€500,000 Radio 105 concert flop sparks government backlash over concert subsidies

The government’s latest attempt to bankroll an international music event has become a political headache after the inaugural Radio 105 Summer Festival in Malta attracted only a few thousand people despite being free to attend, prompting growing anger within the Culture Ministry over what senior government sources describe as a waste of public funds.

The Shift has been informed that more than €500,000 in public funds was spent through Festivals Malta to bring the Italian radio festival to Malta. Despite the substantial investment and weeks of promotion, attendance fell far short of expectations, leaving ministry officials questioning both the quality of the event and the value of the public expenditure.

Multiple sources within the Culture Ministry told The Shift that the poor turnout has intensified friction between the ministry and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), which they insist is the real driving force behind the government’s expanding programme of subsidising major concerts in summer, when Malta is already bursting at the seams with low quality tourism.

While Festivals Malta has become the public face of the initiative, ministry sources said the agency was effectively left implementing decisions taken elsewhere.

“The decisions are not being taken at Festivals Malta or even at the ministry,” one senior source said. “The real direction is coming from the highest levels of the Office of the Prime Minister.”

According to government sources, the disappointing outcome of the Radio 105 concert has reignited internal criticism of the government’s broader €10 million Large Scale Events Support Scheme, which channels taxpayers’ money towards private concert promoters while allowing organisers to retain ticket revenue, sponsorship income and other commercial earnings.

The same sources stated that the latest experience has reinforced concerns that public funds are being increasingly used to underwrite commercial entertainment ventures with little accountability for the return on investment.

The Radio 105 Summer Festival was organised locally by GMED Projects, Media Exclusive and TT Management.

GMED Projects is owned by Daniel Farrugia, the partner of Equality Minister Rosianne Cutajar, together with Owen Spiteri and Edward Curmi of G7, the founders of the Malta Daily news portal. Ben Camille, through his Media Exclusive Company, was also an organiser.

As previously revealed by The Shift, companies linked to the same promoters secured millions of euro under the government’s Large Scale Events Support Scheme, including substantial allocations towards the promised Bruno Mars concert.

Sources said the disappointing performance of the Radio 105 festival has led to renewed questions within government over whether the same small group of promoters has become overly dependent on public funding while assuming relatively little commercial risk.

The internal criticism comes at a politically sensitive time, with ministers increasingly concerned about the growing cost of subsidising large entertainment events while other public services continue to face funding pressures.

The Shift is informed that discussions are now underway within government over the future direction of the concert subsidy programme and whether stricter scrutiny should be applied before further public funds are committed to privately organised events.