Music First has won its case regarding a Longmont venue’s failure to pay musical performers after Longmont Social failed to attend the court’s mediation session. Westword broke the story in February when Music First Executive Director Becca Raccone explained that Longmont Social terminated a three-month contract for Music First musicians to perform at the venue from October through December. In November, the venue notified Raccone that they were going to terminate the contract.
Longmont Social not only terminated the contract prematurely, but it also failed to pay the majority of the musicians who performed at the venue during the contracted period. Raccone said more than a dozen musicians performed during that time period and they all had issues with payments from the venue, except for one.
Michelle Greger, the event coordinator for Longmont Social, denied that the company had any contract or legal matter connected to Music First. “The Longmont Social nor the owners never had a contract with Music First and furthermore never received any court documentation regarding any legal matters,” Greger told the Longmont Leader. To our understand[ing], Music First had an agreement with Adam Tuttle and Gourmet Ghost Charcuterie who was operating as a third party out of the Longmont Social.”
Tuttle told the Longmont Leader that his company Gourmet Ghost Charcuterie never had a third-party relationship with Longmont Social or a contract with Music First. Raccone confirmed that Music First never worked with Gourmet Ghost Charcuterie. Tuttle said he worked as the general manager of Longmont Social until January of this year. He said the company also issued checks to terminated employees that bounced and they have still not been properly compensated.
The Boulder County Courthouse confirmed that the Longmont Social was the defendant in the case and failed to arrive at the mediation session on April 2. As a result, Music First will file a judgment to collect the unpaid funds from Longmont Social.
Raccone told the Longmont Leader that the problem of musicians not receiving payment from venues is a common issue around the world, but said Music First is working on ways to help protect musicians from these venues.
“A musician cannot leave a negative comment on a business page when they are not paid, just like Music First experienced with the Longmont Social,” Raccone said. “The business is more than happy to lie, portraying Music First in a bad light, rather than admit what they did. They can claim all sorts of things that can ruin a musicians reputation, causing them to lose booking opportunities. This is why musicians need a safe space where they can share their experiences, the good and the bad.”
Musicians can sign up for free to become members of Music First by emailing [email protected]. Raccone said they hope to launch the platform soon which will allow musicians to see reviews of venues from other musicians. “Musicians will be able to talk about what they experienced and rank the venue for other musicians to see,” Raccone wrote in a Facebook post. “We are doing this to help build a stronger foundation for musicians as they book themselves across the country.”
Longmont Social announced in a Facebook post on March 5 that the establishment is under new management and ownership. The previous owner was Josh Holder, who opened the business in June 2024. Aside from the statement given to the Longmont Leader, the venue has not addressed the allegations. Longmont Social is still hosting and advertising live music performances.
Raccone said Music First provides resources for musicians, including mental health services, legal assistance, and monthly classes to help musicians navigate the music industry.
“Music First has spent the last two years putting over $30,000 directly into musicians pockets, aided in over $2,100 in mental health assistance to musicians and music lovers, and fought venues on behalf of musicians,” Raccone wrote. “Through all of this we have only requested our operating expenses covered which works out to less then $3,000. This means Music First has done all of this on less than $3,000 donated from the public. I, as the executive director, do not get paid — I volunteer, and put in a fair amount of my personal funds to cover what the donations could not versus demanding money from musicians.”
