Exclusive: Kennedy Center taps rock band manager to oversee programming for when it reopens

By Sunlen Serfaty, CNN

The Kennedy Center plans to name a longtime talent manager who worked with several prominent rock stars from the 1980s and ‘90s to take over artistic programming at Washington’s premier performing arts center and start lining up shows and acts for when it reopens.

Rick Canny, who has been working as an outside consultant with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, will soon be elevated to an executive artistic director position, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.

Canny’s hiring has buoyed hope among arts watchers that the Kennedy Center – mired in recent months in a court fight over its renovation and controversy over adding President Donald Trump’s name to the building – will refocus on upcoming seasons after the planned two-year construction project.

However, multiple sources inside and outside the Kennedy Center say they’re concerned about Canny’s lack of a traditional artistic pedigree in the genres for which the center is known and question which direction he will take it.

The position would give Matt Floca, the center’s executive director and chief operating officer, another top leader to focus specifically on programming, a move that was anticipated when Floca was elevated to his own job in March.

Because Floca’s experience is in facilities management, sources told CNN that the expectation at that time was a second leader would be needed to fulfill the broader needs of an arts institution.

Canny, who worked in Los Angeles for years, has a deep background in managing A-list musicians, including Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee, Creed frontman Scott Stapp and Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, among others.

According to LinkedIn, Canny also worked with Navarro on Above Ground, a nonprofit that seeks to raise awareness of mental health issues.

The Kennedy Center did not respond to CNN’s request for comment. Canny also did not respond to requests for comment.

Canny’s lack of experience managing a more traditional arts roster that the Kennedy Center typically features, has raised some eyebrows.

“He didn’t study in school any of the disciplines ,” a source close to the Kennedy Center said, adding that he doesn’t “understand ballet, opera versus jazz.”

“He’s a music agent,” the source said.

Canny faces the monumental task of reviving the Kennedy Center’s programming after it was hit hard, along with much of the performing arts industry, by the loss of audiences during the Covid pandemic.

Its financial picture has only worsened since Trump got involved, with bleeding ticket sales and boycotts from performers.

“He’s going to be fighting a really hard battle,” a source close to the Kenney Center said, noting that it may be difficult to lure many of the artists and programs back to the center with Trump’s affiliation.

Trump, who is chairman of the board, previously criticized the center’s “woke political programming” and blamed much of the slumping ticket sales on those choices of shows and acts. Under his leadership, the schedule was overhauled and more “family-friendly” programming, like “Dog Man: The Musical,” was added.

Meanwhile, the Kennedy Center’s future is still being litigated in court. A federal court has ordered it to find a way to remain open during renovations, but the institution’s leaders say they need time to assess safety risks. And Trump threatened to demolish the building after his efforts to put his name on it were rejected by the court.

Going forward, Floca will oversee the building management and renovations, and Canny will be charged with building out programming for the reopening that’s expected in 2028.

A source close to the Kennedy Center said that Floca has expressed exhaustion recently, as he has had to manage the legal battle, steer the renovations and maintenance and oversee many departments where he doesn’t have experience, including programming.

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