Canadian Music Week (CMW) founder Neill Dixon is suing the owners of the rebranded Departure Festival + Conference for breach of contract, alleging they have not paid the full purchase price of $2 million.
Dixon announced at the opening of the industry conference last June that he was retiring and selling the business to Loft Entertainment – the artist management and content company co-founded by former Bell Media and Universal Music Canada president Randy Lennox and music industry veteran Kevin Barton – and venue management and hospitality provider Oak View Group.
Dixon, who started the event in 1982, had been at its helm for 42 years.
According to an Ontario court filing, Dixon is seeking damages of $435,428, in addition to $50,000 in punitive and aggravated damages. Roughly $379,000 of the purchase price originally agreed to last year, has not been remitted, according to Dixon’s claim, with another $56,000 in personal consulting fees outstanding.
The music industry veteran was set to be recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the upcoming Departure Festival + Conference, billed as a “reimagined Canadian Music Week,” being hosted at Toronto’s Hotel X, May 6-11.
More to come.
