STEƎR Management Breaks Silence: No “Systematic Reimbursement” to Promoters

Following sexual misconduct allegations that roiled the hard techno world, STEƎR Management is denying refunds to most promoters who booked the artists involved.

At the end of February, sexual misconduct allegations involving at least six artists signed to STEƎR Management led to an upheaval in contemporary hard techno. The French talent firm has now spoken on the state of affairs for the first time since it issued a statement nearly two weeks ago.

This time, STEƎR addressed requests from promoters indirectly affected by the reputation damage suffered by the artists in question. Event brands such as Verknipt, Open Beatz Festival, Under Division, and Pitch Music & Arts Festival had removed them from lineups, leading many to question who will foot the bill.

“In the vast majority of cases, the booking work has already been completed: negotiation of engagements, execution of contracts, coordination with promoters, and in some instances advancing work already underway,” a STEƎR Management spokesperson told EDM Identity over email. “The booking fees therefore correspond to services that have effectively been performed. As such, they cannot be subject to systematic reimbursement.”

The email continued: “We are nonetheless aware of the difficulties this situation may create for promoters. In this spirit, we remain open to discussions in order to find pragmatic solutions, notably in the form of arrangements within the framework of future collaborations or upcoming dates with other artists.”

A notable exception is CARV, who announced that he would terminate his project after admitting that he cheated on his wife by having private, consensual chat conversations with other women. According to the STEƎR spokesperson, he is directly handling the matter of fee reimbursement with the promoters in question. Meanwhile, they said, Shlømo is renegotiating each deal on a case-by-case basis with the help of lawyers.

A version of the STEƎR website archived in March 2025 shows that its roster once included 32 artists. In addition to the six with whom the firm cut ties in the wake of the allegations, at least eight others left in order to distance themselves from the controversy. STEƎR’s spokesperson did not immediately respond to an email from EDM Identity asking how many artists they currently represent.

If you or anyone you know has experienced sexual abuse at a festival or anywhere else, here are some resources for support:

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) runs the National Sexual Assault Hotline to offer support to victims and their families. Their services are free and confidential: 1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673) (Available 24 hours a day by phone and by online chat.) 

Relief After Violent Encounter (RAVE) is an organization that can help you find counseling and therapy after a violent encounter. RAVE also has a domestic and sexual violence Emergency Response Team which is deployed through law enforcement to provide emergency crisis intervention to victims immediately after an assault.