Warner Music Spain & Warner Chappell Music Spain’s Love Of Lesbian perform at test gig

28 April 2021 - Press release

 

PROMOTER’S & SCIENTISTS’ PRESS RELEASE: 

• The Love of Lesbian concert held on March 27 at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona was attended by 5000 people. 
• All were given a rapid antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 on the morning of the concert. 
• Six people tested positive. These six people, along with two companions who had been in close contact with them (despite receiving a negative test result) were unable to attend the concert.

The present study has shown that it is possible to test 5000 people in an orderly manner on the day of a concert. 

All attendees were required to wear an FFP2 face mask throughout the concert, and the venue was ventilated in accordance with current regulations. Queues for bathrooms, bar areas, entrances, and exits were avoided, with attendees located in three separate zones on the floor of the venue. People could dance and sing, and physical distancing was not required.

The seats in the stands of the arena were not occupied.

These measures had proven effective at a concert promoted by Primavera Sound at the Sala Apolo in Barclelona in December 2020, which was attended by 500 people. Organisers confirmed a complete absence of SARS-CoV2 transmission at an indoor event with mass attendance subject to the same security measures. 

All attendees successfully complied with security measures at the Palau Sant Jordi.

Of the 4796 attendees who gave their consent for the analysis of COVID-19 diagnoses in the 14 days following the event (until 14/04/2021) by the Catalan Health Service’s Epidemiological Surveillance Unit, we were able to collect the data from the system or by telephone interview for 96% of them, or 4592 participants.

Six subjects were diagnosed with Covid-19 in this 14-day period, which gives a cumulative incidence of 130.7 cases / 100,000 inhabitants. These 6 individuals had either mild symptoms or were asymptomatic, none required hospital admission, and no secondary transmission to other contacts was observed. In at least 4 of the 6 cases, the complete epidemiological study suggests that exposure to the source case occurred outside the concert.

This incidence has been compared with that of the general population of the same age group, city (Barcelona), and week and date of analysis (until April 14, 2021), which was 250.2 cases / 100,000 inhabitants. This was made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Catalan Health Service’s Epidemiological Surveillance Unit.

It can therefore be concluded that the concert at the Palau was not a “super-transmission event”, as these indoor events with a high number of attendees have been classified. This classification led to them being prohibited or to a severe reduction of the permitted capacity.

Furthermore, the cumulative incidence of cases reported in the 14 days following the concert provided no evidence to suggest any impact of COVID-19 transmission during the concert.

We would like to thank the “Festivales para la Cultura Segura” (Festivals for Safe Culture), the promoter’s association, the Catalan Departments of Health and Culture, the health professionals who formed part of the screening team, the musical group for fully collaborating in the promotion of a safe event, and all those who attended the concert for putting their trust in this scientific initiative, which has provided data that will undoubtedly contribute to the staging of cultural events with mass attendance all over the world during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

QUOTE FROM GUILLERMO GONZALEZ, PRESIDENT, WARNER MUSIC IBERIA:

““The Love of Lesbian gig was a special night and reminded us just how much we’ve missed live music.  We were delighted to see the event had little to no impact on the transmission of Covid-19 and the results show that, with the right safety measures in place, it’s possible to host live music once more.  I hope that this is a big step back to normality and we can look forward to enjoying incredible gigs and festivals this summer.”

 

STATEMENT FROM LOVE OF LESBIAN: 

Dear Friends,

After seeing the final results of our live show at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona on March 27, we’d firstly like to thank the promoters, scientific advisors, and other professionals who supported and believed in this project from the very beginning. In the months leading up to the event, a huge team worked on the safety protocol that would allow 5,000 fans to reconnect with a feeling and experience that has been sorely missed.

We truly believe that on March 27 a new blueprint was created for organizing events in these difficult times. In fact, we felt in such good hands that we decided to take part in this massive clinical trial. We understood that we were the visible face of a hugely ambitious project, and, as expected, we took a lot of heat during those first few days. Nonetheless, something told us that we had to take the leap, and that’s what we did.

Considering these excellent results, we hope that from here on in our voice will be heard, the voice of the entire culture and entertainment industry, which contributes so much in so many ways. Once again, we have proved that culture is safe. So let’s continue to act prudently and appropriately. When risks are controlled, we can afford to be brave, because that’s what differentiates courage from recklessness. And the facts have proved us right.

We would like to thank all the people and institutions involved in making the concert at the Palau Sant Jordi a reality, all the bands and musicians for their encouragement and support, and, above all, the amazing audience, who understood that they represented all devotees of live music and other cultural events, and who more than rose to the occasion.

We feel proud and happy, and send musical greetings to you all.

Love of Lesbian.