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.
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.
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.
Why they canceled the entire festival?
they did
I know they canceled the festival, but why? They could easily hire someone else and move on
maybe it makes a bigger statement and gets more headlines for the organisers this way.
“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.
Maybe they had an insurance policy for if a headliner couldn’t attend? In that case definitely easier for the organisers to just cancel and claim
That’s a “no show” insurance, maybe they had a clause for canceling everything if Kayne couldn’t act
It was billed as a festival but really it was Kanye and a few other acts.
That makes sense.
Two reasons probably
It’s hella expensive to cancel a headliner without cause as this would have been. it triggers all sorts of contract clauses.
The guy running it was peeved at the government blocking the visa, in the long run this probably saves him money.
Personally I’m annoyed the government has politicised something they had no right to go near.
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.
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.