The Age journalist Karl Quinn has published an explosive article on Australian promoter Andrew McManus.
Presenting Mr McManus in The Age
It details a thread of career “misfortune’ that has resulted in creditors and artists not being paid, concert failures, tax dodges, alleged corruption and even using the recent Queensland floods disaster for his own benefit.
The story alleges McManus turned his Raggamuffin event into a charity benefit for the Queensland flood victims and promised to donate 10% of profits to the Queensland Flood Appeal despite the fact that ticket sales were a disaster and that the tour was never going to make a profit.
Renaming the event ‘Reggae For Recovery’ got McManus prime coverage and free publicity on news networks days before the failed show was to happen. Also unannounced to the general public before the event was that headline act Sean Paul was no longer on the bill. Punters found out on the day.
No money was ever donated to the flood victims although sizeable donations were made by other music organisations including EMI Records and The Big Day Out.
Ragamuffin is not going ahead for 2012.
The Age article also lists McManus’s failed tours including:
The Who ($1.8 million loss)
Huey Lewis and the News ($800,000 loss) (tour cancelled due to lack of sales)
Whitney Houston ($1.2 million loss)
Peter Gabriel ($1.2 million loss) (Gabriel pulled out before the tour)
McManus is also behind the upcoming Sydney Resolution concert for New Years Eve featuring Culture Club, Pet Shop Boys and Jamiroquai. Noise11 has been told the event is just not selling.
In 2012, McManus is also bringing out to Australia Lenny Kravitz for the Grand Prix and will be touring Crosby, Stills & Nash for Bluesfest sideshows.
The Karl Quinn ‘Presenting Mr McManus expose of Andrew McManus can be read in full here.
