If you're not familiar with the New York City summer music festival feud going on right now, let us bring you up to speed.
West Coast outdoor festival production company AEG Live has been scoping Queens' Flushing Meadows Corona Park for a proposed major music festival called Panorama-- that would fall just weeks after Governors Ball.
New York City born-and-bred Founders Entertainment, the independent outfit that's hosted successful Governors Ball festivals every June for four years running in a supposedly jinxed town for festivals, is not happy.
They've even gone so far as to petition the mayor to block AEG's proposal.
Now, it turns out Madison Square Garden is asking the City for permission to host a three day music festival in the same location-- apparently conflicting with the proposed Panorama dates-- effectively blocking AEG's plans, maybe. Hopefully.
Thus far, the beef had been pretty straightforward.
AEG is a huge events promotion company and has a reputation for putting on events designed to attract people who don't actually enjoy the music, but do like taking selfies. Like, lots of selfies.
(No seriously, watch how cool these Coachella kids try to act for Jimmy Kimmel; it's perfect.)
[anad]
With MSG's new plans added to the mix, it's become something of David vs. Goliath... vs. Goliath. Though MSG's event wouldn't be on the same weekend as Panorama, it is unlikely Queens will host two outdoor musical events consecutively.
Not only that, but you can't really push MSG around in its own city, can you?
MSG Executive Chairman James Dolan has big-time manager and music executive Irving Azoff, who's clients include Christina Aguilera, Maroon 5, and No Doubt, helping to organize talent for the festival.
So yeah, we may end up with the lineup of MSG's festival just being half of the judges from The Voice. That wouldn't be so bad. In fact that may be a good compromise being that pull entirely different crowds.
And that, to us, is an infinitely better scenario than AEG coming swooping in and pulling off a cookie-cutter West Coast version of what MSG could probably do better with a little NYC style.
But on the other hand, some variety might be a good thing, right? Time will only tell... we will keep you posted on how all of this will play out, that's for sure.
Check out 10 Best NYC Hip-Hop Artists Not Named Jay-Z.

