What’s really going on with Harry Styles’ Australian tour?
The controversy and confusion around Harry Styles’ upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand is continuing, with pressure mounting on everyone involved to make an announcement about what’s happening.
The local leg of Styles’ tour is scheduled to kick off in Sydney in just over two months’ time at Qudos Bank Arena, a venue owned by Live Nation rival TEG.
Ticket seller Ticketek, also owned by TEG, bore the brunt of the initial fan confusion and frustration, when on Twitter it sent out a response indicating the tour “is proceeding as planned”.
The tweet, which appeared to be a stock-standard response to Twitter enquiries, said: “we are excited to welcome everyone to events in November and December”.
Given, however, Australia’s tight international border restrictions, as well as Melbourne’s particularly strict lockdowns – the easing of which is still contingent on COVID-19 numbers rapidly declining – many fans questioned how the event could go ahead.
Update to Harry Styles Fans: Ticketek takes its instructions on any news on the Harry Styles tour from the promoter, Live Nation Australia. We are urgently seeking clarification from the promoter and will be back to fans as soon as we have further information from them.
— Ticketek Australia (@Ticketek_AU) September 14, 2020
Styles is currently scheduled to perform in Melbourne on November 28. Melbourne could enter the ‘Last Step’ in its COVID-19 recovery on November 23, depending on case numbers and public health advice.
In the Victorian Government’s Roadmap to Recovery, there would need to be zero new COVID-19 cases in the community for 14 days for the state to enter the ‘Last Step’.
Even in the ‘Last Step’, however, indoor and outdoor venues will still be subjected to patron caps, while large events will be assessed on an individual basis according to the requirements and epidemiology at the time. Attendees would have to remain seated.
Following the furore and confusion, Ticketek has released a new statement, and deflected to tour promoter, Live Nation.
“Ticketek takes its instructions on any news on the Harry Styles tour from the promoter, Live Nation Australia. We are urgently seeking clarification from the promoter and will be back to fans as soon as we have further information from them,” the statement said.
Live Nation Australia is yet to release an official statement on its plans for the tour.
The Music Network understands, however, it is waiting on word from artist management about Styles’ availability should the show be rescheduled. It cannot announce its plans until this happens, The Music Network understands.