Woodstock 50 canceled by its investors: NPR

Woodstock 50, a large-scale festival that hoped to bring the spirit of 1969 to a new generation in August, was canceled. Tim O 'Hearn, the Schuyler County Trustee in New York, where the event was to take place, confirmed the cancellation to NPR; he said he was contacted by Dentsu Aegis Network, who had funded the planned festival.

The festival, which was scheduled to take place August 16-18 in Watkins Glen, NY, at a location different from the one that bears his name, featured an impressive program designed to bridge the gap between generations. and musical genres, from Santana, David Crosby to John Fogerty. to Jay-Z, Chance The Rapper and Miley Cyrus. Promoter Michael Lang, one of the leading organizers of Woodstock 50, was also one of the co – founders of the original Woodstock event in 1969.

Monday morning, Display panel issued a statement by Amplifi Live, a division of Dentsu Aegis, which reads: "Despite our enormous investment of time, effort and commitment, we do not believe that festival production can be realized as a dignified event. Woodstock brand While ensuring the health and safety of artists, partners and viewers, Woodstock 50 partner Dotsu Aegis Network's Amplifi Live decided to cancel the festival after a thorough review of its relevance. I believe this is the most prudent decision for all concerned ".

Since the announcement of the 50th anniversary celebration in January, many signs have shown that the festival organizers had nothing to do. Originally, the organizers announced that the tickets would initially go on sale at the end of January and that the list of artists would be published in February. The festival missed both dates, as did the ticket sale project on April 22. Tickets were still not on sale from Monday afternoon.

Display panel also announced Monday that the Woodstock 50 team had contacted Live Nation and AEG, two touring industry giants, last week to begin a $ 20 million investment in the festival, but both companies have declined. O 'Hearn told NPR that it would not be impossible for the festival to be resuscitated in time for the dates scheduled for the month of August, which would be very difficult.

Last week, Variety reported that the delay in ticket sales was due to the need to "refine the logistics plans", according to the organizers of the event. It has also been reported in the media that festival organizers have struggled with issues of public capacity and sanitation, which Lang described as "rumor". Variety.

Neither Woodstock 50 nor Dentsu Aegis have referred NPR's requests for comments, but a Woodstock 50 representative told Vulture on Monday: "Woodstock 50 is currently in communication with Dentsu and Woodstock 50 vehemently denies it." cancellation of the festival and will request repair comments. "