Well, it looks like we’re about to enter the summer of peace, love, and tumultuous investor relations. Yes, times have certainly changed since 1969, and if you’re in need of a grim reminder of just how much more profit-driven our society has become, look no further than the cancelation of Woodstock 50. To be clear, we’re not bemoaning the loss of the three-day concert that was scheduled to take place in Upstate New York in August. No, despite the big names attached to the festival, Woodstock 50 was considered something of a bust from the beginning. Many felt that organizers tried too hard to attract multiple generations and wound up with a lineup that satisfied no one. And just about everyone felt that the $450 price of admission was outlandish. Still, while the end result almost certainly would have been a colossal mess — perhaps on par with earlier attempts to recreate the original Woodstock — fans and insiders alike are stunned by the decision to cancel the concert. After all, Woodstock remains an iconic brand, and there will never be another opportunity to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary gathering at Max Yasgur’s farm. So what happened? Well, not surprisingly, the debacle is drawing comparisons to the Fyre Festival , the event that drew thousands to the Bahamas for a concert that never happened. Fyre turned out to be an elaborate con that spawned multiple documentaries and resulted in jail time for promoter Billy McFarland. But despite the comparisons in the press — and the many, many memes drawing parallels between the two situations — sources insist that unlike Fyre Fest, Woodstock 50 was no con. The big name acts — ranging from Jay Z to Carlos Santana — were booked and ready to perform. But as with Fyre, the production showed signs of trouble early on, as organizers missed important deadlines with regard to permits, infrastructure, and financing. Of particular concern were the delays regarding sanitation and concessions. At one point, organizers expected a turnout of over 100,000 — and the inability to provide clean bathrooms and sufficient food and water for all those concert-goers would have resulted in a nightmare scenario. As the official Woodstock Twitter account continued to deny that the festival had been canceled, on Monday Amplifi Live — one of several companies involved with organizing the event — issued the following statement: “It’s a dream for agencies to work with iconic brands and to be associated with meaningful movements. “We have a strong history of producing experiences that bring people together around common interests and causes which is why we chose to be a part of the Woodstock 50th Anniversary Festival. “But 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.” One of the most surprising things about the cancelation is the apparent lack of disappointment among fans and performers. Looks like Fyre Fest taught everyone that it’s better to have no concert at all than an organizational nightmare.
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Woodstock 50 Gets CANCELED at the Last Minute: Was It All a Con Like Fyre Fest?!
