Sergei Shnurov, the frontman of the Leningrad group, touched down in St. Petersburg amid a growing dispute that centers on a canceled concert and a substantial payment. The fee, pegged at 140 million rubles, remains front and center as questions swirl about who bears responsibility for the breach and how fans will be compensated. Evgeniy Finkelshtein, the president of PMI, spoke at the NSN press center to clarify the situation. He said Shnurov, rather than acknowledging timing or operational issues, pointed the finger at the organizer as the one who caused the concert to be scrapped and suggested he would not repay the agreed fee.
According to PMI, the company had secured a sold-out performance, paid Shnurov his standard fee, and proceeded with logistics for a show that would draw a large crowd. Then, for reasons not fully explained, the event was banned. After the cancellation, the organizers issued refunds to ticket buyers, while PMI publicly requested that Shnurov return the 140 million ruble fee or a large portion thereof. PMI insisted that the money was earned under the pretense of a confirmed performance and that the unexpected cancellation left the company bearing financial losses. The producer described a situation in which Shnurov began to present himself as a victim of unfair treatment, and hinted that personal sacrifices, like giving up alcohol for a month to prepare, were cited to justify not returning the payment. The charges and countercharges extended over about a year and a half, creating a protracted dispute that affected not only the artists and organizers but also the venues and fans.
Finkelshtein stated that Shnurov uses his image to press others into line, alleging that he faced unfair treatment and that he reduced his personal consumption for the sake of the concert. He claimed the musician was pressing friends and allies to back his stance, turning what should have been a straightforward payment dispute into a broader public confrontation. The conflict endured for roughly eighteen months, drawing attention from media outlets and industry observers who watch such contract disagreements with interest and caution.
Earlier, Shnurov signaled that he was barred from performing in St. Petersburg, making it clear that the ban stemmed from songs that mocked local reforms. The performer had not taken the stage in the city for four years, and his return last October marked a notable moment in the city’s cultural calendar. The statements about the ban added another layer to the ongoing tension between the artist, city authorities, and the event organizers, illustrating how creative expression intersects with regulatory and logistical constraints in large-scale tours.
On a separate note, prior coverage indicated that Shnurov had previously reduced his performance rate by half, a move that captured the attention of fans and industry watchers. The shift in pricing followed a period of intensive touring and public visibility that kept his name in headlines. Those familiar with the market say such price adjustments can signal a strategic flexing of influence in the live music scene, where negotiations, refunds, and guarantees form the backbone of a successful tour. In this case the focus remains on the unresolved fee dispute in St. Petersburg, while the artist continues to tour and perform under different arrangements.