London’s BST Hyde Park 2020 has been called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taylor Swift, Post Malone, Pearl Jam, Duran Duran and Kendrick Lamar were booked to headline the AEG Presents-operated festival, due to take place in July.
This year would have been the event’s eighth year in London’s Hyde Park.
The cancellation of BST Hyde Park is the latest high profile UK event to be called off due to concerns over COVID-19, including Live Nation Entertainment’s Download Festival and the Isle of Wight Festival, as well as the iconic Glastonbury Festival.
Last month we reported that in the UK, so far, a nation-wide quarantine has resulted in over £50 million (circa $61m-plus) in lost revenues for artists and managers in the UK. That includes at least £3.1m ($7.8m) lost by music managers in commissions.
“After closely following government actions and statements during the COVID 19 pandemic, as well as consulting with our partners The Royal Parks and wider agencies, we have concluded that this is the only possible outcome.”
BST Hyde Park
In a statement published today (April 8), BST Hyde Park said that “after closely following government actions and statements during the COVID 19 pandemic, as well as consulting with our partners The Royal Parks and wider agencies, we have concluded that this is the only possible outcome.”
Added the statement: “We also have a responsibility to our staff, fans, event workers, suppliers and sponsors, so we have been closely monitoring all developments before making a final decision.
“We would like to thank them for their excellent work and we look forward to seeing you all next year when we can celebrate once again.”
You an read the statement in full below:
It is with great sadness that we have made the difficult decision to cancel BST Hyde Park 2020.
After closely following government actions and statements during the COVID 19 pandemic, as well as consulting with our partners The Royal Parks and wider agencies, we have concluded that this is the only possible outcome.
This would have been the 8th year of this event and we were looking forward to putting on amazing, unique shows for hundreds of thousands of fans in the world’s greatest outdoor venue. But safety always comes first.
In addition to the government rightly enforcing a prolonged period of social isolation, we would not want to place any extra strain on the emergency services, who we are lucky enough to have working alongside us at our events.
We have the utmost respect for them and wish to express our admiration for their dedication and professionalism, which is proving so vital at this time.
We also have a responsibility to our staff, fans, event workers, suppliers and sponsors, so we have been closely monitoring all developments before making a final decision.
We would like to thank them for their excellent work and we look forward to seeing you all next year when we can celebrate once again.
You will be contacted directly by the ticket agent you purchased from by 6th May allowing us time to review future plans and provide full information on the ticket refund process.
If you have not been contacted about a refund by your ticket agent by this date please get in touch with them directly, bearing in mind they will be extremely busy at this time.
We look forward to welcoming you back in 2021 and will be in touch about plans soon. In the meantime, please follow the advice and stay safe.Music Business Worldwide