Woodstock 50, a wide-extending celebration that many trusted would convey the soul of 1969 to a new generation this August, has been dropped. Tim O’Hearn, the administrator for Schuyler County, N.Y., where the occasion was to occur, affirmed the dropping to NPR; he said he had been reached by Dentsu Aegis Network, which had been bankrolling the planned celebration.
The celebration, which should run Aug. 16-18 in Watkins Glen, N.Y. — an alternate area from its namesake occasion — flaunted a great lineup that was intended to connect various generations and musical genres, from Santana, David Crosby and John Fogerty to Jay-Z, Chance The Rapper and Miley Cyrus. One of the essential coordinators of Woodstock 50, promoter Michael Lang, was additionally a co-founder of the original Woodstock event in 1969.
On Monday morning, Billboard distributed an announcement from Amplifi Live, a Dentsu Aegis division, that read to some degree: “Despite our tremendous investment of time, effort and commitment, we don’t believe the production of the festival can be executed as an event worthy of the Woodstock Brand name while also ensuring the health and safety of the artists, partners and attendees. … As a result and after careful consideration, Dentsu Aegis Network’s Amplifi Live, a partner of Woodstock 50, has decided to cancel the festival. As difficult as it is, we believe this is the most prudent decision for all parties involved.”
Since the 50th-anniversary occasion was declared in January, there had been numerous signs that the celebration’s organizers did not have matters all together. Initially, organizers reported that tickets would at first go on sale in late January and that the artist roster would be discharged in February. The celebration missed both of those dates, just as an arrangement to discharge tickets available to be purchased on April 22. Tickets were still not on sale as of Monday afternoon.
Billboard additionally provided details regarding Monday that the Woodstock 50 group connected a week ago to Live Nation and AEG — two monsters in the touring industry — to suggest a $20 million investment in the celebration however that the two organizations declined. O’Hearn disclosed to NPR that while it would not be impossible for the celebration to be revived in time for the arranged August dates, it would be troublesome.
A week ago, Variety announced the deferral in ticket deals was a direct result of a need to “refine logistical plans,” as indicated by the occasion’s organizers. There have additionally been media reports that the celebration’s organizers experienced difficulty managing issues identified with group of onlookers limit and sanitation, which Lang rejected as “rumors” to Variety.
Neither Woodstock 50 nor Dentsu Aegis returned NPR’s requests for comment, however a Woodstock 50 representative on Monday told Vulture, “Woodstock 50 is currently on a call with Dentsu and Woodstock 50 vehemently denies the cancellation of the festival and will be seeking legal remedy to the comments.”