Investigation Uncovers Allegations of Unpaid Musicians by Booking Agency

An investigation by triple j hack has uncovered allegations that booking agency Aussie Gigs owes money to multiple Australian musicians.

More than 20 Australian artists have told triple j hack they were not paid by either Aussie Gigs or Revolt Entertainment. Musicians claim they have not been paid for performances despite meeting all contractual requirements. Four acts allege they were only paid after threatening legal action.

Specific Cases

Nathan Nicholson, a 32-year-old musician from Melbourne, stated his band Flicker Vertigo performed a show in February through Aussie Gigs. Nicholson said the band was required to sell 20 tickets to receive payment, a requirement he believes they met. He has not received payment and has been unable to contact the booking agent, identified only as Michael.

Sydney singer-songwriter Lucienne published a TikTok about her experience with Aussie Gigs after she stated she was not paid for a performance.

Ryan Thomas, a 24-year-old musician, stated he performed a show in August last year through Aussie Gigs and has not been paid. Thomas said Michael from Aussie Gigs emailed him to apologize for the delay, citing illness and claiming the venue had not settled payment. Thomas stated the venue told him it had already paid Aussie Gigs.

Agency Background and Connections

Alex Heffernan, co-owner of Sydney venue Lazybones Lounge, explained the typical payment chain: the venue pays booking agencies from ticket sales, and the agencies are then expected to pay artists.

Heffernan said when she went to pay Aussie Gigs, her bank flagged that the account name was listed as Revolt Entertainment.

Revolt Entertainment is registered to 29-year-old Jonathan Ertansel, who is listed as its director and secretary. Ertansel is also in a band called Strip of Cleeve, which has appeared on line-ups for shows put on by both Revolt Entertainment and Aussie Gigs.

Ertansel previously told triple j hack he was no longer involved with Revolt Entertainment but did not respond to further questions about his involvement.

Industry Response and Advice

Louise Buckingham, CEO of the Arts Law Centre of Australia, stated the organization hears "several times a day" from artists who have not been paid.

Buckingham said artists can protect themselves by ensuring they have clear written agreements and understanding their rights.

In response to these allegations, musicians have called for changes to how the live music industry operates, including more vetting of booking agencies by venues.

Agency Response

Aussie Gigs and Revolt Entertainment were contacted for comment but did not respond.