Music fest in debt woes
By Yao Min-G |
June 27, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHENGDU BigLove Music Festival ended on Sunday amid accusations that the organizer cheated money out of performers and crew members.
Chen Shu, the organizer, admitted that he hadn't paid all wages and claimed a loss of more than 50 million yuan (US$7.85 million).
The festival, held in Chengdu between June 21 and 24, was promoted as the largest in China in scale and cost. The four-day event gathered 100 groups of performers including big names like China's rock legend Cui Jian and British band Suede.
A sound technician told Shanghai Daily that many performers and crew members couldn't leave the hotel on Monday because the organizer didn't pay and couldn't be contacted. He added that many "fled" from the hotel, without paying, and paid their own airfare out of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province.
"We took the emergency exit and were lucky to get in the bus with some other performers and staff members," he added. He sought anonymity because he "hasn't been fully paid and I still owe money to my friend from whom I rented the equipment."
Chen spoke to West China Metropolis Daily, based in Chengdu, and said he would not leave the city without settling all debts.
It was reported that the festival gathered more than 30,000 fans on one day, but ticket sales were as low as 200 on some days since many entered without paying. Fans said a one-day ticket, at 298 yuan, was far more expensive than other festivals.
Chen said the total cost for the festival was 60 million yuan and he was hoping to pay wages with ticket sales, which totaled only 3 million.
Chen Shu, the organizer, admitted that he hadn't paid all wages and claimed a loss of more than 50 million yuan (US$7.85 million).
The festival, held in Chengdu between June 21 and 24, was promoted as the largest in China in scale and cost. The four-day event gathered 100 groups of performers including big names like China's rock legend Cui Jian and British band Suede.
A sound technician told Shanghai Daily that many performers and crew members couldn't leave the hotel on Monday because the organizer didn't pay and couldn't be contacted. He added that many "fled" from the hotel, without paying, and paid their own airfare out of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province.
"We took the emergency exit and were lucky to get in the bus with some other performers and staff members," he added. He sought anonymity because he "hasn't been fully paid and I still owe money to my friend from whom I rented the equipment."
Chen spoke to West China Metropolis Daily, based in Chengdu, and said he would not leave the city without settling all debts.
It was reported that the festival gathered more than 30,000 fans on one day, but ticket sales were as low as 200 on some days since many entered without paying. Fans said a one-day ticket, at 298 yuan, was far more expensive than other festivals.
Chen said the total cost for the festival was 60 million yuan and he was hoping to pay wages with ticket sales, which totaled only 3 million.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
