One in six UK festivals came to an end during and in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, new data from the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) suggests. A study carried out by AIF in the first half of 2023 shows there were 600 music festivals held in the UK in 2019, but only 482 …
Maoyan Entertainment continues to battle pandemic-affected trading conditions
Maoyan Entertainment, an entertainment services provider in China, has witnessed a decrease in its annual financial reporting in 2022, as the country continued to be affected by COVID-19 restrictions. Revenue decreased from RMB 3.3bn (£393m/€450m/$480m) in 2021 to total RMB 2.3bn in 2022, while gross profit was also down from RMB 1bn compared with RMB …
Chinese cinema strives for post-COVID recovery
Chinese cinema is aiming for a post-COVID recovery with its latest spate of films and the holiday period. Statistics from the China Film Administration on January 28 showed that China’s movie box office revenue had reached nearly 6.76 billion yuan (£812m/€912m/$1bn) during the Spring Festival holiday. This is the second-highest gross figures for this holiday …
Italy’s Culture Minister dedicates funds to cinema recovery
Italy’s cinema industry is set to receive a boost thanks to cut-price tickets, according to the country’s Culture Minister Gennaro Sanguiliano. As seen by the demise of major cinema chains in the UK and US, cinemas suffered significantly due to long periods of closure during the pandemic. According to a report from news outlet Il …
Event organiser TADC Sweden files for bankruptcy
TADC Sweden, one of Scandinavia’s largest event organisers, has filed for bankruptcy. The organiser said that the lasting impact of the pandemic, increased costs and a lull in ticket sales were to blame. TADC was due to organise shows from acts such as Trivium, Alestorm, Lamb of God, W.A.S.P, Helloween and more. The company has …
Visitors locked in again at Shanghai Disney due to China’s zero-COVID policy
Shanghai Disney has shut its gates thanks to China’s zero-COVID policy, with visitors trapped inside. Disney fans were told they are not allowed to leave until they could present a negative test. The closure comes after Shanghai reported 10 locally transmitted cases on Saturday. China still has strict regulations in place surrounding COVID-19, despite the …
Qatar removes COVID-19 entry test requirement ahead of World Cup
Qatar has scrapped its negative test entry requirement for visitors ahead of next month’s FIFA World Cup. The nation’s health ministry said that tourists will no longer have to present a negative COVID-19 test before heading over for the football tournament. Prior to the announcement Qatar had said that fans attending the World Cup had …
STAR details impact of pandemic and recommendations for building back
STAR (Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers), the self-regulatory body for live events ticketing in the UK, has published a report on how the industry fared during the COVID-19 pandemic. Independent ticketing specialist Will Quekett was commissioned by STAR to interview 39 stakeholders from across the ticketing and events industry. This included venues, events organisers …
Shanghai International Film Festival cancelled
The Shanghai International Film Festival, which is traditionally held in mid-June, has been cancelled, showcasing the continuing difficulties surrounding the COVID-19 epidemic in China. The 25th edition of the festival will be held next year instead. In 2020, the festival moved its dates from June to August after cinemas were closed due to the pandemic. …
Domestic NHS COVID Pass will no longer be available in England
The NHS COVID Pass will no longer be available for domestic purposes in England from May 12. This means that venues and events can no longer request the COVID Pass as a condition of entry. The COVID Pass has not been legally required to enter venues and events in England since they were scrapped at …