KISSIMMEE, Fla. (CelebrityAccess) Florida-based Runaway Country Music Festival is suing Iowa-based Basis Entertainment, claiming the promotion company owes it $275,000 for unpaid ticket revenue.
“We’ve been trying to get the money ever since the festival took place in March. They have since refused to turn it over,” Gary McCann, producer of Runaway Country, told Iowas newspaper The Gazette via email.
McCann said Runaway Country partnered with father/son team Gary and Dave Dewaard, who operate under the name Beachtown in Florida, for the festival’s eight year. The original plan was for Basis Entertainment to purchase the festival, McCann said, but the plan fell through.
Both companies gained access to a merchant count, used for ticket sales, during the transition, McCann told the paper, and he has been asking for those funds for months so the festival can pay off its vendors.
“We are saddened and frankly shocked to learn what was supposed to be a new partner with our existing ownership group, has in fact taken a portion of the festival’s ticket revenue from the merchant account and spent it elsewhere,” McCann said. “These funds are needed to pay suppliers to the festival. We have had eight great years building relationships with some outstanding businesses in the community. It is important for these companies to be paid for their products and services — some of the missing funds are even due to local charities.”
Basis Entertainment was unavailable for comment. A court hearing in Brevard County is reportedly scheduled for Sept. 20.
The March 23-25 event included Brantley Gilbert, Florida Georgia Line, Darius Rucker and Kane Brown.
