As more and more high-profile artists cancel dates abroad, it's becoming clear that COVID-19, the form of coronavirus that is spreading across the world, is more than a media craze. Not only have artists announced that they'll be postponing shows, but companies are also pulling their financial support of large events which they feel will cause more harm than good. One such event is SXSW, the yearly music and culture festival in Austin, Texas, which has officially been canceled for the first time in 34 years.
In a tweet released late Friday, shortly after Nine Inch Nails, Ozzy Osbourne, and more announced they'd be canceling their SXSW appearances, the organizers of the festival wrote, "The City of Austin has canceled the March dates for SXSW and SXSW EDU. SXSW will faithfully follow the city's directions.
"We are devastated to share this news with you. 'The show must go on' is in our DNA, and this is the first time in 34 years that the March event will not take place. We are now working through the ramifications of this unprecedented situation. As recently as Wednesday [March 4], Austin Public Health stated that 'there's no evidence that closing SXSW or any other gatherings will make this community safer.' However, this situation evolved rapidly, and we honor and respect the City of Austin's decision. We are committed to do our part to help protect our staff, attendees, and fellow Austinites."