Two out of three music fans support mask-wearing at live music gigs, American market research organization MusicWatch has found.

The survey, which sampled 736 music fans, also found that only 6% of them would not attend a concert if mask-wearing were obligatory. Slightly more people, with 15% in agreement, believed that the decision to wear a mask or get vaccinated should be left to ‘common sense’ rather than government regulation.

20% of the surveyed fans were unvaccinated, but even within this group opinions on the mask mandate differed - 29% of them stating that they would not attend an event in which attendees were to be vaccinated, while another 27% were in favour of the requirements.

Amongst those fully vaccinated, opinions seemed to differ most between the various age groups; older music fans being in favour of more stringent measures such as requiring both mask-wearing and vaccination certificates.

The study coincides with a critical juncture in Ireland’s easing of restrictions, as many of the precautionary measures will be done away with on Friday, October 22nd.

The date will also see music venues return to full capacity - although the transition has been put into question after Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said another lockdown on the hospitality sector this winter “can’t be fully ruled out.” The comment prompted a letter by The Music & Entertainment Association of Ireland, warning the Taoiseach and government ministers of the potentially disastrous consequences for the entertainment industry if the country were to return into lockdown.