Features
Country Life Promoter Investigated
The Illinois Attorney General’s office and the Better Business Bureau are investigating the promoter behind a canceled country festival after receiving numerous consumer complaints over refunds.
Blu Entertainment Group organized the Country Life Music festival, which was scheduled to feature Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Travis Tritt, Sawyer Brown, and RaeLynn at
But in a statement June 9, Blu announced “the 2015 Country Life Music Festival in Chillicothe, Ill., has been canceled. All ticket holders will be notified via email within 24 hours with additional information.”
A source reportedly close to the matter told the Peoria Journal Star performers were supposed to be paid six weeks before the fest to the tune of a more than $1 million, but ticket sales had only generated about $650,000 at that point and artists began withdrawing. Now, ticketbuyers appear to be getting nowhere in their attempts to receive refunds.
The BBB’s Jessica Tharp said the office is examining what the festival’s refund policy was and determining whether there may have been intent of business fraud.
“There is lots of misinformation about what the refund policy is,” Tharp told the paper. “That’s why we want the business to make a good faith response and address these issues.” Meanwhile in Florida, officials for a park that opened in April with a Country Life Music festival of its own are also seeking answers from Blu Entertainment.
Tracks and Trails VP BJ Rosinus told WBBH-TV Blu Entertainment’s Brad Maloney came to him before the fest and said he didn’t have money to pay headliner
The park ended up footing the bill during the fest so Reba would take the stage, and then received a reimbursement check from Maloney, which turned out to be worthless, Rosinus added. According to federal documents obtained by the station, Maloney also owes more than $360,000 in unpaid taxes.