Live Nation producer of two-day LA music fest offers to cover city’s costs
Live Nation, producer of Made in America, a two-day music festival scheduled for Aug. 30-31 at Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles, is offering to pay $850,000 to cover city and county costs related to the event.
The concert promoter and hip-hop mogul Jay Z have announced a lineup of alternative, hip-hop and dance music, including Imagine Dragons and John Mayer. More than 30 bands will be spread over several stages at Grand Park over the Labor Day weekend, with some activities spilling onto City Hall’s steps, plazas and lawns.
More than 30 bands will be spread over several stages at Grand Park over the Labor Day weekend, with some activities spilling onto City Hall’s steps, plazas and lawns, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Under a proposed contract being considered by the City Council, Live Nation would be billed a flat $500,000 for “services” provided in connection with the concert. Under a 2009 law, the city requires recovery of all of its costs related to a special event.
Live Nation would also pay $350,000 to the county for its separate costs, according to a city document cited by The Times. The city and county jointly operate the park, with programming, security and upkeep handled by the Music Center.
Jeff Millman, a spokesman for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, told The Times that the costs include police and fire protection and shifts worked by public works and other city workers assigned to the event. The county’s portion would cover the cost of assigning sheriff’s deputies, he said.
In addition to the $850,000, Live Nation has agreed to pay for any damage to the landscaping at Grand Park, Millman told the newspaper. Garcetti is asking the council to approve a flat rate for city services, he said, because the promoter has accepted that provision.
