Overview

• Junkyard Artist Management, which represented top Australian comedians like Sam Campbell and Aaron Chen, has gone into voluntary liquidation due to financial mismanagement.
• Many comedians report being owed significant sums for performances, including ticket sales from major festivals like Edinburgh Fringe and Melbourne Fringe, with some debts totaling tens of thousands of dollars.
• The company's sudden closure has left artists without representation just months before major comedy festivals, forcing them to find new management and funding for upcoming tours.
• Junkyard was known for its 'artist-first' approach, often funding travel and production costs upfront, but its informal business practices, including handshake deals, have complicated efforts for artists to recover lost income.
• The liquidation also affects West Street Sports, a production company linked to Junkyard, which had received $400,000 in funding for a comedy pilot, leaving its future uncertain.