Concerns Persist About Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Fest After Failed Texas Shows
Story Highlights:
- Thousands of ticket holders are still owed refunds for the 2024 Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Fest Texas Edition that never happened.
- Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Fest has been “blacklisted” by many of the major music booking agencies after not paying artists and other entities after the 2023 Texas festival.
- Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Fest Texas Edition in 2023 lost an estimated $1 million, and the promoter continues to struggle to pay outstanding debts.
- Despite unpaid artists, vendors, and ticket holders, HWY 30 Music Fest is moving forward with a 2025 festival in Filer, Idaho.
Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Festival in Filer, Idaho is moving forward in 2025, despite thousands of ticket holders, some music artists, and numerous investors, vendors, and advertisers from the festival’s Texas shows still seeking refunds, payments, and restitution. As pre-order tickets get sold for the Idaho festival, and early performers are announced, others are still looking to be made whole from previous events.
Gordy Schroeder started Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Festival in Idaho as a fundraiser in 2014, and it eventually morphed into an annual multi-day music festival. It has since become a mainstay in the independent country and Southern rock festival space, and at times has supported local charities in the Filer, Idaho area.
In 2023, Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Fest decided to expand into Texas, and announced a massive lineup for the 4-day event at Fort Worth’s Texas Motor Speedway in October. Zach Bryan, Cody Jinks, Koe Wetzel, and Dierks Bentley were announced as headliners, with the undercard including Gary Clark Jr., Shane Smith and the Saints, Ashley McBryde, Charles Wesley Godwin, Whitey Morgan, and so on. It was one of the best festival lineups in country music all year.
According to a press release composed by HWY 30 Music Fest after the event, the festival drew 75,000 total people over the four days, including 32,000 on Friday alone for Zach Bryan’s headliner set. “Thanks to this massive success, HWY30 has announced it will return to the Lone Star State next fall for another round,” the press release proclaims.
But according to numerous sources, the 2023 installment of Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Fest Texas Edition lost somewhere between 1 and 1.2 million dollars. Though attendance was strong and ticket revenue was high, the expenses to produce the festival at the Texas Motor Speedway ran even higher. The festival went big—perhaps too big—owing more money at the end than what had been earned.
Luckily, many of the bands got paid in full, including headliners Zach Bryan and Dierks Bentley, as well as many of the undercard performers. But according to numerous sources, Cody Jinks and potentially other performers under True Grit management did not get paid in full.
Koe Wetzel’s production team had been hired to work the stage, lights, and sound production. They apparently didn’t get paid in full either, with Wetzel and his team eventually forgiving the debt they were owed with all the other expenses HWY 30 still had outstanding.
It is not unusual for first year festivals to lose money. But for Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Fest, the losses were catastrophic. Nonetheless, they moved forward with the Idaho installment of the festival in June of 2024 with Cody Jinks announced as the headliner.
But as HWY 30 struggled to fulfill their contractual payments to Jinks for his 2023 appearance in Texas, Cody announced on January 23rd, 2024, “Due to circumstances beyond our control, we will not be playing Gordy’s Highway 30 Fest in Idaho this year. Hope to see you elsewhere out on the road.”
Incidentally, the True Grit management company for Cody Jinks and other HWY 30 performers was purchased in August 2023 by WME, right before the 2023 HWY 30 Music Fest in Texas. Potentially, the sale of True Grit and who Hwy 30 needed to pay might have been used as an excuse to delay payment. It also resulted in a delay in booking agencies being alerted that some artists weren’t being paid by HWY 30.
In the estimate of some patrons who already had purchased tickets to the 2024 Idaho festival, Cody Jinks was never replaced with a comparable headliner. But otherwise, the 2024 Idaho festival went off without a hitch, with Morgan Wade, Shane Smith and the Saints, Chase Rice, and The Steel Woods all headlining the 4-day festival. Performers Dylan Wheeler and Giovanni & the Hired Guns also did not perform, though these cancellations were potentially due to personal reasons.
But hopes that profits from the 2024 Idaho festival could help recoup some of the money still owed to various parties from the 2023 Texas festival didn’t manifest. As word spread in the music industry that Cody Jinks and numerous other entities had not been paid for the 2023 Texas installment of HWY 30, music’s big booking agencies WME, CAA, Wasserman, and UTA put Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Festival on a “blacklist,” meaning agents were told to not book their artists at the festivals.
After the 2023 Texas music festival, Hwy 30 had sold nearly 3,000 early bird tickets for the 2024 Texas festival. But after all the major booking agencies blacklisted the festival, they struggled to secure talent. Bands and artists didn’t begin to be announced for the October event until August, and most all the early artists that were announced for the festival consisted of mostly local bands and cover bands, which in no way were comparable to the performers that had played the Texas festival in 2023.
Then there were endless delays with announcing any of the headliners for the 2024 Texas fest. Gordy’s wife Meg reportedly fell ill and was in the hospital, which was cited in part for the delays. But when Reckless Kelly was announced for the Thursday night headliner, people started to sense a bait and switch was under way. No offense was meant to Reckless Kelly, but they were just not on the level of Zach Bryan, Dierks Bentley, or Cody Jinks who headlined the event the first year.
Gordy kept posting videos of himself hanging out in a hot tub at his Texas home, promising that more information was coming. On August 26th, Gordy said, “I know everyone’s wanting answers and everything. Here’s what we got. I need you to mark your calendars because September 6th … mark your calendars, September 6th. All of the questions … everything you’ve been asking for, you’re gonna get. On September 6th. Okay? I know that maybe not exactly what you wanted to hear. But September 6th is the day.”
This was already after endless delays and frustration by ticket holders. Then when September 6th came, Gordy claimed to have a heart attack, and pictures of him in the hospital were posted. There was also no mention of headliners or lineup additions.
Then finally during the second week of September, the festival revealed the headliners of Nelly, Lonestar, as well as the “I love the ’90s Tour” with Vanilla Ice, All 4 One, Dj Kool, Color Me Badd, Tag Team, and DJ Scribble.” These headliners, coupled with the undercard, were very poorly received.
Early on September 16th, Reckless Kelly pulled out of the festival after not receiving their deposit. Then amid a strong backlash from the public, the entire Texas festival was postponed/cancelled on September 16th.
Ever since, many ticket holders have been attempting to receive refunds for the 2024 Texas festival to no avail. Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Fest has not refunded ticket holders directly. Some have been able to receive refunds for camping and parking passes by disputing the charges with their credit card companies. But even individuals who purchased trip insurance for the festival are being denied refunds on tickets since the festival has officially only postponed the event as opposed to fully cancelling it.
Postponing the 2024 Texas festival also resulted in even more expenses for HWY 30 Music Fest. New investors and sponsors were brought in to try and save the Texas edition of the event. But when they found out that their money was being used to pay debts still owed from 2023 as opposed to supporting the 2024 event, they pulled support.
Also, since 2024 headliners Nelly and “I Love The ’90s” were announced, these acts were able to keep non-refundable deposits paid to them. In other words, despite the 2024 Texas festival not happening, attempting to make it happen resulted in a new round of debts incurred.
The hope seems to be that Gordy’s HWY Music Fest can dig itself out of its current hole with its 2025 Idaho festival, and potentially continue into the future, including another Texas festival. But since none of the major booking agencies are willing to work with the promoter, it will be very difficult to recreate the previous lineups of either the Idaho or Texas festivals.
Saving Country Music has also confirmed that a house Gordy owned in Idaho was foreclosed on, and that a lien was placed on his home in Argyle, TX he purchased six weeks before the initial 2023 festival in Texas. Gordy has also been working with a bankruptcy attorney. Saving Country Music has also confirmed that there are investors in the Texas festivals that are owed $500,000 or more.
Saving Country Music has reached out numerous times to Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Fest for comment, and has never heard back. None of the major booking agencies are willing to go on record about their experiences with HWY 30 Music Fest—neither are the investors—hoping that eventually they might be able to receive payment, and don’t want to injure those prospects in the future.
Saving Country Music also reached out to the Texas Motor Speedway on numerous occasions, and has not had messages returned. The 2024 Texas festival never appeared on the Speedway’s calendar, nor did they ever post about it on their social media properties similar to how they did in 2023. Potentially, one of the reasons for the 2024 Texas festival’s budget failure was a dispute between the percentage of alcohol sales the festival and the speedway would share.
Individuals purchasing pre-ordering tickets for the 2025 HWY 30 Music Festival in Idaho hoping or expecting big headliners need to be realistic with their expectations. There are performers who do not use the big booking agencies who could still play the festival, like Aaron Lewis who has already been announced as one of the headliners. But many of the bands who played Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Fest in the past will not be available to the festival.
Speaking to individuals who know Gordy Schroeder on a personal level, they say that he always comes across as a good guy, and likely is not actively looking to commit fraud against individuals, but simply got over his head with the 2023 Texas festival.
Nonetheless, with thousands of ticket holders in Texas are still waiting for refunds, and behind-the-scenes individuals still looking to be made whole, it feels imperative to alert the public about their experiences with Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Fest.
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February 13, 2025 @ 11:58 am
Can Gordy just claim mental health issues?
February 13, 2025 @ 12:13 pm
I know you’re trying to be cute, but the fundamental difference here is ticket holders for the Colter Wall and Paul Cauthen shows are being refunded, while ticket holders for Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Fest Texas are not. Colter is even going above and beyond by offering refunds even though he has rescheduled the shows.
February 13, 2025 @ 1:15 pm
I am. I have mixed feelings about mental health cancellations but I’m trying to be understanding to all sides.
February 13, 2025 @ 3:24 pm
It would harm Gordy’s mental health to refund tickets.
Everyone should be more understanding.
February 14, 2025 @ 3:30 pm
I’d imagine it’s also harmful to the ticket purchasers, musicians, vendors and sponsors who feel defrauded. The medical issues are certainly unfortunate, but people expect to be made whole.
February 13, 2025 @ 6:15 pm
Gordy almost died in 2024 was hospitalized for several months and had to go through intensive rehab. This story is so over blown. The reason why nobody will go on record is it’s not true. Simply put the 2024 show was cancelled cause Gordy was in Utah fighting for his life.
February 13, 2025 @ 6:27 pm
What is untrue? That the Texas fest in 2023 lost 1 to 1.2 million? That they still owe Cody Jinks six figures from the 2023 Texas show? That all the major booking agencies have blacklisted these events, which can be verified by anyone since not a single artist represented by these agencies has been booked on either the 2024 Texas festival, or the 2025 Idaho festival? That they booked Nelly and Vanilla Ice at a country festival as headliners also due to not being able to work with major agencies? That his house in Idaho was foreclosed on?
All of this stuff happened before Gordy’s health issues. What has happened subsequently is 3,000 ticketholders have been left holding the bag, and further investors have been fleeced. If Gordy continues to suffer from health issues or financial hardship, then promoting further live events should be put on hold until the injured parties can be made whole. How would you feel if you paid for tickets, never received what you were promised, and then watched the same promoter schedule another event with no explanation of when you might be made whole?
February 13, 2025 @ 11:09 pm
Early bird tickets were 100 bucks and you multiply
That times 3000 you get 300k
Which is 200k LESS than I lost on this flop🤮
Put that into perspective…now I hope the ticket holders get the big festival
They were expecting and I can only pray that the festival makes a ton and I get back what I’m owed but I certainly don’t have any warm and fuzzy feelings about any of this ..
February 19, 2025 @ 4:57 am
Gordy has pulled dirty, on alot of people in Idaho. Me and my husband are two that he did dirty, there are alot of people he did dirty, I know them personally, we from Idaho knew it would be a matter of time. Karma. Gordy has another side that alot don’t see. He’s a good lier.
February 13, 2025 @ 10:46 pm
Oh it’s very true . I spent 4 months blowing up agents begging for talent to play. Gordy really wanted Nelly or Snoop Dog as that was about the only possible options . Snoop declined the offer but Nelly agreed so
Guess what …… Nelly got his deposit , directly from me
To a sum well above 100k
As for I love 90s , they got another sum well above another 100k directly from me as last minute scramble to save the festival .
Next ANOTHER 150k of MY money paid to TMS on a complete lie . Gordy told me while on a 3 way call that the 150k was for the 2024 deposit but turns out , after digging through the deceit, I was informed it was past due debt owed to TMS ( hence why the event wasn’t posted in the site to be held there) 😠 I just forked out his debt for 2023 based on a lie and …boom 3 days later the festivals cancelled.
I’d be willing to bet the whole 500k I’ve lost here that the festival would have never been canceled had it been their money been on the line . But here I am
Told to leave them alone , they could only worry about his health , but no worries of my huge loss?? I truly wanted to help them save the festival,
NOT pay old debt and be lied to 😠
It’s a gross feeling to go all in and try and bail out a promoter in hopes of launching your son’s music career only to find out you were lied to and all the money is gone.
February 19, 2025 @ 4:44 am
This is what happens when Gordy treats people like shit, who have worked for him in Idaho, we all knew it would catch up to him. Karma.
February 13, 2025 @ 10:50 pm
If you’re so caring , ya wanna refund my 500k ?
March 4, 2025 @ 3:23 pm
I sure hope you get your money back. If others on here actually followed the story they would know there is a connection between you and Gordy. Also I feel for your son’s band too! Let keep on top of this! Everyone deserves their money back!
February 17, 2025 @ 1:32 pm
Curious if you know Gordy or Megan personally or if you’re just taking everything they’ve said (or you’ve read) online as gospel? “Fighting for his life”? Have you seen (either of) their medical records? I can tell you a whole lot of people who’ve known them for decades aren’t buying the bs they’re selling.
February 17, 2025 @ 6:11 pm
Bingo
February 13, 2025 @ 12:25 pm
Very well done stuff here. Not sure anyone would give a shit about this stuff if not for you. Glad we have this great site
February 13, 2025 @ 3:34 pm
To add to the woes, the Filer, ID show last year was an amalgam of rowdy underage drunks having a cocktail party with the music happening in the background as if it were simply ambience.
Trig, you could probably do an entire series on concert etiquette and generational differences at shows & festivals. I’m seeing more and more fights between the “I’m trying to listen to the music!” crowd and the “I paid for the same ticket, I can do what I want” crowd.
February 13, 2025 @ 4:57 pm
TMac,
You have touched upon the essence of why this cowboy chooses festivals very selectively and sparingly. Mega fests in the heat of summer are grueling, and with the wrong crowd around they can be insufferable. Nothing worse than people who won’t shut up when your bands onstage. And the drunks…
As for the story, I do feel for Gordy. Enormous risks promoters take on. It’s looking bad.
February 14, 2025 @ 9:54 am
T Mac and Kevin,
Among several other reasons, this is why Mile 0 Fest is the one I won’t miss. The idiot factor is almost non-existent.
February 13, 2025 @ 8:57 pm
Got two-day passes a few years back when Turnpike reunited. It’s an absolutely terrible atmosphere and about as poorly planned as possible.
February 13, 2025 @ 9:40 pm
Saw a dude in front of me get kicked out during Charles Wesley Godwin’s set because he was fed up with others who were talking over the music and confronted them.
February 13, 2025 @ 11:35 pm
I am that dude. It was a truly surreal experience. We couldn’t hear CWG and he and Al were 30 feet away from us. Nearly the entire crowd up front was talking, and most weren’t even looking at the stage. It was beyond disrespectful to the artists, and CWG is one of my favorites. All I did was suggest that people who wanted to talk move to the back where there was plenty of room. And the drunken children brought security down on me for ruining their good time. I’m guessing they were friends or more likely, cousins. I consider it a badge of honor to have been kicked out. Just wish I could have at least heard SSS play The Gael Intro first because that’s my jam.
That crowd was easily the most belligerent I have ever seen. Earlier in the day, people were throwing bottles at the stage and Gordy came out like a half-hearted Richard Pryor doing his “alright, cut the sh*t,” white guy bit. The behavior continued. Gordy had zero control. I saw a child with a mullet who couldn’t have been over 8 years old beer bonging “adults.” The majority of the crowd was well over-served. If I were an artist, I would stay the hell away from that place.
As TMac has so well stated, concert etiquette needs to be discussed, and this site would be a great forum. Trigger, please! Half the shows we go to now you can’t hear the band because someone else thinks they’re the main character and the rest of us are “NPCs,” as the kids say these days. At least talk about the band if you’re gonna talk. I’ve never heard of “Love Island,” and the middle a Cody Canada song at Cain’s Ballroom is not the place I want learn about it. Get over yourselves, people. Shut up and listen.
February 13, 2025 @ 11:48 pm
Time for a re-charter, Trig. “Saving Live Music”
I will yield all royalties.
February 13, 2025 @ 11:52 pm
I can do an article on concert etiquette, but it’s unlikely anyone talking over bands in the front rows would ever read it. It is frustrating though. Part of the issue is booking bands like Koe Wetzel, Treaty Oak Revival, Kolby Cooper, etc. Not that I’m against any of those folks, but you’re going to get a completely different crowd that those who listen to Charles Wesley Godwin.
I’m sorry to hear you got thrown out, and for BS. Been there, done that. Though I agree that sometimes a man needs to stand on principle, and if that means getting forcibly removed, so be it.
February 14, 2025 @ 11:14 am
Watching Koe at Highway 30 Idaho, was probably the most dangerous concert situation I’ve ever experienced. Just before Koe went on the energy of the place changed. Felt very uneasy. Second the music started, at least 4 fights broke out instantly. Bottles of piss started to be thrown. The number of people I saw throughout the day with knives in a sheath on their belts was insane. I still can’t believe no one has been stabbed all these years I have been.
I do have fun there every year, but it is not a family friendly festival as advertised. Especially not a safe place for teenage girls.
February 14, 2025 @ 11:35 am
Perhaps, but it may come down to how the festival is structured. I’ve seen Treaty Oak Revival at Wheatstock where, yes, a much younger crowd but they were all singing the words at the top of their lungs and really into the show. And its not like Them Dirty Roses was any less rowdy as an opener.
Sometimes the crowd drives the crowd and not the artists. I know a bunch of people who nearly got caught in a beer throwing barfight for Whiskey Myers until they threatened to walk off stage. Whitey Morgan draws a biker crowd but the three times I’ve seen him its a rowdy but civil show.
Its not only the young crowd….its also 30 & 40 somethings. I really think its the byproduct of the increased popularity of the genre(s) and that more fans that only know a hit or two are showing up and then are disinterested the rest of the time.
By the album and have a house party FFS.
February 17, 2025 @ 10:17 am
Here’s my common sense approach to these festivals and concert ettiqutte:
The provider needs to establish rowdy rooms and quiet rooms and book the acts in each room (or at each stage) accordingly. one place with no open alcohol.
Is is the PROVIDER/BOOKER who is obligated to ensure each act can engage with their fans the way they and their fans expect to engage.
If a rowdy band wants dancers and a loud crowd, the booker provides an environment where people can do that while reserving choice seats for dedicated listeners.
For an intimate act, they set aside an intimate space and discourage bad behavior.
At concerts, the responsibility of the concertgoer is to sit down and shut the hell up and enjoy the performance. and once again, the venue should be the party responsible for creating a rowdy room for patrons who so desire, or alternately a quiet room.
OR venues need to be more transparent about the experience fans should be expecting
February 14, 2025 @ 5:25 am
Miranda knows what to do about people who don’t pay attention at her shows…
February 14, 2025 @ 8:38 am
Holy crap am I with you on this.
One good thing about Gordy’s festival is it kept all the drunk kids down south and away from Challis in August.
I was once at a Randy Rogers Band show where the dude next to me spent the whole show with his back to the band screaming at his Bros about how much he f**king LOVED Randy Rogers. I wanted to tap him on the shoulder and inform him that if he turned around and STFU he could actually see the band he claims to love so much.
So many times I find myself at shows thinking why the hell did I bother. I just don’t get the total lack of respect for the artists and other concert-goers.
February 14, 2025 @ 9:53 am
The contrast between the two is remarkable. BBR is still the best festival atmosphere I’ve ever experienced and will have me attending until I die or they stop the reunion. You couldn’t pay me to have gone back to Highway 30.
February 14, 2025 @ 11:37 am
Perfect example of the festival dictating the terms. Maybe if Muzzie would have handled security for Gordy’s it would be different. It is remarkable how different those two crowds are for being less than 100 miles apart.
February 14, 2025 @ 2:28 pm
Funny, TMac, I actually told the security at Gordy’s that this sh*t would never fly at BBR. Insane how different those two festivals are with similar acts and not terribly far away from one another. And I agree with you 100% about Whitey Morgan. You expect a crowd with a fair representation of rival biker gangs might get out of hand, but it never does.
Trigger, I honestly don’t know if it’s a this act or that act thing. Or even a regional thing. We saw Johnny Blue Skies at the Walmart AMP and two guys kept leaning across the seats in front of us so that my vertically challenged wife couldn’t see. I thought they were friends but it turned out they were just drunk and liked to talk. At least when I asked them if they wanted to switch seats with us, they showed proper embarrassment and stopped. Contrast that with Hangover Ball at Cain’s when said wife politely told the woman in back of her that she couldn’t hear the show. I didn’t pick it up at first because the people to the right and in front of me were also talking, but by the time I turned to support my wife, the husband or father of the drunken loudmouth was in my face and ended up shoving me. That was…. a problem. I kept my cool but it completely ruined the night for me. We had been to Wyatt Flores the night before and had zero issues. There doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason. We saw CWG and Blackberry Smoke in Portland and had the same problem with people talking, yet at the American Aquarium show in the same town a week later it was all good. SSS and TT at Red Rocks were both idiot-free, as was CWG/JI400U/TT in OKC and Childers in Austin. It’s been completely unpredictable, which sucks. If I could pin it on certain acts or venues, I’d avoid them and be a much happier concert goer. It seems there are just a lot of rude people who think we are background actors in their private play, and you never know where they’re going to be. I guess I need to limit myself to shows at the Ryman. Never had anything but religious experiences there.
Trigger, we appreciate all that you do. We’ll understand if you don’t come back to Jackelope this year, but we’re looking forward to your write up of The Boys From Oklahoma. We’ll be there Thursday.
February 13, 2025 @ 5:34 pm
I dont feel sorry for him. Not paying a band or a performer for services already rendered is basically stealing. Best thing all performers can do is avoid this festival or any with his name attached.
February 13, 2025 @ 8:56 pm
I’m not sure who you’re talking to that knows Gordy and speaks well of him. The consensus here in Idaho ranges from he’s actively committing fraud to he doesn’t know what the hell he is doing. But having been to Highway 30 here in Idaho, it’s absolutely true he has a legion of supporters gullible enough to buy tickets for a music festival that definitely won’t be happening.
February 13, 2025 @ 9:39 pm
Highway 30 fest also had a physical building in Twin Falls, Idaho, … they moved out months ago and the building is now for rent.
February 13, 2025 @ 10:20 pm
I can’t even begin to tell you have much money I’ve seen him “donate”/throw around at fundraiser banquets. He made sure everyone around him knew he was”rich”. To know that he was handing it out while not paying these people, wow.
February 13, 2025 @ 11:14 pm
Dude’s a grifter. Plain and simple.
February 14, 2025 @ 10:17 am
“There are performers who do not use the big booking agencies who could still play the festival”
It’s amusing that the majority of talent byers for major festivals and venues rely on roughly a handful of talent agencies- and will work only with these booking agencies and vice versa. In today’s touring reliant industry, being represent by one of these talent agencies significantly outweighs being signed to a label imo. In the case of Gordy’s, he’s being blackballed by the small amount of major talent agencies, which nearly EVERY relatively popular touring artist is signed to. The word “independent” is thrown around a lot here and and I get it, not signed to a label has historically meant independent. But only a tiny tiny percent are really out there doing it independently (without a major booking agency). Because most popular acts are signed to a large talent agency, Gordy is not going to get popular acts and the festival will go under. I’m always amazed by how much power the agencies have, but I guess that’s the industry.
February 14, 2025 @ 10:52 am
I agree 100% that booking agency consolidation is an issue, and it actually became a big issue in this matter. When Red 11 was bought by WME, and then True Grit was bought by WME, that basically put all the power in booking independent country music in one place.
At the 2023 HWY 30 Fest in Texas, according to my investigation, all the artists got paid … except ones on True Grit. The reason some promoters will do this is because they know they can manhandle the smaller agencies and it won’t affect them as much as if they piss off WME. Ironically, when the smaller booking agency for Reckless Kelly called around before deciding to play in Texas in 2024, WME told them everything was cool with HWY 30, because True Grit’s business had yet to be fully folded into WME. Then when it was and they found out True Grit artists were still owed money, the blacklisting went out, and froze HWY 30 out of ALL the major booking agencies.
Now you hear from some smaller venues and festivals who used to work with Red 11 and True Grit directly who can’t get a phone call or email answered now that a band is with WME.
I’m glad that WME has discovered the incredible talent and appeal for independent country music. But it is important we keep that independent spirit alive to make sure the next generation of talent, venues, and events get supported. This is grassroots music.
February 14, 2025 @ 11:51 pm
“Now you hear from some smaller venues and festivals who used to work with Red 11 and True Grit directly who can’t get a phone call or email answered now that a band is with WME.”
That truly bums me out if anyone actually does feel that way with me because I know that I try my absolute hardest to maintain the personal relationships and friendships that I’ve built over the years and to continue to work with all promoters/venues, at every level, that have done right by me and my clients as long as it’s still the best fit. Even when it isn’t anymore, I’m still a phone call, text, or e-mail away from a conversation with anyone but the ultimate goal is always to grow together. My personal cell phone is in my e-mail signature — there’s no big WME directory to go through to get to me. I can’t speak for everyone and won’t but I think I have a pretty decent reputation of this and I think Jon does as well.
February 15, 2025 @ 2:15 am
Just found this article and reading the comments and definitely will vouch for Josh with WME. When I got into booking shows, Josh helped me tremendously. I had worked with him on Red 11 acts dating back to 2021. Like many smaller budgeted promoters, I was very concerned that I wouldn’t be able to land former Red 11 artists after the merger with WME, but literally nothing has changed. Josh always answers his cell when I call or will at least shoot me a text to set up a return call. After the merger, my yearly music festival-a smaller budget fest in Tennessee-has prominently featured WME acts. Headliner and co headliner in 2023 were both WME. In 2024, we featured 4 WME artists, and when the 2025 lineup is dropped soon, there will be 3 more WME acts on the bill. I can’t speak for everyone’s experiences, but I’ve had no trouble at all doing business with WME after the merger despite being an independent festival promoter. Big shoutout to Josh for making things happen!
February 15, 2025 @ 9:31 am
Hey Josh,
So I am not a festival promoter or a venue owner/talent buyer, so I am not in a position to personally vouch for the communication or customer service these people receive from WME. What I can tell you is that after reporting on both the acquisition of Red 11 by WME, and True Grit by WME, people in those positions publicly spoke up saying this was going to make their lives harder, on social media and other places. I have since had folks in my inbox imploring that I write a story about how this consolidation is hurting the music. I have not written that story because I do not know how serious of an issue this is, and I am not writing that story now. I simply responded to someone’s comment who brought up this same concern. Also, it might not be communication specifically with previous clients that is the issue. It could be new people unable to open those lines of communication, or the rising booking fees for talent. Honestly, this is a separate issue altogether, and not sure is worth getting into details of in a comments section.
What I can tell you from my personal experience is that I emailed numerous individuals at WME about this issue (not you personally, I don’t believe), and never received back even the “no comment” I asked for if they were unwilling to speak on the subject.
I have been investigating this issue since late July 2024. I knew that Gordy’s HWY 30 Texas Edition was going to implode, and that ticket holders, artists, vendors, and others were going to be injured by that implosion. But since I couldn’t find anybody to verify information, or go on record about it, my hands were tied to report publicly on it. Lo and behold, it imploded, and a lot of people are now left holding the bag—way more people if I was able to report on it before they started announcing talent.
Subsequently after the 2024 Texas fest postponement/cancellation, I tried again to put together a story about it. Once again, I was unable to find enough sources or information to do so. It was only after HWY 30 announced the 2025 festival in Idaho and pre-order tickets did the matter become so desperate for injured parties, they decided to start coming forward, worried that even more fans, more artists, and more investors will get taken advantage of.
I was able to then verify enough information through 3rd parties to publish this story. But to this day, I haven’t even received as much as a “no comment” from WME, UTA, Wasserman, or CAA. I get it. Perhaps this is policy in these matters. But it is resulting in more people within our community getting taken advantage of, and that’s a problem.
Perhaps I just didn’t reach out to the right people. I certainly have nothing but respect for what you, Jon, and others have done to help support this music in the live space and have said so many times publicly. But I have seen comments from, and heard from people who feel like they’re getting locked out, or their jobs are more difficult because of consolidation. And I would be lying if I said I hadn’t seen and heard those concerns. That is all I was saying in a response to a comment.
February 15, 2025 @ 1:36 pm
Ok, but now I wanna see a collab called Reckless Nelly!
February 19, 2025 @ 7:31 am
I bought tickets for the Idaho festival in 2025 right after last year. I emailed Squad up who was the ticket holder asking a question and they came back and said they are no longer the ticket holders for this event so I am not even sure if the ticket I purchased months ago is still even valid. This is all very concerning.