(23 May 2017) BILLBOARD MUSIC EDITOR SAYS CONCERT TICKET SALES THIS SUMMER COULD BE AFFECTED BY MANCHESTER BLAST
For many families and kids, concert going — especially freewheeling summer shows around the world — are a rite of passage, a step toward independence.
But Monday's (22 MAY 2017) suicide bomber attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England which killed 22 people, some may be reconsidering those plans.
"It's a shame because I think sales could be impacted by this by understandably concerned parents and concerned fans and concerned kids," said Billboard music editor Jason Lipshutz. "You want to live in a world where someone can go to a live music experience and not have to live in fear but something like this is kind of a jolt to the system where people are going to say, 'Do I really want to go to this and see these headlines and risk being a part of the next attack?' I went to a concert last night. Nothing happened there. The large, large, large majority of music events go off without a hitch but something like this has a global impact where people are going to be concerned."
Lipshutz says many are especially disturbed that the blast at the 21,000-seat Manchester Arena targeted Ariana Grande's younger fan base.
"I think this one has really impacted more people on a global level because parents can see themselves taking their kids to an Ariana Grande show or letting their kids, young teens, kids, adolescents, go to an Ariana Grande show or another pop arena show. I grew up going to pop arena shows. My sister did the same thing. It's one of the things that is a very communal event and it's understandable for kids to want to go there. It's a safe space, it should be a safe space. So I think that when we see the fallout of this attack, I think it's going to because of the empathy there, because I think that people can see themselves in this situation and say, 'We can't let our loved ones be in this situation. How can we prevent this? How can we increase security?' How can we prevent this from happening?' And I think part of that is that some people are going to get rid of their tickets to some of these events because it's the height of the summer season and people are buying outdoor concert tickets and I think some people are going to be compelled not to buy them."
While he understands people's hesitance to attend concerts and big public events in the wake of the attack, Lipshutz says he won't stop seeing live music.
"I wouldn't give a second thought to it because we can't let people who frankly are sick and resort to violence compel us to change our decisions and not enjoy life and enjoy live music. Live music is one of my favorite things in the entire world and I'm going to continue going to concerts and experiencing them with my wife and my family and my friends and nobody is gonna impact that for me."
Lipshutz says it's not a bad idea to increase security at arenas and concert halls.
"I would be surprised if security does not increase at arenas, at stadiums, at large venues just because of - they want to prevent this situation from happening again but they also want concertgoers to feel safe for kids, for parents, for teens, just for adults, for anybody to feel safe. And I think that if they do increase security no one is going to fault them for it."

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