Frank Ocean

Coachella Reportedly Scrap Frank Ocean Ice Rink

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Frank Ocean has loomed large over Coachella 2023, despite only spending about an hour playing at it. After injuring his leg in the week leading up to Weekend 1, Ocean’s bizarre behavior overshadowed the festival’s first weekend. He was late to his own set, only performed for an hour, and didn’t even livestream what little he did perform.

Then came the shocking announcement that just days before the second weekend was due to kick off, Ocean had pulled out. In response, Coachella has been forced to shell out millions to replace his Sunday night performance. Furthermore, they have been left with the dilemma of what to do with the giant ice rink they had built for his set. Due to liability issues, they were unable to open it as a public rink. Instead, Coachella’s organizers hoped that they would be able to incorporate it into another performer’s set. However, as Coachella 2023 reaches its final day, this doesn’t appear to be the case.

Leaked Photos Show Scrapped Rink

According to TMZ, Coachella has chosen to scrap the rink rather than repurpose it. Sources informed the outlet that the 100 skaters hired for the set had been informed Thursday that they would not be performing during Weekend 2. Instead, they would receive payment for rehearsals and their Weekend 1 performance. There is no word of where the ice rink is currently. However, it has likely been moved off-site for a more private dismantling. Coachella has not officially commented on the rink.

TMZ also obtained footage of the ice rink during rehearsals. According to sources, security was incredibly tight as Ocean wanted the ice as pristine as possible for his performance. This may be due to the unverified rumor that the ice would reveal an image of Ocean hidden beneath the surface. This may also explain why Coachella ultimately chose to scrap the prop entirely. It wouldn’t make sense for, say, GloRilla to showcase Ocean’s face. Ocean was replaced by blink-182 as well as a new closing act from Skrillex, Four Tet, and Fred again… Coachella’s final day begins at 12pm PDT, with sets from Eric Sanchez and Minus the Light. Other major performers on the final day include GloRilla, WILLOW, Latto, and Noname.

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Frank Ocean Will Cost Coachella Millions

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Frank Ocean has been the talk of Coachella 2023 for all the wrong reasons. After injuring his leg in pre-festival rehearsals, Ocean arrived an hour late to his Weekend 1 closing set. He then proceeded to cut the two-hour set short to comply with the festival’s curfew. All this happen as the highly-anticipated live stream of the set was also canceled. Finally, Ocean pulled out of his Weekend 2 closing set, leaving behind disappointed fans and a giant ice rink.

Ocean was replaced by two acts. Blink-182 would perform for an hour in the original slot held by Ocean. The festival then announced a new Sunday night closer. Skrillex, Four Tet, and Fred again would be performing a combo set to close out the festival. However, Ocean’s sudden withdrawal is set to saddle Coachella with an unexpected financial setback. While it won’t put them in the red, the festival would likely have rather not paid out the fees in question.

Ocean Will Get Half Payment But Coachella Won’t Save Money

Frank Ocean was reportedly set to be paid $8 million for his two Coachella performances. According to sources who spoke to Billboard, Ocean will receive half of that payment for services rendered. However, Coachella is not saving $4 million by cutting Ocean’s payday in half. Instead, Coachella is set to lose money on the deal overall. To clarify, Coachella is still expected to overwhelmingly make a profit, but will specifically lose money on the Ocean debacle.

First, Coachella will need to pay Blink-182 a reported $4 million to replace Ocean. This means that the money saved from halving Ocean’s fee will be used to pay for his replacement. However, Coachella will also have to pay an undisclosed fee to Skrillex, Four Tet, and Fred again in order for them to serve as the new closing act. If the going rate for a set is $4 million, then Coachella could be selling out anywhere from $8 to $16 million to replace Ocean. There has been no word on how this has reflected the relationship between the festival and its long-time performance. However, many predict that Ocean will not be welcomed back to Coachella anytime soon.

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Coachella Trying To Find Use For Frank Ocean Ice Rink

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Frank Ocean’s shock departure from Coachella’s second weekend sent ripples through the entertainment industry. After sustaining a leg injury at the festival site in the week prior to weekend 1, Ocean proceeded to show up an hour late to his April 16 10:05pm slot. He then cut his set short due to the festival’s midnight curfew. Fans were also left disappointed when it was revealed the set would not be live-streamed. Overall, it was a complete mess of a set from the artist.

Ocean was meant to perform at a similar timeslot on April 23. However, it was announced on April 20 that Ocean would not be returning to Coachella for its second weekend. Ocean’s representatives cited his injuries as the primary reason for his withdrawal. Blink-182 was scheduled as a replacement for his Sunday night set. Ocean’s set, however, included a large ice rink problem. Now organizers are struggling to work out what to do with it.

Ice Rink Gives Festival Organizers Logistical Headache

Ocean’s Coachella set reportedly included a large rink, which would have contained 100 trained skaters who performed during his session. However, the rink was allegedly scrapped prior to his Weekend 1 set. The problem is that the rink is a physical ice rink that Coachella now just owns. Furthermore, it’s now a symbol of Ocean’s departure, which is reportedly costing the festival “several million dollars.” The rink itself was allegedly the most expensive part of Ocean’s set. However, it was scrapped after Ocean suffered multiple fractures and a sprain during rehearsals.

Coachella’s organizing staff is now trying to find a way to incorporate the rink into the festival’s second weekend, which kicks off later today. Due to liability concerns, the rink cannot be turned into a public skating rink. However, the organizers are hoping that it can be incorporated into another artist’s set. blink-182 are scheduled to fill Ocean’s 9:20pm timeslot. Additionally, the 10:25pm closer is listed as “tba”. However, there is no word as of yet as to which artists may take on the responsibility of the ice rink. Coachella Weekend 2 opened at 12pm PDT on April 21 with sets by Dave from the Grave and Juliet Mendoza.

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Frank Ocean Dropping Out Of Coachella Reportedly Cost The Festival Millions

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Frank Ocean
Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz

Goldenvoice, the promotion company behind Coachella, reportedly lost millions as Frank Ocean pulled out of the festival’s second weekend, according to Billboard.

The losses come mainly in the form of the cost of the giant ice pad that was to be employed during Frank’s performance and went unused due to his last-minute ankle fracture and in tickets for the second weekend that could go unsold due to the news of Frank’s cancelation.

Billboard‘s sources say Goldenvoice is looking for another use for the ice pad; although it cannot be used as a public skating rink, there may be a use for it in another artist’s set.

Frank was to be paid $8 million for the two weekends and despite Frank dropping half of that fee with his cancelation, replacement headliners Blink-182 will need to be paid, as well as the recently booked combo of Four Tet, Fred Again…, and Skrillex.

Goldenvoice still stands to make a profit from the festival, though, despite Frank’s set accruing additional costs including fines from Indio for going over curfew (about $133,000 over the weekend) and the energy needed to keep the rink cool (and melt it down). According to Billboard, the promoter averages $115 million in ticket sales across both weekends and another eight figures on concessions.

Benny Blanco Thinks Frank Ocean’s Ill-Fated Coachella 2023 Set Was The ‘Best Performance Of The Weekend’

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Benny Blanco 2022
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Frank Ocean’s Coachella 2023 performance from last weekend has received criticism. Even Ocean himself wasn’t fully satisfied with the show, as he later said in a statement, “It was chaotic. There is some beauty in chaos. It isn’t what I intended to show but I did enjoy being out there and I’ll see you soon.”

That statement, by the way, was part of the announcement that Ocean was pulling out of his headlining performance at the festival’s upcoming second weekend.

Not everybody hated Ocean’s performance, though. Justin Bieber wrote of it, “I was blown away by Frank Oceans Coachella performance,” adding, “It made me want to keep going and get better as an artist.” Now, Bieber collaborator Benny Blanco has also weighed in and he agrees.

A TMZ reporter caught up with Blanco yesterday (April 19) in Beverly Hills, and when they brought up the backlash Ocean has faced, Blanco said of the performance, “I loved it. It was incredible. […] So inspiring on so many levels. Incredible. One of my favorite shows I’ve ever seen.” He also called the set the “best performance of the weekend.”

Blanco seemed unaware of the criticism Ocean was facing, as he noted, “I don’t read the internet.” The video ends with Blanco avoiding questions about Ocean’s canceled second-weekend set and whether or not he should have “sucked it up” and performed through his injury.

Frank Ocean Drops Out Of Coachella Week 2; Fans React

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Frank Ocean

Due to leg injuries, Frank Ocean has pulled out of Coachella week 2. His previous late arrival during the first weekend caused controversy during his performance. Updated By: Chris Samuel (4/20/23 at 2:33 pm) Star singer Frank Ocean has officially pulled out of his Coachella week 2 performance due to leg injuries. According to the […]

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Frank Ocean Fans Devastated After He Pulls Out Of Coachella

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Frank Ocean will no longer perform at Coachella for the second week, to the ire of his dedicated fanbase who’ve waited years for this moment. It’s not entirely shocking, given how generally unenthusiastic he seemed on stage last weekend. Coachella announced Blink-182 as his replacement, though some feel this warrants a refund. Apparently, the ankle injury he sustained in the week leading up to the festival led to the cancelation, as his rep confirmed to Variety. “On doctor’s advice, [Ocean] is not able to perform weekend 2 due to two fractures and a sprain in his left leg,” they said.

Ocean’s set design underwent significant changes within a day of his performance. He reportedly intended to have an entire ice rink with hockey players. “It was chaotic. There is some beauty in chaos. It isn’t what I intended to show but I did enjoy being out there and I’ll see you soon,” Frank Ocean added in his statement. No word on when he plans to make this up, especially after his vague update on new music during weekend one. Still, many aren’t happy about the massive changes to the Coachella line-up.

The chaos that Frank Ocean refers to in his statement seemingly references his turbulent performance on Sunday night. Along with scrapping his set design at the last minute, he was also significantly late for his headlining slot. Frank Ocean appeared on stage nearly an hour after he was scheduled and was forced to cut his set short after going over Indio, CA’s curfew. Many hoped that he’d make up the abrupt cancelation during weekend two but evidently, that won’t happen this year. On top of the live stream of his performance was nixed moments before he went on stage.

Frank Ocean’s Coachella performance was among the most anticipated sets of the year, if not, the decade, so far. He was initially scheduled to perform in 2020 but due to the pandemic, those plans fell through. Ultimately, there’s disappointment in the air, even if many expected the otherwise mysterious singer to find a way out of Coachella this year. There’s a legion of dedicated fans who spent hard-earned cash and took time off to see Frank Ocean live. Now, they must settle for Blink-182. Check out a few reactions below. 

Reactions

Frank Ocean’s Coachella Set Sparked 491% Spike of ‘Coachella Refund’ Google Searches

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Following backlash over Frank Ocean’s Sunday night performance, global searches for “Coachella refund” increased by 491%, according to an analysis of Google search data.

Before Coachella’s second weekend, online searches for “Coachella refund” skyrocketed to almost five times the daily average volume, according to a recent discovery by CasinoAlpha.com. This represents a significant increase in people searching for ways to receive compensation for their tickets. As many festival goers start to second-guess attending Coachella’s second weekend, searches for “sell Coachella tickets” also increased by 445% over the weekend.

After Frank Ocean, the Sunday night headliner, received negative feedback from festival-goers during the first weekend, searches have been conducted ahead of Coachella’s second weekend. A ‘curfew’ caused the rapper, who hadn’t performed live in four years, to leave the stage suddenly after arriving over an hour late, disappointing many of his fans, who promptly flocked to social media to vent their disappointment. Frank Ocean’s choice to end the livestream of his performance angered fans who couldn’t attend Coachella as well.

A spokesperson for CasinoAlpha.com stated:

“Coachella festival is one of the most famous festivals in the world, with celebrities and music fans heading to the desert every April to see some of the most renowned musicians take to the stage.

The festival takes place over two weekends and after the heavy criticism that Frank Ocean’s set received, these findings suggest that many are looking to get their tickets refund as well as sell their ticket for the second weekend, whether this be out of disappointment or fear that Frank Ocean may pull out of performing altogether. It will be interesting to see if Frank Ocean does indeed perform this coming Sunday and if his set changes at all based on the reaction to the opening weekend show.”

One of those possibilities is true as Frank Ocean will not be back for the second run of Coachella. He will be replaced by the Rock group Blink 182.

Coachella released a statement regarding Ocean’s exit:

“Frank Ocean will not be performing at weekend 2 of Coachella.

“After suffering an injury to his leg on festival grounds in the week leading up to weekend 1. Frank Ocean was unable to perform the intended show but was still intent on performing, and in 72 hours, the show was reworked out of necessity.

“On doctor’s advice, [Ocean] is not able to perform weekend 2 due to two fractures and a sprain in his left leg.”

Frank Ocean also added a statement. “It was chaotic. There is some beautiy in chaos. It isn’t what I intended to show but I did enjoy being out there and I’ll see you soon.”

The post Frank Ocean’s Coachella Set Sparked 491% Spike of ‘Coachella Refund’ Google Searches appeared first on The Source.

Frank Ocean’s Streams Nearly Double Despite Poor Coachella Response

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Although Frank Ocean’s performance at Coachella was widely panned, the singer’s streams are rising.

According to Billboard, Ocean’s daily on-demand streams in the U.S. doubled. The numbers are a 94% increase from 5.2 million to 10.1 million. The songs that saw the largest increase are “Pink + White,” “Nights,” and “Novacane.”

After what could be considered a disaster of performance during weekend one, Frank Ocean will not be back for the second run of Coachella. He will be replaced by the Rock group Blink 182.

Coachella released a statement regarding Ocean’s exit:

“Frank Ocean will not be performing at weekend 2 of Coachella.

“After suffering an injury to his leg on festival grounds in the week leading up to weekend 1. Frank Ocean was unable to perform the intended show but was still intent on performing, and in 72 hours, the show was reworked out of necessity.

“On doctor’s advice, [Ocean] is not able to perform weekend 2 due to two fractures and a sprain in his left leg.”

Frank Ocean also added a statement. “It was chaotic. There is some beautiy in chaos. It isn’t what I intended to show but I did enjoy being out there and I’ll see you soon.

The post Frank Ocean’s Streams Nearly Double Despite Poor Coachella Response appeared first on The Source.