Soundwave cancellation leads to ticket refund dispute

After days of speculation, promoter AJ Maddah has cancelled the 2016 Soundwave Festival less than a month before it was due to begin.

The cancellation of the Festival, that was due to be held in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, following financial problems is a blow fans, venues, bands, and production suppliers - each of whom are likely to seek repayment of millions of dollars.

Rumours of the demise of Soundwave 2016 had been circulating since earlier this week amid a combination of worrying signs, with Maddah advising that the events would not be held in 2017 and with billed acts casting doubt on their participation.

Reports also quoted Maddah as accusing ticketing company Eventopia (part of Ticketek/TEG) of refusing to release finances from ticket sales to fund the festival and help pay artists booked for the event, despite the practice of not releasing ticket proceeds to promoters in advance of an event taking place being part of the Ticketing Code of Practice.

In the wake of the cancellation, ticket holders attempting to get refunds have been told that Eventopia will not pay up.

Maddah tweeted that the festival was cancelled on Thursday evening, before posting that ticketholders could get refunds from "point of purchase". He added that those holding tickets, which cost $172 for the 2016 festival, should be patient and wait for contact from Eventopia.

Eventopia issued a statement on the Soundwave ticket page and on social media, explaining that because of a "ticketing sales agreement, the Festival Promoter is responsible for all ticketing funds that were advanced, and is directly liable to all ticket purchasers for issuing customer refunds.

"Customers should contact the Promoter of the Festival directly to request their ticket refund in full using the contact details supplied below."

In an email sent to ticketholders, Eventopia said it had met all its contractual obligations, adding: "Throughout the onsale period, Eventopia complied with all of its obligations under its ticketing services agreement with the Soundwave Festival Promoter, Hounds of Hell Pty Ltd."

Closely relating to Maddah’s concern at not receiving funds from Eventopia in advance of the event, Live Performance Australia (LPA), which administers the Ticketing Code of Practice, recently noted its concern about the increasing number of ticketing agents in the market that do release ticket proceeds to promoters and presenters in advance of an event taking place.

In a letter sent to Australia’s ticketing agencies this week, LPA Chief Executive Evelyn Richardson wrote “it is the (LPA) Executive Council’s view that this practice poses a significant risk to consumers and the industry more broadly.”

Refund information can be viewed at www.eventopia.co/event/Soundwave-Festival-Sydney/300793

Images: Soundwave in Perth in 2010 (top) and the message on the Soundwave ticketing page as of today (below).

16th December 2015 - NO SOUNDWAVE IN 2017, DOUBTS OVER JANUARY 2016 FESTIVALS

7th October 2015 - SUMMER OF MUSIC TO ROCK BRISBANE SHOWGROUNDS

20th February 2015 - SOUNDWAVE PARTNERS WITH VIAGOGO TO SQUEEZE SCALPERS

10th March 2012 - NINE EVENTS LAUNCHES EVENTOPIA TO MAKE TICKETING EASY