Dark Tranquillity speak out against Chinese booking company

Swedish melodic death metal veterans Dark Tranquillity have offered a candid and scathing warning against a Chinese music company, Xoundforce Music Entertainment.

The band claims to be owed "substantial" money from a previous Chinese tour; taking to Facebook to warn their peers about the organisation.

Dark Tranquillity write:

"It is with great frustration that we chose to go public and warn other bands and booking agents against working with Nike Pan/Xoundforce Music Entertainment in China.

Despite the fact that the last D.T. tour in China took place nearly a year ago, the band has yet to receive a substantial part of the agreed payment. At first, there were health reasons cited for the delay, but after a long communications standstill, we can only draw the conclusion that there is no intention to ever pay us the fee that we're owed. Xoundforce Music Entertianment is still actively arranging tours with international artists, and it's puzzling that a company which by their own account puts on hundreds of shows per year are unwilling to settle their debt in a professional way. Nike has even been in discussion with our tour manager about bringing other European bands over to China, but the issue with the D.T. payment is somehow always dodged.

We normally keep these things private, as the naming and shaming practice can be a bit undignified, but in this case when we see that the same promoter continuously is bringing bands over to China we feel that a public warning is in order. When we made a press statement about a previous working partner in Turkey ripping us off a few years ago, several other artists came forth saying the same thing. Maybe this is just the tip of the iceberg too?"

Moreover, further bands have come forward supporting Dark Tranquillity's claims. Fellow European metallers Aborted state:

"Sadly we have to say the same thing. We got ripped off last year for a substantial amount of money which endangered our entire east/Australian/new Zealand tour. Spread the word and do not work this promoter. To our fellow friends in bands. Be warned."