Photo Credit: Departure
The founder of Canadian Music Week (now called Departure) is suing new owners Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group Canada for breach of contract and unpaid sale fees.
A notice of action filed with the Ontario Court of Justice this week from Neill Dixon highlights the legal action against Departure’s owners. Dixon says both companies breached the contract signed when Canadian Music Week was sold. Dixon seeks damages of $435,428 plus $50,000 in punitive and aggravated damages. The legal action comes about as Dixon alleges that Departure’s new owners have not paid the full sale price $2,000,000 that was agreed in June 2024.
“After 42 years of building an internationally respected Canadian music business, I made the difficult decision to sell and retire, trusting the purchasers to honor their commitments under the agreement we had between us,” Dixon told Billboard Canada in a statement. “I have been forced to start a lawsuit to hold them to their end of the agreement. It’s disheartening to have decades of dedication and hard work met with such an approach by them.”
Dixon announced his retirement and the sale of Canadian Music Week to Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group last year. The new owners announced they would drop the well-known Canadian Music Week branding in favor of rebranding as Departure. The music industry festival had been known as Canadian Music Week since 1982—throughout Dixon’s entire term as president of the festival.
Oak View Group announced the rebranding in November 2024 during an event in Tornto. The new Departure team includes Loft Co-Founder Randy Lennox, CEO Jackie Dean, and Executive Producer Kevin Barton, as well as OVG Canada President Tom Pistore. Their outlined vision for the festival would include expanding it beyond music—to include comedy, tech, food, and more. The rebranding would turn CMW into more of a Canadian SXSW if you will.
Dixon alleges the new owners have not paid the full purchase price of $2 million after signing an agreement to purchase on June 1, 2024. The money was to be sent in a payment plan by a company co-owned by Loft and OVG. But $378,928 still has not been paid. Dixon also alleges he provided consulting services to the new owners to the tune of $56,000 which have also not been paid.
“Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group have received a formal statement of claim from Neill Dixon,” the two companies told Billboard Canada. “We have been negotiating with Neill and his counsel for an extended period to finalize our agreed upon terms. If we are unable to reach an agreement, we will explore alternative ooptions.”
Content shared from www.digitalmusicnews.com.