Live Nation Entertainment Inc. issued a “best practices” document on Aug. 6 that allows artists to mandate vaccinations at their events. 

The live event promotion and sales company will also require all U.S. employees to be vaccinated for entry into their facilities, except where limited by state or local laws, starting Oct. 4.
 
Live Nation announced huge second-quarter earnings this week as concertgoers returned in droves despite growing concerns about the delta variant. 

Live Nation Chief Executive Michael Rapino signed the best practices document, which was first obtained by Variety, which highlights the efficacy of these protocols at past events. 

“We believe this is a great model, and we have already implemented this successfully at many major shows including Lollapalooza,” Rapino wrote. “We know people are eager to return to live events and we hope these measures encourage even more people to get vaccinated.”
 
Also included in the document was the announcement that Live Nation would mandate vaccinations for employees, following in the footsteps on Netflix Inc., Walt Disney Co., and a growing number of companies across the U.S. 

The Oct. 4 date for implementation is the same as when the company’s employees are set to return to offices for “flex work, and to allow on-site staff a few weeks to get vaccinated if they haven’t already.”
 
Aerial photos from Lollapalooza, held last weekend in Chicago, drew concern on social media as hundreds of thousands of fans, many unmasked, gathered to watch their favorite acts. The music festival required proof of vaccination or a recent negative Covid test for entry.
 
Live Nation indicated that local human resources partners would provide additional details in the weeks before the Oct. 4 deadline, but per Rapino’s letter, the company is giving an extra paid day off for every dose so employees can schedule their doses easily.
 
“Our business and our industry is about uniting people,” Rapino said in the letter. “And vaccines are one of the greatest tools for making sure that everyone can continue to enjoy live music together.”