Toya will not appear as scheduled at this year’s FallFest, but will be replaced by hip hop act Afroman in Friday’s lineup.
Toya’s absence is the result of a contract dispute between Toya and her booking agency, said A.S. Council Festival Coordinator Brandon Freeman.
Freeman said Toya’s management reneged on the contract it had with William Morris Agency because the A.S. Council would not agree to Toya’s extra demand that travel expenses be paid for, a stipulation that was not included in the contract.
The A.S. Council offered to pay for half of Toya’s traveling expenses, but Toya still was not willing to play, Freeman said.
“”The festival staff has been working 10- to 12-hour days ever since [last Friday] to try to replace Toya,”” Freeman said. “”We felt that she wasn’t worth it … She only had a 30-minute set.””
A.S. Commissioner of Programming Eisha Christian said that Afroman looks to be a better show.
“”[Afroman] will have a 45-minute show,”” Christian said. “”He actually has a full band, so he would have a better musical act.””
“”We’re definitely expecting more people,”” said Freeman about Afroman’s impact on FallFest. “”People are really happy about Afroman’s addition.””
Freeman said that having Afroman at FallFest instead of Toya ended up being cheaper, but he refused to provide any exact figures.
Students did not seem to be too affected by Toya’s cancellation.
“”I think [FallFest] will be cool,”” senior Sharon Fargason said. “”I’m going for Warren G.””
Some students said that the change in musical lineup made no difference to them.
“”I personally have never heard of Toya. [The change] doesn’t bother me,”” said freshman Bryan Hurley. “”I’m still going.””
Freshman Alex Li said that he was “”just going for the fun,”” regardless of which artists play.
Toya recently canceled a concert at a local middle school that was to be sponsored by a local radio station.
Alien Ant Farm and Warren G are the the other artists set to play at FallFest at RIMAC, and “”interactive, inflatable games”” are to be on RIMAC Field in the evening.
