Plans are taking shape for tribute concerts to memorialize Prince. In keeping with the late pop star’s style, the vision is big but somewhat mysterious.
Two major promoters are separately planning Prince tribute concerts as his relatives sort through how best to remember the performer.
Live Nation Entertainment Inc., the world’s largest concert promoter, is planning a show this summer in Prince’s hometown of Minneapolis, according to people familiar with the matter. But Live Nation, which is trying to get Prince’s whole family on board, hasn’t announced the event and could move it to a larger venue in another U.S. city.
Rival AEG Live, the No. 2 concert promoter, is producing a pair of tribute shows in London this month. AEG Live is part of the Anschutz Entertainment Group.
Live Nation’s event likely would feature several Prince protégés, some of whom are already lined up, one of the people said. While the bill isn’t completed, artists whom Prince mentored in recent years include his backup band 3rd Eye Girl, Cameroonian pop-rocker Andy Allo, R&B singer Liv Warfield and funk-soul artist Judith Hill, who co-produced her 2015 album “Back in Time” with Prince. None of the artists could be reached to comment. Ms. Hill, who worked as a duet partner for Michael Jackson and a backup singer for Stevie Wonder, said in a video tied to the album’s release that Prince contacted her after she said in a TV interview that he was her dream collaborator.
Several people who were close to the performer said they were asked by some of Prince’s relatives not to speak publicly until the U.S. memorial concert has taken place. The late pop star’s sister and half-siblings could not be reached to comment. According to amedical examiner’s report released Thursday, an autopsy found that the pop star’s death on April 21, at the age of 57, was due to an overdose of the opioid fentanyl.
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| Prince Tribute Concerts Planned by Promoters Live Nation and AEG |
The charity’s founder, Sanjay Shah, won’t attend the concerts, according to his spokesman. Mr. Shah, a Prince fan, former DJ and father of an autistic son, also is the founder and owner of Solo Capital Partners LLP, a hedge fund that operated out of London and Dubai. The fund is under investigation by Danish and British authorities over trades that Danish prosecutors allege defrauded that nation’s government of $1 billion in tax revenue.
Mr. Shah’s spokesman said the Solo Capital Partners founder is staying in Dubai pending the investigation. U.K. financial-crime and regulatory authorities raided Solo’s London offices late last year, people familiar with the investigation said. The hedge fund’s website says it is “in the process of an orderly wind-down.” The spokesman for Mr. Shah denied any wrongdoing.
AEG’s Prince tribute concerts are to include performances by Morris Day and the Time—a band that Prince assembled—and Sly & the Family Stone bassist Larry Graham, a collaborator and friend who encouraged Prince to become a Jehovah’s Witness.
Prince’s sister, Tyka Nelson, has been involved in plans with both organizations, but Live Nation wants to secure the approval of other relatives—including his five half-siblings—for its celebration, said the people familiar with the matter.
One of those people said that in recent months, Prince had been considering an arena tour but didn’t intend to sign an overall tour deal with either promoter. Prince was wary of others seeking to profit from his work and in recent years had a particularly chilly relationship with AEG, according to people close to the late singer.
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| Prince Tribute Concerts Planned by Promoters Live Nation and AEG |
Prince had a long relationship with AEG, which helped him net $44 million from his 2004 Musicology tour and produced his 2006 Las Vegas residency at the Rio casino and his appearance at the 2007 Super Bowl Halftime Show, this person added.
Pop music superstar Prince died Thursday at age 57. WSJ’s Lee Hawkins looks back on Prince’s legacy and some of his accomplishments as a music business entrepreneur. (Originally publised April 22, 2016)
Last month Prince’s former wife Manuela Testolini enlisted Tim Swift, who heads AEG’s live-event unit, Bounce, to organize a private memorial service for 200 people, including Prince’s half-brother Omarr. The service, held on May 11 at the Motion Picture Academy headquarters in Los Angeles, included a performance by Esperanza Spalding and Janelle Monae. Mr. Swift said he was instructed to keep the event free of press and purple decorations.
As word of the service spread, some of Prince’s family members became concerned that their own planned celebration would be upstaged, according to a person familiar with the matter.
On her Facebook page before the private event, Ms. Nelson posted that “contrary to previous and current reports, there has been no memorial, funeral or tribute service for Prince that was organized or authorized by the family or Paisley Park representatives. Together, the family is planning an official memorial service and public event to take place in the near future.” The statement promised that “details will be coming soon” and later added that the family is aiming for August.
