WA Government Paid Live Nation $8 Million For Exclusive Coldplay Concerts
The Coldplay concerts on 18 and 19 November 2023 injected “tens of millions of visitor spend” into the state’s economy.
Coldplay @ Optus Stadium (Credit: Sam Mead)
The Western Australian government reportedly paid Live Nation $8 million for last year’s exclusive two-night Coldplay shows at Optus Stadium, The Guardian reports.
Western Australia’s government, run by Labor’s Roger Cook, has been insistent on not disclosing the amount of money it gave Live Nation. But documents seen by The Guardian revealed the monetary figure.
According to Tourism WA, the Coldplay concerts on 18 and 19 November 2023 injected “tens of millions of visitor spend” into the state’s economy.
Tourism WA stated that the decision to pay $8 million to Live Nation for the concert resulted from “a rigorous assessment, cost-benefit analysis, review and approvals process, including review and approval by the Tourism WA Board, Treasury and final sign off by the minister for tourism and premier”.
In a post about their first shows in Perth since 2009, Coldplay said in a statement last May, “We're so happy to be returning to Perth for an extra special one-off show at Optus Stadium on November 18th this year.
“It’s a huge deal for us and we’re massively looking forward to coming back to Western Australia. It’s been way too long.”
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Luke Hede, Vice President of Touring, Live Nation Entertainment, added: “This partnership with the Western Australian Government is set to make history by bringing one of the world’s most iconic and successful bands, exclusively to Perth in 2023.
“It’s hard to think of a better city for Australians to see Coldplay’s spectacular Music Of The Spheres show while making a weekend of it in our country’s sunniest capital city.”
What was meant to be one show in Perth ended up being two, with Coldplay joined by special guests Amy Shark, Thelma Plum, Tash Sultana, and local singer Adrian Dzvuke and indie rock band King Ibis.
The Music’s Sam Mead commented on the spectacle of the show, “It’s a testament to the brilliance of what makes Coldplay, Coldplay. Over two decades in, this is the band at their best - hard-hitting, punchy grooves. It’s a pure spectacle of a live performance exemplified by the ebbs and flows of the evening as Hymn For Fhe Weekend fades into the piano ballad of Everglow.”
After those exclusive Perth gigs, Coldplay announced a 2024 Australian tour, with four nights at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium and four nights at Sydney’s Accor Stadium scheduled for this October and November.
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