performing in hopes of raising money to support African countries affected by the pandemic. While the full lineup is yet to be announced, organizers have promised that some big names will be taking the virtual stage. Artists are encouraged to sign up for a performance slot and when they’re accepted, they will choose a platform and be given a donation link to join the fundraising effort. The founder of LNADJ, Jonny Lee, spoke about how just a small donation can make a massive difference in people’s lives. “In this current moment, we were able to contemplate the...