Power 106 schedules show the same day as Rock the Bells
Power 106 FM announced its Powerhouse '09 show this week with performances by Jay-Z, Pitbull featuring Lil' Jon, Sean Paul, Flo Rida, Kid Cudi, LMFAO, Fareast Movement, Ya Boy, New Boyz ("You're a jerk!") and the ubiquitous promise of "special surprise guests!" Tickets went on sale Wednesday for the Honda Center bash.
One problem: It's on Aug. 8. So what, you say? Well, that's the same day as Rock the Bells at the San Manuel Amphitheatre, which currently promises the hip-hop tidings of Nas and Damian Marley, the Roots, Ice Cube, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, KRS-One, the Rza and several others.
So what exactly is Power 106 trying to do? Force the hip-hop fan base into a Sophie's Choice? Granted, there are plenty of ways in which these audiences can split. The soul-space drums of Questlove may not be the Pitbull man's cup of tea, but it does seem like Power 106 is turning the screws on its listeners.
Not so, says Jimmy Steal, the vice president of programming at Emmis Communications, Power 106's parent company. He gave Pop & Hiss the following statement when we politely asked him, "Whaddya doing, Mr. Steal (if that is your real name)?"
“With the top-notch talent that Powerhouse consistently brings to the L.A.-area comes inevitable scheduling challenges. Finding one night where high-level artists such as these and an [available] major arena... is rare. Plus, given that Los Angeles is the nation’s focal point for live entertainment, there unfortunately are occasions where performers with similar fan bases are playing different venues on the same night. Rock The Bells and Powerhouse are both great events, with diverse bills that have something to offer all area hip-hop fans. Because of that, and the Southland’s huge population, we think that both will be huge successes.”
Fine, fair enough. Sometimes these double bookings can't be avoided. We've also asked the Rock the Bells promoters for a response and will post accordingly. But, in the meantime, is anyone planning on selling their Rock the Bells ticket to go to Powerhouse '09? Anyone with ambitious plans to go to both -- somehow, some way?
--Margaret Wappler
Photo credit: Jay-Z performing at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on July 3 by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
THIS REALLY SUCKS CUZ I KNO IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO LISTENS TO BOTH GENRES OF MUSIC AND BELIEVE EACH OF THEM WOULD HAVE MADE MORE $$$ IF THEY WERE ON SEPERATE NIGHTS.. THE TRUTH IS I HAVE A BOX AT THE HONDA CENTER AND WILL NOT BE ATTENDING BECAUSE I WILL BE AT ROCK THE BELLS..EVEN THOUGH I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO BOTH. I MADE THE DECISION EASILY WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED JAYZ WOULD BE HOSTING POWERHOUSE THIS YEAR ;).. AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS WILL BE THE FIRST POWERHOUSE MISSED IN 5 YEARS =(
Posted by: kaizzy | July 26, 2009 at 07:59 PM