The Armenian government is facing scrutiny over the projected costs for Jennifer Lopez’s upcoming concert in Yerevan. Among the listed expenses: $37,000 allocated for the singer’s meals over two days, $185,000 for hotel accommodations for the film crew, and several million drams for various support services, including legal, accounting, and technical coordination. Notably, 4 million drams were assigned just for dressing room catering.
According to an investigation by Radio Liberty’s Armenian service, on July 31—just two days before the scheduled concert—it was revealed that $6 million from the national budget had been reallocated for the event. The funds were originally intended for a canceled 2023 Snoop Dogg concert. Strangely, the government’s involvement in the Lopez concert had not been promoted publicly through any advertising or official communication, despite being part of her world tour.
@jenjlo3 jennifer lopez in Armenia#jlo##jenniferlolez#jlofans#fyp#love#stayl# #yerevan# #armenia ♬ оригинальный звук – jenjlo1
The official decree doesn’t directly state the concert date (August 3), instead providing vague timeframes. Furthermore, a closer look at the budget exposes some puzzling figures. For instance, Lopez’s team meals cost 6 million drams, and 3.8 million drams were designated for makeup services. Her hotel stay at the Dvin Hotel was projected to cost 4 million drams, and total hotel expenses for her entourage may surpass 71.5 million drams (approx. $185,000).
Other costs include 6 million drams for procurement consultation, 4.4 million each for legal and accounting services, and over 8 million drams for transportation. Salaries were also allocated: 2.5 million drams for the transport manager, 2.3 million for the catering supervisor, and over 3 million for technical staff and drivers. Additionally, the concert’s program producer is expected to receive 5.9 million drams, while the technical director is budgeted at nearly 30 million drams.
@jenjlo3 jennifer lopez in Armenia#jlo#jenniferlolez#jlofans#fyp#love#stayl# #yerevan# #armenia ♬ On The Floor – Jennifer Lopez
One especially curious detail: despite changes in artist and concert genre, the budget for Lopez’s performance closely mirrors that of the planned Snoop Dogg event in 2023—also organized by the same company, Doping Space.
The 2023 Snoop Dogg concert was canceled following Azerbaijan’s attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, and the subsequent humanitarian crisis. Despite the event not taking place, the $6 million advance was not returned by Doping Space. Radio Liberty reported that the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports has been in talks with the company since March 2023, yet failed to secure a refund or file a lawsuit—even though the original contract allowed for such actions.
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When asked about their efforts to retrieve the funds, the ministry claimed that it had reached out to terminate the agreement and requested the return of the money. However, the only proposal received from Doping Space was to hold a different event in 2025. The company has not responded to written inquiries from Radio Liberty.
