MCD faces allegations of ‘abrasive management behaviour’

Concert promoter MCD, which runs the Electric Picnic music festival, is facing allegations of «abrasive management behavior» within the company.

The company, which is controlled by US event giant Live Nation Entertainment, said it was studying the allegations but did not provide any details, saying its internal affairs were private.

Confirmation that MCD is facing the problem came after The Irish Times submitted questions about the company’s response to complaints.

The response was issued by MCD co-founder Dennis Desmond, the driving force behind the business for decades. “We can confirm for the record that MCD is investigating the allegation [sic] of violations of the Company’s Dignity at Work policy related exclusively to abrasive management behavior,” he wrote in an email. “The welfare of our employees is of paramount importance to us and we are considering the claim accordingly.”

There was no response from a Live Nation spokeswoman when asked to clarify whether the allegation related to one or more administration figures. It also did not indicate whether there was one or more complaints.

Not coming out soon

Insisting that the procedures within the company were confidential, the Live Nation spokeswoman declined to reveal who the complaint was made about or whether the process has progressed.

The same questions were submitted directly to Mr. Desmond, Chairman of Live Nation UK and Ireland. did not answer.

Like other concert promoters, MCD has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic as it has led to the cancellation of all music and live entertainment events in a succession of lockdowns. She received an insurance payment when the 2020 electricity picnic was canceled due to the pandemic.

The 2021 electric outing was canceled last month after the Laois County Board of Directors denied it a license.

MCD has made its name to promote Irish business and bring major international business to Ireland, and has developed a significant presence in the UK market. The sale to Live Nation Entertainment, whose artists include U2, closed in January 2020 after 16 months of regulatory oversight.

With restrictions loosening, the company has scheduled several events in the coming months, including Westlife, Bryan Adams, Duran Duran, David Gray, Kodaline, Gary Barlow, The Killers, Lionel Richie and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.