Kennedy Center Faces Urgent Payment Crisis for Artists
UPDATE: The Kennedy Center is in the spotlight as multiple artists report they have not received payment for performances, raising urgent concerns about the venue’s financial management. Just months after a tumultuous leadership era under President Trump, the Center is now grappling with allegations of unpaid fees that could affect its reputation and future operations.
According to representatives from three artists, including acts that performed at the Millennium Stage in September 2023, payments have been delayed for months. Veteran booking agent Wayne Forte, who manages notable performers such as the Tedeschi Trucks Band, revealed that his clients, Ashes & Arrows and Brazilian guitarist Lari Basilio, are still waiting for their due payments.
Forte expressed frustration, saying, “You see these reports about the Center in the news, but I don’t know what’s going on.” He highlighted that the staff member responsible for their bookings was let go in October, and efforts to contact a replacement have been unsuccessful.
A manager representing another artist, who requested anonymity due to fears of retaliation, disclosed that their client is owed a staggering $40,000 in VIP-package revenue from a July 2023 show. The manager claimed that employees of the VIP company have also left, leading to a complete communication breakdown. “No one is returning calls,” they said, until inquiries from media sources began to surface.
In response to these alarming claims, a spokesperson for the Kennedy Center asserted that there are “no payment issues” and insisted that all acts have been compensated. They noted that the Center had recently upgraded its payment systems to “bring [it] into the 21st century.” However, the reality appears starkly different, as many artists still await their payments.
While some representatives have reportedly started receiving responses from the Center, no actual payments have been confirmed as of yet. In a notable shift, one artist representative shared that a payment was finally processed following media scrutiny, indicating a potential turnaround in communication.
This financial crisis comes amid broader concerns regarding the Kennedy Center’s leadership and operational challenges, including a recent investigation into alleged “cronyism and self-dealing” by Democratic officials. With ticket sales reportedly plummeting, these payment issues could exacerbate the Center’s already precarious situation.
As the Kennedy Center navigates this urgent crisis, artists and their representatives are left in a state of uncertainty, waiting for clarity and the funds they are owed. The implications of this situation extend beyond individual performers; they threaten the institution’s standing within the arts community.
In the coming days, stakeholders will be closely watching how the Kennedy Center addresses these concerns and whether it can restore trust among the artists it employs. For now, the checks may still be in the mail, but the urgency for resolution is clear.
Stay tuned for further developments as this story unfolds.
