Dr. Fauci recently spoke during a virtual performing arts conference about the state of the theater industry.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, movie theaters and the live music industry have been hit pretty hard. With vaccination rollouts starting across the country, however, many professionals are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

At a recent virtual conference held by the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci referred to an August study by German scientists that suggested live indoor concerts could be successfully held--ensured there's adequate ventilation, strict hygiene protocols, and limited capacity--without spreading the virus.

Fauci says if COVID-19 vaccine rollouts are successful, events could return by the fall. "If everything goes right," he said, "this will occur some time in the fall of 2021. We'll be back in the theaters - performers will be performing, audiences enjoying it...it will happen."

Independent concert venues have been closing throughout the country as many struggled to find funding from the government. Back in May, a group of 150 Congressmen sent letters to Senate and House leaders in solidarity with the National Independent Venue Association.

"Live event venues were among the first to close as COVID-19 spread across the country," the letter read. "They are likely to be among the last to reopen. Concerts and live events may not be possible until a vaccine is readily available to the public, which could be months away."

Fauci said that venues could adapt rules placed at some U.S. airlines, where audience members are asked to provide negative COVID-19 test results in order to gain admittance. Sporting events have begun using this process and limiting attendance to a fraction of venue capacity.

Stay tuned for further updates regarding the COVID-19 vaccination rollout plan and the rebuilding process for the American live concert industry.