The music world is buzzing about a New York Times Magazine report that cites a health expert questioning whether shows with big crowds can safely return before fall...2021. In the article, which asks tough questions about the public health risks associated with any public gathering before we have a COVID-19 vaccine, oncologist and bioethicist Zeke Emanuel says, "Larger gatherings — conferences, concerts, sporting events — when people say they're going to reschedule this conference or graduation event for October 2020, I have no idea how they think that's a plausible possibility. I think those things will be the last to return. Realistically we're talking fall 2021 at the earliest."

That's just one expert's opinion, but it's a reminder that this crisis isn't going away any time soon, and the music industry still has a long road ahead before we can get back to anything like the way we were before.

Live Nation CEO to forgo $3 million salary amidst public health crisis

As America's biggest concert promoter, Live Nation is at the heart of the public health crisis. Through the end of March alone, the coronavirus pandemic affected over 8,000 Live Nation shows with 15 million tickets sold, reports Rolling Stone. As recently as February, executives were telling investors they didn't think the crisis would seriously affect the company. Now, CEO Michael Rapino is giving up the remainder of his $3 million salary for the year as part of a wave of executive pay cuts. That said, last year Rapino received $8.4 million in bonuses on top of that $3 million salary. This year's bonus package may not be quite so generous.

Drake matches Mariah Carey chart feat

Mariah Carey's extraordinary run of chart successes in the '90s has proved tough to top — not until last year did a song manage to outlast her 16-week stay at number one with the 1995 Boyz II Men collaboration "One Sweet Day." That was "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X, and now Drake has matched another Carey record. She was the first artist to have three songs debut at number one on the Hot 100: "Fantasy," "One Sweet Day," and "Honey." Drake previously had "God's Plan" and "Nice for What" debut at number one, and now he's done it again with "Toosie Slide," a dance number that's blowing up on TikTok just like "Old Town Road" did. (Billboard)

U.K. reveals most-played song of the 2010s

What was the most-played song of the 2010s? In the United Kingdom, at least, it was Pharrell's insidious 2013 earworm "Happy." That's according to a new BBC analysis of data on songs played on TV, in movies, and in public places across the U.K. for the entire decade. Coming in at number two was Britain's own Adele with "Rolling in the Deep," then Maroon 5 with "Moves Like Jagger." (Billboard)