There is more drama going on at Coachella.
Just days ago, it was revealed that Kanye West had dropped out of being a headliner at the upcoming 2022 Coachella Music Festival. The much-awaited festival is taking place in less than two weeks.
It was announced on Wednesday (April 6) that The Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia were stepping in to take Kanye’s place as the Sunday headliners.
But it seems there’s even more drama brewing behind the scenes – specifically with The Weeknd’s involvement in the festival.
Reports have it that Kanye was going to make $8 million plus a $500,ooo production fee for his Coachella headlining stint. Now, a music source is saying that the event organizers announced that the Blinding Lights singer will be replacing Kanye even before a deal was finalized:
“The Weeknd came in at short notice to take Kanye’s top spot. But Phil Anschutz [who owns the Coachella Festival through AEG Live] wanted to hold on to Kanye’s money and pay The Weeknd far less, just a few million. The festival would pocket the rest.”
This did not sit well with The Weeknd, who is reportedly threatened to pull out if he is not given the same amount that Kanye was going to make:
“Even after Coachella announced the new lineup on Wednesday, a deal wasn’t in place for The Weeknd, who threatened to pull out at an hour’s notice if he didn’t get the same deal as Kanye.”
Negotiations between The Weeknd’s management and Phil Anschutzs’s company Goldenvoice, who is behind Coachella, led to an agreement that The Weeknd will be getting the same paycheck as Kanye:
“Finally, on Wednesday — faced with the prospect of a second headline act pulling out of Coachella at the last minute — Anschutz’s company caved and agreed to pay The Weeknd the same money.”
The 2022 Coachella Music Festival will be held on April 15-17 and April 22-24, 2022.
