Columbia, Missouri (KMIZ)
Less than a month after Treeline Music Fest owners announced the event would not be held in 2023, the production group announced it would be disbanding due to too much debt.
Trio Presents, LLC is the production group behind Treeline Music Fest, formerly known as Roots N Blues Festival.
ABC 17 News reported Tuesday that a lawyer for Trio Presents sent a letter to the Colombian Tourism Board on Friday stating that “Trio’s secured debts far exceed its assets and there are no funds available for distribution” and that the company be dissolved. I learned that I had been notified. Unsecured creditors. ”
The letter, signed by Gary Pearson, an attorney with the St. Louis law firm Capes Sokol, said: “We understand that this is unwelcome news, and the Trio would like to reassure you and all other creditors of this We regret to be put in this position, but we have no other choice.” . ”
ABC 17 News was able to access this year’s Treeline Music Festival budget through a record request.
Expenses rose in 2023, with increased spending in multiple categories including fencing, tents and toilets, wristbands, travel, hospitality, advertising, workers’ compensation, and insurance. The largest increase was a $115,000 increase in advertising costs outside of Boone County. This cost him $20,000 in 2022, but $135,000 in 2023.
The Columbia Tourism Board contributed $20,000 from its 2023 Signature Series event fund to the ad.
CVB Director Amy Schneider said in an email that the letter was sent to the city’s legal department. She said the agreement signed by the city and Trio Presents State organizers includes a deadline to repay sponsorship fees from the CVB within 30 days of cancellation.
The records request also revealed that Schneider said in an email that the loss of sponsorship for this year’s event was a factor in its cancellation.
Molly Healy, a music festival planner in Springfield, Missouri, said this is happening across the entertainment industry. She is hosting her third Earth Day Festival in Springfield, but she said costs have gone up this year.
Mr Healy said the rising cost of festival essentials such as fencing and food has made fundraising difficult. Specifically, she said businesses asked to sponsor events are unable to donate the amount needed to cover costs.
“We’ve got this scary combination where the cost of festivals is going up, but the sponsorship that helps pay for festivals isn’t increasing enough to cover those costs, or is actually decreasing.” Mr. Healy said.
Treeline Music Festival was originally scheduled to run from September 29th to October. A letter from Trio Presents said the company considered numerous options to finance this year’s event, but decided cancellation was inevitable.
The company’s Facebook post in August also said people who purchased tickets would begin receiving refunds starting Saturday, 30 days later.
Trio Presents and the City of Columbia did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
