Auckland 50 Cent short

Either we smell or we really do have a serious venue problem in Auckland. Coldplay scuppered plans to play New Zealand when it became known that Auckland's 12,000-seat Vector Arena wouldn't be finished on time for their June gig.

Now 50 Cent is bypassing Auckland on his New Zealand tour.

Promoters for his February gigs in Christchurch and Wellington have ruled out the North Shore Events Centre because of its noise restrictions, and say other venues are too small. The only place that cuts the mustard, they say, is the Supertop, where 50 Cent played in 2003. But he ain't. Why? "He played the Supertop last time."

So which is it, guys? A size problem? Or does Fiddy just like to spread the love around?

Before his 2003 album, Get Rich Or Die Tryin', he was more famous for being Eminem's protege and having been shot nine times. Now, with a movie behind him and loads more money in the bank, Fiddy is making it on his own.