Founder sues new owners over unpaid conference sale fees

Canadian musician Neill Dixon, the founder of the conference originally known as Canadian Music Week, is suing its new owners, Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group Canada. The lawsuit claims breach of contract and unpaid fees following the sale of the event, now called Departure. In the legal action filed in the Ontario Court of Justice on March 17, Dixon seeks over $435,000 in damages, plus additional punitive damages. He alleges that the new owners have not paid the full purchase price of $2 million agreed upon in June 2024. Dixon expressed disappointment in the situation, noting the hard work he put into building the event over 42 years. Loft and OVG confirmed receipt of the lawsuit and stated that they were in ongoing negotiations with Dixon regarding the terms of the sale. They expressed hope of reaching an agreement but indicated they would consider other options if talks failed. Dixon sold the conference last summer and announced the rebranding to Departure at an event in Toronto, which included plans to expand into areas like comedy and technology. The festival is scheduled to take place from May 6-11, 2025. During the launch, the new owners promised to honor Dixon with a lifetime achievement award. In other music news, Canada’s music market is showing growth, with revenues hitting $660.3 million in 2024. The IFPI Global Report highlights Canada as the eighth largest music market in the world, although the growth was only 1.5% compared to an unusually strong 2023. Canadian superstar Drake improved his global ranking, moving up from fourth to second in the IFPI artist rankings. Additionally, the Canadian Country Music Association announced a new award for Francophone Artist of the Year, which will be presented in September during Country Music Week. This addition aims to recognize the contributions of Francophone artists in the Canadian country music scene.