John Denison, the promoter behind Soulfest and Supafest, has been ordered to pay APRA AMCOS $437,000 in compensation and damages by a Federal Court.
Judge Alexander Street has added a further $70,000 in legal costs to the bill against Denison for debts incurred since 2014 from Soulfest, Supafest, and other tours.
Denison now operates under the new business iLive Entertainment.
In a statement APRA’s Richard Mallett said, “Judge Street made a number of important comments about the importance of APRA AMCOS, and that the evidence demonstrated that APRA AMCOS was willing to deal with this promoter even with all the difficulties he posed. He said that it is to AMCOS AMCOS’ credit that it made so many genuine attempts to license the events so that it could promote live music while still protecting its membership. And it was pleasing to note he also acknowledged APRA AMCOS’ essential role in promoting live music performances in Australia.”
“We maintain APRA AMCOS’ members are among the most vulnerable service providers when it comes to promoters like this. Venues, caterers, and artists are able to withhold their services – but songwriters’ work cannot be withheld ‘after the fact.’ Their only recourse is to trust in the courts and their membership to APRA AMCOS, to protect their rights.
“I read in Fairfax Media that Mr. Denison has said, on record, that he’s been sued for a long time and that he is an expert at this, so I was not surprised that the Judge found that the conduct of Mr. Denison demonstrated an intentional disregard for the licensing requirements and the interests of the copyright owner, and demonstrated a level of dishonesty,” said Mr Richard Mallett.
“APRA AMCOS licenses more than 6,600 one-off events annually and there are 60 major event promoters who are licensed with us. The ruling provides an assurance to these compliant businesses that there is a one-in, all-in approach to licensing,” said Mr. Richard Mallett.
Soulfest was the event where a stage of Aussie acts was axed without notice to the performers. Supafest likewise had a shoddy reputation with superstar performer Missy Elliott taking to Twitter once to tell fans she had never committed to the tour despite the promoter advertising her name and Diddy also bagging the event when his deposit for the show never arrived.
“I wanna come to supafest but its not up to me. The promoters never sent the money for the show I love you guys! I’m MAD as F**k,” he wrote via @IAMDIDDY.
“Australia I’m very upset that the promoters that contracted me to come never fulfilled the damn contract! My bags are pack. I’m ready!”
“Australia if anyone knows the promoters call them or tweet them and ask them What the F**K!!! Tell them yall want me to come! I’m ready!”
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