OzTix Chief Issues Apology Following ‘Train Wreck’ AWMAs Panel
The director of Oztix, the country’s No. 1 independent ticketer, has issued a public apology for his role in a panel discussion that was blasted as “a downward train wreck” and one that “triggered” survivors of sexual harm.
Facilitated by Kate Jenkins, chair of Creative Workplaces Council, the “Brothers of The Sisterhood” panel was part of the Australian Women In Music conference, held in Brisbane this week.
The forum was pitched as a gathering of men in music exploring, among other topics, the “actions needed to achieve gender equality and their messages to other men.”
However, it failed to deliver on its promise, and created more harm than good, explains artist Jamie Lee Dimes, who was in the room.
Writing on her Instagram, the Queensland-based singer delivered a scathing critique, describing the panel as “a downward train wreck, comparable to watching a grave being dug deeper and deeper, until the audience was yelling, some people were crying, and shaking, and the entire room was visibly upset and triggered by what was a live-time reality check unfolding” – and was particularly critical of comments made by Oztix’s representative, Brian “Smash” Chladil.
The session, she continued, “was a sobering example, post-Me Too, of where we are at, what hasn’t changed, how bad it is, and how there are no safety measures when it comes to confronting toxic masculinity and misogyny head-on.”
Reps for The Brag Media were not in attendance, though sources confirm that comments made during the session fell flat with some guests.
Dimes explored the problematic panel further with a Substack, where Smash posted his mea culpa.
“The last 48 hours have been humbling,” he writes. “I’ve reflected on my words and how my insensitive attempt at telling old stories – which was intended to express how far I thought we’d come – did not at all mirror my values or respect those in the room.
“I truly apologise to you, I apologise to the AWMAs and everyone involved, and I apologise to the Oztix team for not representing where we want to be as an industry. I commit to doing better.”
Late Thursday, the board of AWMA issued a statement to The Music Network, in which the not-for profit acknowledged some of the comments made during the program “were triggering for a number of people in the room, and otherwise offensive to many others who were present.”
The release continues, “At the outset, we want to applaud the dignity and grace of those who spoke up both in the session and after, raising their concerns and comments respectfully. We also want to sincerely apologise for any harm or distress caused to anyone in the room (including those on the panel).” Read the statement in full below.
Dimes is a vocal advocate for women’s rights and accountability. Earlier this year, she took legal action against a U.S. music executive whom she accused of sexual assault.
In 2022, Dimes’ triple j-supported debut albumHell and Heaven Come in Threes was included on the 65th annual Grammy Awards ballot and considered for Best Americana album.
Smash is co-founder of Oztix, the Brisbane-based ticketing specialist which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Today, it’s recognised as the biggest independent ticketing agent in the country.
AWMA statement:
The board of Australian Women in Music, the not for profit company which produces the
Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMA), wants to acknowledge that some of the comments made by Brian Chladil in our Brothers for the Sisterhood forum session that formed part of the AWMA Conference Program were triggering for a number of people in the room, and otherwise offensive to many others who were present. At the outset, we want to applaud the dignity and grace of those who spoke up both in the session and after, raising their concerns and comments respectfully.
We also want to sincerely apologise for any harm or distress caused to anyone in the room (including those on the panel).
The concept of the Brothers for the Sisterhood session was to explore the role of men, their
gender education, actions needed to achieve gender equality and their messages to other men.
To that end, the panel included a range of men with diverse backgrounds. One of the key
priorities for Australian Women in Music in all aspects of our Program and, especially through
the Conference Program, is to provide a safe space for difficult and sometimes challenging
discussions. We regret the session falling short of our goal.
Australian Women in Music is a small organisation with a hefty mission. We will continue to
place gender equality front and centre and to recognise all those who have been fighting the
same fight as us – for safety, for opportunity, for creative excellence and freedom to express the
deepest truths of ourselves. Australian Women in Music does not condone misogyny, sexism,
homophobia or racism in any way. We hope to use the lessons learned from this session to
continue our cause to progress the conversation in a positive direction.
We urge anyone who has been impacted to seek support through the following organisations
listed below. We also encourage further conversations, including reaching out to us with your
thoughts and suggestions.