TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — More ticket holders for events hosted by Music Getaways LLC are requesting refunds after last-minute cancellations.
Music Getaways is owned by smooth jazz saxophonist Warren Hill.
The company, which is in the midst of Chapter 11 bankruptcy, suddenly canceled its Solfest and Jazz festivals scheduled for October in Los Cabos, Mexico, and last year’s RNB Festival in Cancun, Mexico. Until the change, they continued to accept new reservations. weekend.
Some ticket holders who purchased tickets to the Cancun Jazz Festival last weekend received an email from organizers telling them not to come because rooms were overbooked.
The event took place, but with a much more limited lineup than originally advertised.
News 4 Tucson investigators spoke with more than a dozen ticket holders from various events. All said they learned of the cancellation about a week before the event was scheduled to take place.
In both cases, Music Getaways has announced rescheduled dates, but has not announced new dates or even the venue where the event will take place.
All the ticket holders we spoke to, including Arizona residents Pamela Bundy and Candace Hollins, want refunds.
“It’s not fair. You’re extorting people’s money when you’re not in a position to provide a product or service,” Bundy said.
She spent thousands of dollars to attend Los Cabos Solfest.
“We paid about $3,500 for the actual festival and about $1,100 for the flight tickets,” she said.
“This is thousands of dollars that we have worked hard to save for the specific purpose of doing something to enjoy ourselves,” Hollins said.
When they bought their tickets, neither of them realized that News 4 Tucson Investigators had reported on Music Getaways’ past failed festivals.
In January, News 4 Tucson reported that dozens of ticket holders were fighting for refunds after Solfest and Comedy Jam in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, was canceled at the last minute.
Some ticket holders were already at the airport when they saw the overnight cancellation email. Others were already in Punta Cana and were stuck unable to book a hotel room.
“I feel robbed,” said Kristy Herndon, an Arizona resident who bought tickets to the event.
Many of them are still left without money. The venue, Hard Rock Punta Cana, accused Music Getaways of not paying anything to book the rooms.
Music Getaways has denied these allegations, but declined to speak with News4 Tucson investigators as the expected lawsuit is pending, but they are confident they have done nothing wrong. he told us.
Many of these ticket holders were offered to attend the event in Los Cabos or Cancun in lieu of a refund. Now those who relied on that deal are once again at a loss.
Patricia Williams and a group of friends had paid all-expenses to attend the Cancun RNB Festival to celebrate her birthday, but only learned a few days ago that the event would not be held.
“I was ready,” Williams said.
“I have been checking the website from time to time and it says that tickets are limited, so I thought it was sold out and decided to take this. So I am confident that this festival will take place. ” William’s friend Lula Banks said.
The event was not sold out. According to a notice from organizers, the event had to be rescheduled due to cancellations and insufficient ticket sales. They accused a group of so-called disgruntled customers of spreading false information to customers, vendors and hotel partners.
“I didn’t give them money just to give them money. I was expecting something,” Banks said.
Music Getaways has more than $7.3 million in debt, according to documents related to the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Ticket holders we spoke to have little faith they will get their money back.
“I don’t know what to do,” Williams said.
Many ticket holders filed complaints with the attorney general of California, where Music Getaways is based.
N4T investigators contacted the attorney general, but a spokesperson would not confirm or deny that an investigation had begun.
N4T investigators again asked Music Getaways for a statement regarding the recent cancellation, but did not receive a response.
If you have a story you’d like News 4 Tucson investigators to look into, email investigators@kvoa.com or call the tip line at 520-834-9446.
