Miley Cyrus cancels Melbourne bushfire show due to coronavirus concerns

US pop artist Miley Cyrus has cancelled her appearance at a Melbourne gig, citing concerns around virus spread.

Miley Cyrus says she is disappointed not to be performing in Melbourne at a bushfire relief concert. Picture: Getty Images

American pop singer-songwriter Miley Cyrus has cancelled her appearance at an Australian bushfire relief concert planned for Friday in Melbourne, citing concerns around the spread of coronavirus.

“Australia: Due to the recommendations of local, state, federal and international government authorities, including the Center for Disease Control, to reduce potential health risks in response to the current global health crisis, we are no longer travelling to Aus for the show,” wrote Cyrus on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon.

“I am so disappointed to not be there, but I have to do what is right to protect the health and safety of my band and crew. I will still be making a donation to help the victims of the Australian bush fire. I’m sorry to miss everyone in Australia, but I will be back soon.”

With her decision to back out of a headline appearance at Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium, where she was booked to appear alongside artists Lil Nas X, The Veronicas and Seb Fontaine, Cyrus has become one of the first major artists to cancel their Australian visit because of the virus – but she is unlikely to be the last.

A press release distributed on February 24 announcing the one-night Melbourne event – named World Tour Bushfire Relief, and set to take place alongside the Australian Grand Prix – included an expectation that the concert would raise millions of dollars.

Those plans have been thrown into disarray by Cyrus’s cancellation, with concert organisers writing on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon: “We are very sad that Miley Cyrus has announced that she will not be travelling to Melbourne and as a result the World Tour Bushfire Relief concert at Lakeside Stadium on Friday 13th March can no longer go ahead. Fans will receive a full refund and contacted by Ticketek shortly.”

The World Tour concert organisers also wrote on Twitter that the Saturday night show – headlined by Robbie Williams at the same venue – will still go ahead, with the British pop singer-songwriter said to be already on his way to Australia.

Last week, Italian metal band Lacuna Coil announced the cancellation of planned appearances at Download Festival in Melbourne and Sydney as its home region of Lombardia, Italy was in the midst of a coronavirus outbreak.

“While cancelling is heartbreaking for us, everyone’s health and safety must come first and this includes our fans,” the band wrote on Facebook. “We’re confident this emergency will soon be contained and we can get back on the road to you. Thank you for your understanding and stay safe.

That decision proved wise: a week later, the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte extended quarantine measures to the whole territory, making Italy the first country in the world to self-quarantine in an attempt to contain the epidemic.

Beyond Miley Cyrus and Lacuna Coil, the full effects of the virus on the global live music business is yet unknown.

At the weekend, South by Southwest – the annual music conference and festival held in Austin, Texas – announced its cancellation a week out from the event, thereby scuttling one of the biggest events on the annual music industry calendar. 43 Australian artists including Baker Boy, Jack River and Alex the Astronaut were scheduled to showcase their work at the event, which is also know as SXSW.

“We are devastated to share this news with you,” wrote SXSW organisers on Saturday, Australian time. “’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.”

They’re not the only ones.