The leader of a multi-million dollar fraud scheme in the US involving bogus music concerts has been jailed for almost five years.

Terronce Morris, 42, was sentenced to 57 months in a federal prison after admitting conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges.

Morris and co-defendant Blake Kelly, 37, initially conned a promoter “who specialised in producing music festivals in large venues” out of $1.35 million between December 2019 and March 2020, under the pretence of financing a non-existent music festival in San Antonio, Texas, which they claimed would be headlined by Justin Bieber, Post Malone and Billie Eilish.

The Miami Herald reports that Morris posed as a Texas music producer, while Kelly, who worked in the music business in Los Angeles, claimed to be “intimate friends” with Bieber and could secure the Canadian “to headline and perform at a live musical concert series in 2020”.

The duo, who admitted the offences earlier this year, were charged in Miami because much of the communication happened while the victim was visiting South Florida.

According to the US Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida, Morris and Kelly – who was sentenced to 13 months in prison on 13 March for his part in the scam – forged the artists’ signatures to create “several false and fraudulent” performance contracts.

Prosecutors say the total fraud loss from the scheme was close to $3 million

Additionally, they had an accomplice pose as Bieber during a video call to trick the victim into believing the singer had agreed to perform.

Court documents say that Morris continued his scheme despite receiving several cease and desist letters from lawyers for the music artists, using bogus contracts to swindle another victim out of $500,000 in October 2020 and a further $250,000 the following month.

Post his arrest, Morris stole an additional $850,000 from two more victims. In November 2021, he received a $350,000 cheque in Bieber’s name, claiming he represented the singer and the sum was to procure his performance on a livestreaming event during the pandemic. In December of that year, he opened a bank account in Texas, using the personal identifying information of a victim who shares the same name as Bieber.

As recently as December 2023, Morris met one of his victims while free on bond and promised him the Bieber concert would proceed “someday in the near future”.

Prosecutors say the total fraud loss from the scheme was close to $3m, with Morris and Kelly using the money to “enrich themselves and finance a lavish lifestyle for themselves and their accomplices”, spending it on travelling, luxury goods and services, and dining at high-priced restaurants.

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Move Concerts boss Phil Rodriguez has spoken out on the company’s growing management arm and 2024 touring fortunes in an interview with IQ.

Move Music Management, which was formed by Rodriguez and Move’s Argentina CEO Sebastian Carlomagno, has hired Jason Odio to help with its expanding roster of artists.

Odio will be based in the team’s Miami office in the US, and brings more than 25 experience as an executive in the nightclub and hospitality sectors.

“Jason brings a lot,” says Rodriguez. “Aside from having run successful businesses in the hospitality sector – nightclubs, restaurants, bars – he also has incredible contacts and experience in the fashion industry and art world, from producers to designers. We’re thrilled to have him on board.”

Move clients include Tiago PZK, Bhavi, Ambik and K4OS, who are all signed to Rodriguez’s Grand Move Records. The promoter describes the firm’s management division and indie record label as its “Covid projects”.

“We were approach regarding management for a few of the artists that were coming out of the urban scene that blew up in Argentina about two years ago – during and right after Covid,” he explains. “Tiago PZK was the one that we really got excited about, so we signed him up for management and then started a label for his releases, Grand Move Records.

“We then signed a licensing deal with Warner Latin when Tiago’s numbers out grew the South Cone markets: Argentina, Uruguay and Chile. As time went by other artists approached us and we now have four artists under our management division: Ambik, Bhavi , K4OS and Tiago PZK. We want to grow slowly – quality before quantity.”

“We’re seeing [A-list] artists doing stronger than ever, but a softer scenario for the mid-level artists”

Rodriguez says Move’s management and concert divisions operate independently of one another, while utilising certain synergies.

“In the markets where Move Concerts has offices, our local offices will promote the concerts for our management artists,” he says. “Furthermore, we use our local offices to help push and market our artists in tandem with Warner Latin.”

Turning to Move’s touring activities, Rodriguez says the first half of 2024 has been largely positive up to this point.

“So far, we’re ahead of the ball – more hits than misses,” he says. “The biggest highlight so far this year were the two stadium dates we promoted with Karol G in San Jose, Costa Rica at the Nacional Stadium. She broke all previous sales records in that country. She’s a superstar.

“Aside from the increase in costs, we’re seeing [A-list] artists doing stronger than ever but a softer scenario for the mid-level artists.”

Latin America’s largest independent promoter, Move Concerts is headquartered in Miami, Florida, and has offices in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru and Puerto Rico.

“We have a great line up of upcoming shows in Puerto Rico: Bad Bunny, Carin Leon, Residente, Rawayana and Rainao,” concludes Rodriguez. “In the region, we have four dates with Eric Clapton with Gary Clark Jr, a nine-date South American tour with Keane, which has sold stronger than their previous tours, two stadium dates with Paul McCartney and five stadium, plus one arena show, with Iron Maiden, who are doing bigger business than ever in the region.”

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Ultra Music Festival was forced to shut down early on Friday (22 March) due to severe weather in Miami.

The three-day EDM event, taking place at Miami’s Bayfront, opened on Friday despite warnings of thunderstorms, heavy rain and high winds in the South Florida region.

Ahead of the festival, punters were advised to bring ponchos, raincoats and boots. Ultra also encouraged festival goers to text ULTRA to 48477 to stay updated with real-time safety information.

Festivities went ahead as planned until around 21:00 EDT, when Ultra issued a statement: “For your safety, Ultra Friday is temporarily shutting down. Please calmly leave the park now.”

The three-day EDM event opened on Friday despite warnings of thunderstorms, heavy rain and high winds

Hardwell, a Dutch DJ and producer who was due to play the headline set on the festival’s main stage, shared a post on X, expressing his disappointment at having to cancel his performance. He wrote: “I’m crying right now, 3 months of work by the team and myself. Wow….”

At around 23:30 EDT, Ultra shared another statement, assuring fans that the festival would go ahead on Saturday despite ongoing inclement weather. It read: “Severe weather is still in the area. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!”

Ultra resumed on Saturday, with extended hours to make up for the lost time, and guests were advised to turn up with caution. Artists including Calvin Harris and Eric Prydz performed at the festival during the weekend.

Events around the globe that have been impacted by the elements over the past 12 months include Primavera Sound Madrid, Awakenings in the Netherlands, Slovenia’s MetalDays, the UK’s Kaleidoscope, shows by Louis Tomlinson show and Ed Sheeran in the US, Burning Man, Taylor Swift in Brazil, Elton John in New Zealand and Wacken Open Air in Germany.

Extreme weather and its impact on open-air events was a major topic of conversation during last month’s ILMC in London. Read more here.

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Two scammers face up to 20 years in prison after admitting a $1.35 million (€1.25m) fraud over a fake concert scheme in the US.

Terronce Morris, 41, of Missouri City, Texas, and Blake Kelly, 36, of Los Angeles, California, swindled a promoter out of $1.35m between December 2019 and March 2020, under the pretence of financing a music festival purportedly featuring acts such as Justin Bieber, Post Malone and Billie Eilish.

According to the US Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida, the pair instead used the money to “enrich themselves and finance a lavish lifestyle for themselves and their accomplices”, spending it on travelling, luxury goods and services, and dining at high-priced restaurants.

Morris and Kelly forged the artists’ signatures to create “several false and fraudulent” performance contracts. Additionally, they had an accomplice pose as Bieber during a video call to trick the victim into believing the singer had agreed to perform at the festival in Texas.

Morris and Kelly pleaded guilty to mail fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft

The victim subsequently sent three wire transfers to Morris and also mailed him a $200,000 cheque made payable to Bieber, which Morris then deposited into his own personal account.

Morris and Kelly pleaded guilty to mail fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in Miami federal court. The Miami Herald reports the pair were charged in Miami because much of the communication happened while the victim was visiting South Florida.

Morris and Kelly, who will be sentenced in May and March, respectively, face up to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge, as well an additional two years in jail for identity theft.

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Severe weather caused a cruiseliner hosting a music festival to slam into a pier in Jamaica earlier this week.

The Carnival Magic ship set sail from Miami on Saturday for the ShipRocked cruise, featuring performances from I Prevail, Killswitch Engage, Beartooth, Highly Suspect, Badflower and more.

Due to high winds and choppy waters, the cruise docked in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, a day earlier. But conditions caused the pier fender to collapse under pressure, causing Carnival Magic to crash into the dock.

Operator Carnival Cruises said there were no injuries and all the ship’s services remained operational, though the vessel was damaged.

The conditions caused the pier fender to collapse under pressure, causing Carnival Magic to crash into the dock

Following the crash, the ship docked at another nearby pier, while guests were left on the Caribbean island for nearly 12 hours, according to one passenger.

“We had a couple thousand people just out in a field in the pouring rain and no shelter, no food, no drinks. I think there was one toilet,” passenger Adam Muddleton told FOX 35.

Carnival Cruises said that “the guests who were ashore at the time were taken care of by the Carnival team and shore excursion partners”.

ShipRocked’s next scheduled stop at Grand Cayman was cancelled, with the cruise heading to Bimini on Friday and returning to Miami tomorrow as planned.

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Black Promoters Collective (BPC) has formed a strategic alliance with US event Jazz in the Gardens to “redefine and expand the festival experience”.

The coalition will bring acts from soul, R&B, jazz, hip-hop and Afrobeats to the Miami event at the Hard Rock Stadium on 9-10 March.

Maxwell, Babyface, Jeezy, Scarface, Jaheim, Tamia, Marsha Ambrosius, October London and DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live! are among the acts that will perform at the 17th edition, hosted by Rickey Smiley and Jess Hilarious.

“BPC is thrilled to work alongside the City of Miami Gardens to enhance the already vibrant Jazz in the Gardens brand and take it to the next level,” says BPC Partner and CMO Troy Brown. “For example, notably, JITG has never incorporated the Afrobeat genre into its lineup. BPC plans to change that and infuse the festival with a mix of genres, promising an unforgettable experience for attendees.”

“BPC plans to change that and infuse the festival with a mix of genres”

“This collaboration also signifies a crucial milestone in the growth of the Black Promoters Collective, expanding its portfolio into festivals and other live performance markets. The partnership with JITG aligns with BPC’s commitment to redefining the live performance experience, promising a truly unforgettable festival for all attendees.”

Miami Gardens mayor Rodney Harris adds: “We are so excited to be hosting the 17th annual Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival. This year’s partnership with the Black Promoters Collective promises an enhanced festival experience, and a line-up of talented artists who represent the diverse culture we have in Miami Gardens and South Florida region.”

Past JITG events have taken place at Hard Rock Stadium and included such artists as H.E.R., Rick Ross, Mary J. Blige, The Isley Brothers, The Roots, T-Pain, Anita Baker, Salt-N-Pepa, Smokey Robinson, Chaka Khan, LL Cool J, Aretha Franklin, and many more top artists of soul, R&B and jazz.

Black Promoters Collective is a coalition of six independent promoters and event production companies in the US.

The Black-owned organisation was launched in 2021 to “advance the profile of independent Black promoters in the music industry and place urban music back in the hands of Black promoters at a national and global level”.

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Miami-based promoter Loud and Live has announced details of the inaugural Country Bay Music Festival in conjunction with its South Florida-focused live events division, EngageLive!

Staged on the grounds of Miami Marine Stadium, the festival will take place from 11-12 November with headliners Thomas Rhett, Sam Hunt, Chris Young, Lee Brice and Lainey Wilson.

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of this premier country music festival in Miami, bringing together the best of country music across the vibrant and energetic backdrop of this magical city,” says Loud and Live CEO Nelson Albareda. “Our goal is to create a memorable experience for music fans and our partner sponsors alike, and ultimately to establish Miami as a destination for country music enthusiasts from around the world.”

Country Bay Music Festival also promises to showcase performances from Randy Houser, Chris Lane, LOCASH and Elle King, as well as up-and-coming artists such as Restless Road, Blanco Brown, Josh Ross, Hailey Whitters, and David J, plus country-Latin duo Kat & Alex and Neon Union.

“We are confident that Country Bay Music Festival will be a must-attend event for years to come”

“With an incredible lineup of the top country music artists and a picturesque waterfront venue that has a long history of iconic country music shows, including Jimmy Buffet and Kenny Rogers among others, we are confident that Country Bay Music Festival will be a must-attend event for years to come,” adds EngageLive CEO Tony Albelo.

The two-day festival will also offer activities, including The Saloon Experience, a 360-degree country-themed bar offering an assortment of craft beer, whiskey, bourbon, and tequila. Fans will also be able to enjoy other festival experiences, including sponsor activations, games, culinary experiences, photo booth opportunities, line dancing, a mechanical bull, and a giant Ferris wheel.

Fans will also have the opportunity to attend the event by boat or yacht with an anchorage access pass. Weekend festival passes start at US$159 (€148), with Beach Club passes available from $699 (€652) and platinum VIP weekend tickets at $1,599 (€1,491).

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Afro Nation, the world’s biggest Afrobeats festival, is expanding to the US this year with a Miami edition.

Burna Boy and Wizkid will headline the two-day event, set for 27 and 28 May at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.

Nigerian superstars Rema and Asake, dancehall legend Beenie Man, rising African stars CKay, BNXN, and Black Sherif and French rapper Franglish also appear on the bill.

The Miami edition will highlight the best in Afrobeats, dancehall, hip-hop, amapiano, and other Black-led musical genres

The organisers say that the Miami edition, like previous Afro Nation events, will highlight the best in Afrobeats, dancehall, hip-hop, amapiano, and other Black-led musical genres.

Previous editions have taken place in Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean since the brand launched in 2019.

Last year, the festival marked its North American debut with Afro Nation Puerto Rico, as well as its return to Portugal for the second time and Ghana, for the first time since 2019.

Afro Nation Miami 2023 is presented by Event Horizon, SMADE, and Live Nation.

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A US promoter is suing Trump International Beach Resort in Miami over claims it reneged on a deal to host a rock & roll festival.

4U Promotions (4UP) planned to hold the Decades of Rock & Roll Cruise Reunion at the Sunny Isles Beach resort from 6-10 October this year.

According to a lawsuit filed in an Ohio court, 4UP sales and marketing director Penny Greene began working with Trump Resort sales director Maria Daniel Espina back in February to reserve the rooms and performance space required for the event, and reached an agreement the following month.

“In reliance on the agreed upon terms… Ms Greene continued to market the event, and ceased any further efforts to find hotel performance space apart from the space agreed to by the Trump Resort,” notes the filing.

It adds that on 31 March, Espina notified Greene she would prepare and send the agreement “within the next few days”. However, the parties did not communicate between 19 April and 25 July, at which point Greene notified Espina the document had still not arrived.

However, Espina replied that she thought Greene “had found another venue”, and said the resort would not be honouring the booking.

“4UP has considerable damages due to the breach by the Trump Resort”

As a result, 4UP, which formed in 2006 and has promoted multi-day music events since 2011, is now suing Trump Resort’s operating company 18001 Holdings for fraud and breach of contract, among other allegations.

“Neither 4UP nor Ms Greene had ever suggested to either the Trump Resort or Ms Espina that 4UP had found another venue for the event,” says the filing.

The promoter claims the venue made the assertion it would host the event “knowing it was false” or with “utter disregard and recklessness for the truth” that “one may infer that the representation was knowingly false”.

“4UP began advertising and taking deposits for the rooms at the Trump Resort as consideration of the contract,” it notes, adding it has suffered “considerable damages due to the breach”.

According to the Decades of Rock & Roll website, the reunion will now take place at the Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa in Florida from 6-10 October, with tickets priced from $229 (€223). 4UP had been unable to stage its annual cruises in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19.

Trump Resort is yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit.

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Rolling Loud, the world’s biggest hip-hop festival franchise, will plant its flag in Thailand next year.

The expansion was announced via Rolling Loud’s Twitter account on Tuesday (26 July), with a caption reading: “Rolling Loud Thailand. See you 2023”. Details on the festival’s lineup, location, dates and tickets are yet to be announced.

The festival’s foray into Thailand will mark its first official event in Asia after a failed attempt at venturing into Hong Kong in 2019. The Hong Kong edition was scheduled to take place in October 2019 but was cancelled due to the city’s ongoing riots and protests at the time.

Rolling Loud Hong Kong would have been headlined by Migos and Wiz Khalifa with additional performances from the likes of Playboi Carti, Smokepurpp, Ski Mask The Slump God and more.

The festival’s foray into Thailand will mark its first official event in Asia

Founded in 2015, Rolling Loud has previously expanded from its flagship Miami festival to launch in cities including Los Angeles, New York and Sydney.

Earlier this month, Rolling Loud made its European debut in Portugal. Headlined by J Cole, A$AP Rocky and Future, the Live Nation-backed event was held on Praia Da Rocha Beach, Portimão, in the Algarve. The Portuguese spin-off was originally set for the summer of 2020 before being called off due to the pandemic.

In addition, Rolling Loud is expanding to Canada for the first time with headliners Dave, Future and Wizkid at Ontario Place, Toronto from 9-11 September. Its New York edition, meanwhile, is lined up for Queens Citi Field from 23–25 September, headed by Nicki Minaj, A$AP Rocky and Future.

Alongside its sister events, the brand also joined forces with the Netherlands’ Woo Hah! hip-hop festival to launch Woo Hah! x Rolling Loud at Beekse Bergen in Hilvarenbeek. Held from 1–3 July, acts included J Cole, Future, Dave and Roddy Ricch.

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