Sunset Junction Saved By Live Nation, Says Festival's Founder
Additional reporting by Liz Ohanesian and Andrea Domanick
Colin Young-Wolff
2:40 p.m. update: Sunset Junction and Live Nation have released a statement confirming the validity of this West Coast Sound scoop. Full press release at the bottom of this post.
11:45 a.m update: Despite the denial of a Sunset Junction marketing underling, Sunset Junction lawyer Philip Tate has confirmed our story about Live Nation's bailout. Nonetheless, Sunset Junction's permit has again been denied, all but torpedoing the fest for this year.
The beleaguered Sunset Junction organization yesterday raised the $141,000 required by the city for this weekend's event. Festival director and founder Michael McKinley tells West Coast Sound that the bulk of the haul came from Live Nation.
"We've got the money," McKinley said in a frenzied late afternoon phone call yesterday, adding that the Beverly Hills-based concert promotions company Live Nation had come to their aid. He asked that the information be embargoed until today, for fear that it would negatively impact the organization's second permit hearing before the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, which began at 9:30 a.m. this morning.
As suspected, Sunset Junction's attempts to quickly raise six figures from prospective attendees -- the same people paying $25 for tickets -- was not successful, but Live Nation's last minute rescue will greatly increase the chances that the event will take place. It is not assured, however, as the city can still choose to again deny its permit. As we reported yesterday, many bands scheduled to perform have begun booking themselves at other venues, just in case.
Regardless, the news that Live Nation is serving as the Sunset Junction Neighborhood Alliance's benefactor comes as a shock to many, considering the three decades-old festival's roots as a community gathering. For his part, McKinley has often emphasized the organization's charitable nature, going so far as to bring groups of children with him to press conferences. The partnering with Live Nation seems to go against the grassroots, community-centric image Sunset Junction projects.
"Let's not pretend anymore. Let's not dress it up and call it something it's not," says Sarah Dale, who is a member of Silver Lake's neighborhood council and owns Sunset Boulevard boutique Pull My Daisy. "It's a major corporate event."
Corporate sponsors aren't new to Sunset Junction. Miller Lite, Chrysler, Sierra Mist and a number of commercial radio stations are also involved this year. But some speculate that linking up with Live Nation, the largest concert promotion agency in the country, could have different ramifications.
As the festival became increasingly popular in recent years, Silver Lake company Spaceland Productions was credited with bringing internationally-renowned acts into the fold. Though they are no longer involved, local clubs like Satellite, El Cid and Hotel Cafe host branded stages. While there are no reports that Live Nation will be involved with booking Sunset Junction henceforth, some insiders suspect this is the dawn of a new day.
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