Man arrested after claims about music firm were posted online
SSD Concerts faces growing claims from ex-employees over pay and the North East company’s workplace culture.
The North East live music firm has faced a backlash from some within the industry after the claims emerged last Friday, when the company’s Instagram account was hacked and reviews from Glassdoor – a website which allows current and previous staff to review firms – were posted.
Northumbria Police have now confirmed that a 25-year-old male has been arrested and cautioned in relation to the hack, after the company contacted the force over what it insists were “malicious” claims made in a subsequent post.
However artists and venues have since cut ties with the company, which has promoted festivals such as This is Tomorrow and Hit the North.
On Thursday, the Mercurynominated group Lanterns on the Lake confirmed it will no longer work with the firm.
Another musician, rising talent Martha Hill, posted on Instagram that she wasn’t “conformable” working with SSD Concerts in the wake of the claims.
These have included allegations of staff being paid late or never, while others posted online that they had felt “uneasy” working for the company and had witnessed misogynistic behaviour.
Newcastle City Council and Northumbria Police both confirmed to The Chronicle on Thursday that neither body had received a formal complaint against SSD.
In a statement posted to the SSD Concert’s Instagram page, managing directror Steve Davis said his company has now opened a confidential email account for anybody wishing to make a complaint.
Davis – who has denied any wrongdoing – defended his company against what he maintains are “false” allegations.
“We are pleased that Northumbria Police have acted so swiftly and arrested the person who hacked into our social media accounts,” he said.
“The hacking has resulted in what can only be described as a social media storm with all sorts of accusations and malicious posts flying around. We take what we have seen very seriously, but it seems ‘trial by social media’ means you are guilty until proven innocent.”
The firm was the driving force behind last summer’s Virgin Money Unity Arena.
The venue, at Gosforth Park, was billed as the world’s first socially distanced music festival and attracted musicians such as Sam Fender and The Libertines.
This Is Tomorrow 2021 – due to be staged in May and feature the likes of Gerry Cinnamon and Royal Blood – was pushed back due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
Despite the allegations circulating about the company, Newcastle City Council did not rule out working with SSD in the future, or allowing more large gigs to be staged.
“Any large scale events proposed for the city would be reviewed by the Newcastle Safety Advisory Group to determine the safety and environmental impact of the proposal,” said a spokesperson for the authority.
“This group is a partnership which includes Northumbria Police and the proposed venues.”
However one venue that seemingly won’t be working alongside SSD in the future is the Boiler Shop.
In a statement on its Facebook page and website, the independent Newcastle venue posted: “In response to serious allegations concerning their management, we have ceased accepting bookings from SSD Concerts.
“We will not compromise our ethos: Boiler Shop is dedicated to being a welcoming, respectful and inclusive venue.”
A spokesperson for SSD said that the “vast majority” of acts on upcoming bills were still set to perform.
They added: “To date, as far as we’re aware, only two venues have said they’re going to stop working with us until this is resolved.
“We have not directly received any official complaints regarding any mistreatment of our staff.”
And Mr Davis added: “SSD Concerts started out as a very small independent family-run business which has grown rapidly.
“We continue to learn lessons along the way and we’re committed to making more progress, and we believe we have made positive strides recently.
“As managing director, I’m determined to continue to improve the well-being of our staff and the people we work with.
“The safety of our staff, the agents, the artists and the audiences that attend our shows is paramount.
“Bullying, harassment, and equal opportunities policies are in place, a process that started long before the recent postings and allegations on social media.”