Taylor Swift cancels all 2020 live shows
Taylor Swift has cancelled all live appearances and performances in 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The pop superstar had been due to perform across the US, Europe and South America over the coming months to promote her Lover album.
However Swift has now said all live performances have been cancelled for the rest of the year.
Her planned performances at the Glastonbury and British Summer Time festivals had already been axed due to the outbreak.
Writing on Twitter, Swift said: “I’m so sad I won’t be able to see you guys in concert this year, but I know this is the right decision. Please, please stay healthy and safe. I’ll see you on stage as soon as I can, but right now what’s important is committing to this quarantine, for the sake of all of us.”
A separate statement from Swift’s management team said the US and Brazil performances originally set for 2020 will be rescheduled for next year, with dates to be announced later.
Tickets for those shows will transfer to the new dates automatically, the statement added.
Fans can claim refunds for the Lover Fest shows on May 1. Swift’s tour is the latest casualty of the pandemic, which has had a ruinous effect on the entertainment industry.
Live events have been banned around the world to avoid mass gatherings and transmission of the virus. Major music festivals, including Glastonbury have been either cancelled or postponed and stars such as Sir Elton John, Camila Cabello and rock band Pearl Jam have axed tour dates.
The cost of the pandemic on the industry is likely to run into the billions of pounds.
Former Labour Party deputy leader Tom Watson said the music industry is facing “grave difficulties” and the
Government should help it recover.
Now UK Music chairman, Mr Watson told BBC Radio
6 Music: “You know, this is a sector that keeps 190,000 people in work – three-quarters of them unemployed.
Despite what the headlines say, most of them are on very low wages, below average wages, and most musicians and creators have worked in the gig economy before the gig economy was invented, and they’re losing income.”