Live Nation Entertainment-owned companies have been providing refunds to some music fans who now regret buying tickets to see the embattled band Hedley live in concert.
But subsidiaries of the music industry giant have also been denying refund requests for others, leaving some formerly ardent fans of the band to debate whether they should accept a loss and boycott the concert they鈥檇 paid to see.
The Vancouver pop rockers have been under fire since sexual misconduct allegations began surfacing online two weeks ago, suggesting inappropriate encounters with young fans. Hedley has called the allegations 鈥渦nsubstantiated鈥� but said in a statement that in the past they 鈥渆ngaged in a lifestyle that incorporated certain rock 鈥榥鈥� roll cliches.鈥�
Ruqayyah Bobat said she was pleased to receive a refund for a ticket to an Ottawa concert last week after starting an online petition calling on the venue to give customers the option of getting their money back.
鈥淗ow could I attend a concert in good conscience knowing that these stories could be true?鈥� said the 24-year-old psychology student, who had been a Hedley fan since she was a teenager.
鈥淚 would not want to put my hard-worked money into a band that鈥檚 being scrutinized for such horrible allegations.鈥�
Ticketmaster Canada did not respond to a request for comment when asked to clarify its refund policy for concerts on Hedley鈥檚 cross-Canada tour.
Online correspondence between Ticketmaster and ticket buyers reviewed by The Canadian Press reveals differing responses to refund requests.
One customer who asked Ticketmaster for their money back on Twitter was directly messaged by the company鈥檚 fan support account and told they would receive a full refund within a few business days, according to screen-captured exchanges.
Meanwhile, a customer who asked for a refund over email for Hedley鈥檚 show in Summerside, P.E.I., was told her request had been denied because the band 鈥渋s still scheduled to perform and refunds are not available.鈥�
A Ticketmaster representative also emailed another person inquiring about a refund for a Kingston, Ont., concert to say that 鈥渟adly, there are no refunds鈥� and directed the consumer to a ticket reseller website. But a refund was offered 鈥� within an hour 鈥� after the consumer publicly called out Ticketmaster on Twitter asking why the company would force them to financially support the band under the circumstances.
Ticketmaster Canada鈥檚 typical 鈥渇an guarantee鈥� policy states that tickets purchased for events at participating venues are fully refundable within three days of purchase, up until one week before the event. Exceptions include VIP tickets and other premium packages.
Lise Touchette said it took a lot of effort, but she was relieved to receive a refund for expensive VIP tickets for her daughter and friends to attend Hedley鈥檚 Ottawa concert.
Although her receipt clearly stated 鈥渘o refunds,鈥� a determined Touchette sent several emails trying to get her money back and waited a few days for news. She was told on the morning of the concert that her refund had been approved.
A spokesperson for the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, which operates TD Place, where the Hedley show was staged, said in an email that 鈥渁ll refunds were at the discretion of Live Nation.鈥�
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