Make Believe Bonus: Hot Takes First Half 2024

Sabotaged By Smash Mid-Post

Fuji Rock 2023

In the course of reporting my latest Longform for The Japan Times about the state of summer music festivals in the country, the detail that stuck out most to me was how much promoter Smash was caught off guard by American act SZA cancelling her headlining spot at this year’s Fuji Rock Festival. “It came as a shock,” their rep told. “We are currently awaiting her statement explaining the reason why.” SZA’s side didn’t get back to my emails, and she’s kept on performing, including a raved-about set at Primavera Sound.

Until her side offers a statement or any other details become clear, it all comes down to speculation as to why she backed out. The big theory online is that she has just become too expensive for Fuji Rock, a fact not helped by the current garbage-value of the Japanese yen making everything cost even more. Based on my reporting, I think that’s a good guess.

“Please know that we are doing everything we can to find a suitable replacement and appreciate everyone's patience and understanding. It is a very difficult situation,” they told me, and what to do about that suddenly open space at the top of the poster. They could go all sorts of directions in replacing SZA — opt for a legacy domestic act to drum up excitement, drop the need for a “youthful” act and get an older Western act, go for max humor and get Liam Gallagher out for the first night, or do what they always do in this situation and move Denki Groove up — though again that weak yen hampers so much.

Naturally, while I was writing this, Smash revealed its move — The Killers will now headline Friday at Fuji Rock. To me, a better answer was right in front of them.