IMP’s Seth Hurwitz charged with soliciting prostitution
Seth Hurwitz, chairman of US promoter and venue operator IMP, has been charged with soliciting prostitution after he attempted to purchase sex from a masseuse in Montgomery County, Maryland.
According to Montgomery County Department of Police, Hurwitz, 60, is alleged to have solicited sex from an unidentified “licensed massage and physical therapist” at her place of business on the afternoon of Thursday 15 August.
“During the massage session, Hurwitz made sexual comments and inappropriate sexual motions,” reads the police report. “He implied to the victim that her tip would be greater if she performed sexual acts. The victim also noted that Hurwitz had left a roll of cash laying on the floor in plain view in the massage room.
“Twice during the interaction, Hurwitz asked the victim if she would consider coming to his home and providing a massage. The victim declined. The victim ended the massage early due to Hurwitz’s increasing inappropriate sexual behaviour.”
The masseuse reported the alleged solicitation on the 16th.
“The victim also noted that Hurwitz had left a roll of cash laying on the floor in plain view”
“Later that day, Hurwitz texted the victim’s business phone,” the police statement continues. “He texted and called her the next day (August 16), asking if she would come to his home. In a text conversation and a phone call between the victim and Hurwitz, during which vice and intelligence unit detectives were present with the victim, Hurwitz agreed to pay cash in exchange for the victim performing sexual favours.
“In a follow-up text conversation, Hurwitz said that he would come to the business on August 21.”
Hurwitz was arrested as he arrived at the massage parlour yesterday, Wednesday 21 August. After being charged with solicitation for prostitution, he was released on US$5,000 bail.
According to Montgomery County police, statements Hurwitz made “during conversations with the victim about having similar arrangements with other women” lead investigators to believe there may be additional alleged victims.
Hurwitz owns two Washington music venues, the 9:30 Club (1,200-cap.) and the Anthem (6,000-cap.). IMP additionally promotes shows at the Merriweather Post Pavilion (19,319-cap.) in Columbus, Maryland, and the Lincoln Theater (1,225-cap.) in Washington.
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All change for free-to-attend Woodstock 50
Woodstock 50 has been subject to more upheaval over the past few days, moving out of New York state, reportedly releasing all scheduled artists from contracts and making tickets free.
Eighteen days out from the anniversary event, organisers of struggling Woodstock 50 have announced a new venue, 275 miles south of the original site at Watkins Glen.
The festival is now to take place at the 32,000-capacity Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland state, having lost its first venue at Watkins Glen racetrack and later failing to secure a permit for replacement site, Vernon Downs racecourse.
Following the new venue announcement, artists were reportedly released from festival contracts, as the distance from the original site allegedly constituted a contractual breach.
All artist names and line-up information has since been removed from the Woodstock 50 website.
Acts scheduled to perform at Woodstock 50 included Jay-Z, Dead and Company, John Fogerty, the Killers, Miley Cyrus and Santana.
“We’re still waiting to hear who is playing, but [..] they [Woodstock] do still have a venue if they have a show”
“We’re still waiting to hear who is playing, but that’s not our job,” says Seth Hurtwitz, chairman and co-founder of venue operator IMP. “They do still have a venue if they have a show.”
It has also been announced that the event will now be free-to-attend, although remaining ticketed.
“Tickets are for a single day and will be distributed through HeadCount, participating artists’ foundations and local charitable partnerships in DC and Baltimore,” a Woodstock 50 spokesperson told Washington-based publication, WTOP.
Festival organiser Michael Lang has faced difficulties since the event’s primary financier, Amplifi Live, pulled out in April. The event has since lost production partners Superfly and replacement CID Entertainment, as well as its two previous venues.
Woodstock 50 is still scheduled to take place on the original dates from 16 to 18 August, with tickets yet to be distributed.
Merriweather Post Pavilion is to host concerts by Morrisey, the Smashing Pumpkins and Vampire Weekend over the coming weeks. In addition to Merriweather, IMP also operates Washington venues Anthem (6,000-cap.), 9:30 (1,200-cap.) and Lincoln Theatre (1,225-cap.).
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