The Cathedral City Council voted 3–1 on Monday to authorize a concert-production and revenue-sharing agreement with Sound Skills Entertainment and to approve Robin Thicke as the Friday-night headliner for the 11th annual Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival on Nov. 21, 2025.

Ryan Hunt, the city’s communications and events manager, told the council Sound Skills agreed to invest roughly $65,000 toward production costs and would assume production and rider-management responsibilities. Hunt said the city had previously approved an $80,000 general‑fund contribution for a headline act. Hunt described Robin Thicke as a multi‑platinum recording artist and television personality whose set would be 75–90 minutes and said the concert is proposed for Friday night because the artist was available that evening.

Hunt summarized the proposed financial structure: Sound Skills would recover its upfront production costs first; after the producer has been made whole, net profits would be split 75% to the city and 25% to Sound Skills. Hunt said third-party partners and sponsors — including Agua Caliente Casinos (reported as a $40,000 partner) and Visit Greater Palm Springs (reported $12,500) — had contributed record partner funding for 2025.

Hunt told the council the amphitheater capacity is roughly 3,000 and the promoter has advanced 780 complimentary tickets (VIP tables and sponsor allotments), 600 tickets reserved for Cathedral City residents and the remainder for sale. Ticket prices would range roughly from $30 to $100. Hunt said Sound Skills would absorb production costs and handle the ticketing platform, vendor coordination and concert logistics.

Council members raised concerns about the financial risk, sales projections and the change from the prior council discussion that emphasized a Saturday headliner. Council member Gutierrez repeatedly questioned the likelihood the city would recoup its $80,000 contribution and asked how many tickets would need to sell for the producer to break even and for the city to receive a share. Hunt acknowledged the risk and said the agreement was structured so the producer bears initial risk through the $65,000 investment and would rely on ticket sales and sponsorships to cover production costs.

A member of the public, Antonio Bechou, urged the council to approve the agreement, citing prior large crowds at amphitheater shows and saying, “That is such an exciting choice.”

Motion by Council member Carnivale and second by Council member Lam; motion carried 3–1. The transcript does not identify the dissenting member by name. The council directed staff to finalize and execute the production-and-revenue-sharing agreement and to return any clarifying contract language requested by the city attorney’s office if needed.

Because the agreement allocates certain revenue streams to the producer (for example, VIP add‑ons and portions of merchandise/food vendor revenue), several council members asked staff to clarify where those receipts are credited in the revenue model and whether any additional city oversight is needed. Hunt said Visit Greater Palm Springs has authorized flexibility to have its partner check issued to the city or be used as event investment.

The council’s approval authorizes the interim city manager to execute the contract with Sound Skills Entertainment and confirms the festival’s headliner as Robin Thicke for the Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, amphitheater concert. Council members asked staff to return with clarified accounting and any contract language requested by the city attorney.