Festival organiser Kalle Keskinen charged with aggravated fraud

Festival organiser Kalle Keskinen has been charged with aggravated fraud over allegedly unpaid Teosto royalties, Yle reports. He denies committing a crime.

The charge was brought at the South Ostrobothnia District Court. Keskinen is the chief executive of events company Loud’n Live Promotions.

Teosto says the company intentionally failed to pay more than 160,000 euros in royalties for events held between 2015 and 2022. Keskinen denies that the failure to pay was deliberate, saying it was partly due to a lack of expertise on his part and among staff at the time, as well as excessive work pressure.

The company organises festivals including Vauhtiajot, Helsinki City Festival, Downtown Calling, Tampere City Festival and Tapiola Festivaali.