Music publication Billboard has revealed that MTV hopes to hold the 36th Annual Video Music Awards live this summer in New York. According to a statement made by a MTV spokesperson,
“We’re exploring with government officials, the medical community, and key stakeholders on how to safely hold the 2020 VMAs at Barclays Center on August 30th”. They continue, “The health of everyone involved remains our number one priority. Additionally, we are working on several contingency plans to bring music’s biggest night to audiences everywhere.”
If a live show is unlikely to happen due to the coronavirus pandemic, MTV is looking at other options for the event. According to Variety, the first publication to break the news, there are plans to host virtual performances and an audience-free show. The network hopes to keep safety and health in mind when making its final decision.
It’s no secret that live events have been a no-show during quarantine. We’ve seen pretty much every music festival canceled, while public gathering are now just beginning to slowly come back. Should the VMA’s happen, MTV will have to take serious precautions to keep people safe.
New York City is currently at the epicenter of COVID-19 in the United States. However, the city is currently in the process of recovering from the impact of the virus. As time continues to pass by, things will become clearer as to whether it’s possible to host the VMAs live.
Stay tuned for more on this story.