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£30m hit to London economy after Wireless Festival cancelled over Kanye West ban (www.standard.co.uk)
submitted 7 months ago by to c/uk_politics@feddit.uk
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[–] 22 points 7 months ago

I guess if you put yourself in a position to be that dependent on an idiot like Kanye, you don't really deserve that money anyway.

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    [–] 8 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    It's absolutely not a hit to the economy in any way. Money not spent at a festival doesn't evaporate into thin air. People simply spend that money on other, similar things.

    Plus the festival is organised by Live Nation Concerts, an American company, with tickets sold through Ticket Master, another American company (also owned by the same parent company Live Nation Inc) so the vast majority of the money spent at the festival wouldn't end up in the UK economy in the first place.

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    • [–] 4 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    It's not a loss, it's one discretionary spending option that's not there anymore.

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    • [–] 6 points 7 months ago (9 children)

    Why they canceled the entire festival?

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  • [–] 5 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    Because he was headlining all 3 days. There is not a chance of getting 3 acts of similar clout to play at this short notice. At which point the event is far enough from what was advertised that they'd have to give refunds to the shitload of angry customers demanding them. Better to just cancel now.

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  • [–] 2 points 7 months ago

    Also it was speculated elsewhere that Kanye may get paid (by contract) if the festival happens, but not if the festival as a whole is canceled. It's speculative, but reasonable to assume Kanye had strong contract guarantees.

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  • [+] -1 points 7 months ago (7 children)
    [deleted]
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  • [–] 6 points 7 months ago (6 children)

    I know they canceled the festival, but why? They could easily hire someone else and move on

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  • [–] 2 points 7 months ago

    “Easily”? Not really.

    The UK and European summer festival circuit is highly competitive. Those high-profile acts willing to do festival appearances (many aren’t) book years in advance.

    Those who aren’t committed to the dates in question may have signed exclusivity window deals with other festivals precluding their appearance anywhere else.

    The PR of being second-choice to a literal nazi isn’t something that gets agents beating down the promoter’s door.

    Given the sunk costs involved, if they thought they could line up a replacement tjey would have.

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    [–] 5 points 7 months ago

    I'm sure London will cope somehow

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