GSMA Cancels Its 2nd MWC Event of Pandemic; Summer NAMM Show Also Scrapped

COVID-19 show cancellations have begun stretching into July. GSMA scrubbed the June 30-July 2 Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2020 show “in light of current government guidance” and the “global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak,” it said Friday. GSMA “will work with government and health authorities to find a suitable date and venue to hold regional conferences in China in the latter half of 2020,” it said. “We will confirm the feasibility of this in the coming months.” GSMA shut down February's MWC 2020 in Barcelona (see 2002120056). The National Association of Music Merchants canceled the July 9-11 Summer NAMM show in Nashville, it said Monday. “The harsh realities of this crisis make it impossible to undertake the many months of careful planning and preparation that are required for such a show,” said NAMM.