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Cash bonus for musicians at Hong Kong festival

Hong Kong

17 May 2004 12:23


Pop stars Neil Young and Prince were paid $1,5-million more than they would normally receive to play a post-Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) festival in Hong Kong, according to an independent inquiry on Monday.

Prince was paid $1,3-million, $800 000 more than his usual maximum fee for a concert in the United States, for his one-night appearance at the Harbour Fest event last October.

Neil Young received $800 000, $700 000 more than his usual maximum fee in the US, an independent panel's report into the heavily criticised event revealed.

Boy band Westlife received $500 000, which surpassed by $300 000 the amount they would have expected for a show in the US, while Santana received $850 000, $100 000 above their maximum fee.

Other international artists at the government-subsidised three-week event included the Gipsy Kings, who were paid $275 000, $150 000 more than their usual top fee.

Even veteran Australian rockers Air Supply received $125 000, compared with their regular maximum fee of $40 000.

The total bill for Western artists reached nearly $10-million. However, the festival's headline act, the Rolling Stones -- who received a reported $5-million for two shows -- were one of only two acts paid within their usual maximum fee guidelines. The other act was Michelle Branch.

The panel used an industry website in the US to gain its comparison fees.

Last year's Harbour Fest ran from October to November, included 16 shows and was organised to boost Hong Kong's international image after the Sars crisis, which led to a slump in the city's economy.

However, high ticket prices and a mostly Western line-up of artists led to half-empty turnouts at the specially built stadium and a wave of criticism against the organisers, the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham).

The chamber and the government were both criticised by the independent panel for the shortcomings in the event, which ate up $12,8-million of taxpayers' money in subsidies.

Mike Rowse, the civil servant who heads the government's investment arm Invest Hong Kong, and Amcham chairperson Jim Thompson were singled out for particularly sharp criticism.

Responding to the report, Financial Secretary Henry Tang said: "With hindsight both the [government] working group and Amcham underestimated the complexity of organising Harbour Fest and overestimated its benefits -- in many respects, we all could have done better."

Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said he accepted the panel's conclusions and would consult the secretary for the civil service to see if any action needed to be taken against any officer involved. -- Sapa-DPA

I remember when Prince was being criticisized at the time for this concert some nutty fam on this site kept posting that Prince had risked his life to play for free to help the people of Hong Kong.

Well it's not Prince's fault if they over-paid him. I don't know how they work out how much he charges for an appearance - surely that just depends on how many people turn upto a concert and how much he charges? They just over-estimated how many people were gonna turn up.

I could never figure how this festival was supposed to make people believe Hong Kong was safe from Sars - Of course the rock stars were never in danger, they went from the airport to the venue in limousines to the hotel then back to the airport! The only people in danger were those mulling around sweating in close proximity to each other in the audience! No wonder they didn't fancy turning upto watch! I don't like to be standing next to the guy with the runny nose at the best of times!

That does calculate to 500k a night.

that's a lot of damn money.

1.8 million US dollars??? That is a lot of greenbacks indeed! for Prince's manager!!

Actually.....I watched that live and I think he worth it.....

Contrary 2 popular belief P's been making money ever since EMANCIPATION!

And P has turned down $ like the commercials and endorsement offers during 1999!