Armenian Government: Reschedule Snoop Dogg Concert or Return $6 Million

The Armenian government is currently awaiting updates on the rescheduled concert for American rapper Snoop Dogg, which was originally set to take place in Yerevan, Armenia, on September 23, 2023. However, the much-anticipated event was postponed due to the forced mass exodus from Artsakh, and new dates have yet to be confirmed.

During a press conference held on Friday, Zhanna Andreasyan, Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, provided clarity on the matter. She emphasized that while the ministry is involved as a funding body for the concert, it is not responsible for organizing or handling the event’s logistics. The responsibility for setting up the concert lies with Doping Space, a marketing company tasked with managing the event. 

“We have demanded from [Doping Space] in a written request to submit the possible dates of the concert. We are waiting for their response,” Andreasyan said. She mentioned that, based on their latest information, negotiations are still ongoing to determine suitable dates for the concert. However, she added that there were no further updates at the moment.

Minister Andreasyan outlined two possible outcomes for the current situation. Either the concert organizers will successfully negotiate a new date for the event, or if an agreement cannot be reached with Snoop Dogg, the concert may be canceled. Should the latter occur, all obligations, including financial commitments, will be dissolved, and the funds allocated for the event will be returned. 

"If they do not reach an agreement with the singer, the concert will not take place, all the obligations will be dissolved, all the money will be returned," Andreasyan stated, offering transparency into what would happen if the event falls through.

Snoop Dogg’s concert was planned to be a major event in Armenia, and the government had made substantial financial commitments to make it happen. A total of 2.3 billion Armenian drams (approximately $6 million USD) was allocated from the 2023 state budget for the concert, a sum that was fully paid on August 25, 2023. However, with the concert now postponed, there are questions about the fate of the allocated funds, as they have yet to be returned.

The Armenian public, eager for updates on the concert, has been left in a state of uncertainty. While the Ministry has taken steps to request possible new dates from the organizers, there is no clear timeline for when an update will be provided. 

In light of the postponement and the government’s public statements, The Armenian Report has made the effort to reach out to Doping Space, the marketing company managing the event. However, Doping Space has refrained from providing any comment on the matter, leaving questions about when or if the concert will be rescheduled.

Despite the delay, Snoop Dogg remains a highly popular figure, and the excitement for his potential performance in Yerevan has not waned. Fans are eagerly waiting for further news on the concert, which could bring significant attention to the region.