Helsinki DA To Hush Live Nation

The case began at Helsinki’s District Court Nov. 7. Hietanen cites the shows Madonna and Bruce Springsteen played in the city’s Olympic Stadium in the summer of 2012, which both reportedly ran for an hour beyond their permitted times.

Springsteen ended up playing for four hours, while Madonna hit the stage much later than expected.

Also during the summer of 2012, a similar incident in London’s Hyde Park involving Springsteen and Paul McCartney was averted when LN opted to turn off the power.

Finnish papers are reporting that the district attorney is tired of LN flouting the city’s “environmental protection law,” and the city of Helsinki has a couple of times warned LN to stick to the regs.

Helsinki’s second warning came after Metallica’s show at Sonisphere Festival, which was earlier in the summer of 2012 at Helsinki harbour.

That followed an even earlier warning after Rihanna’s show at Hietaniemi beach in August 2011.

Live Nation Finland chief exec Nina Castrén says the company takes seriously compliance with permits and makes every effort not to violate them.

Helsinki City Council cultural director Stuba Nikula seems to have some sympathy with the promoter and told daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat that many feel the permit limits are too tight.

He pointed out that last week the city published the result of a survey showing that noise from concerts doesn’t interfere with the majority of the people living in the surrounding areas.

Nikula reckons litter and parking are bigger problems. It wasn’t possible to get comment from Live Nation at press time.