Canadian Music Week founder Neill Dixon has filed a lawsuit against new owners Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group Canada, alleging breach of contract and unpaid sale fees totaling $485,428.

The lawsuit claims that following the June 2024 sale agreement for $2 million, the new owners failed to pay $378,928 of the purchase price. Additionally, Dixon seeks $56,000 for unpaid consulting services and $50,000 in punitive and aggravated damages.

"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," Dixon stated to Billboard Canada.

The festival, established in 1982, was recently rebranded as "Departure" under new ownership. The leadership team includes Loft Co-Founder Randy Lennox, CEO Jackie Dean, Executive Producer Kevin Barton, and OVG Canada President Tom Pistore. Their vision involves expanding the event beyond music to include comedy, tech, and food, similar to SXSW.

In response to the lawsuit, Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group acknowledged receiving the formal statement of claim, stating they have been in negotiations with Dixon and his counsel to finalize terms. They indicated they would "explore alternative options" if an agreement cannot be reached.

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