Atlanta Event Company Sues Booking Agent Over Alleged Fake AFRAM Festival Deals

An Atlanta-based event company is suing a New Jersey booking agent it accuses of fabricating artist deals and pocketing nearly $200,000 intended for festival headliners.

According to a lawsuit filed Aug. 13, Blackout Management LLC alleges that talent booker Christopher Young, through his company Sacrifice Management, falsely promised to secure Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) artists Doechii and SiR as headliners for Baltimore’s 2025 AFRAM Festival. Blackout claims it wired Young a $187,500 deposit in December 2024, but no contracts were ever provided.

By March, Young allegedly told Blackout owner Nicola Blandon that both artists had pulled out due to “scheduling issues.” Suspicious, Blackout reached out to TDE directly and says it was told the booking never existed.

“TDE’s representative confirmed that defendant Young had been lying for months,” the lawsuit states. “Young never spoke to anyone at TDE about securing Doechii’s performance and had, at most, preliminary conversations about SiR.”

Despite repeated attempts to settle, Blackout alleges Young has refused to return the deposit. The company is suing for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, and breach of contract, seeking repayment with interest, attorney’s fees, and punitive damages.

The fallout, Blackout says, has been severe. With no headliners secured, the festival was left scrambling. One supporting act, originally booked at a discounted rate under the condition of opening for Doechii, demanded a higher fee once the alleged deception was revealed. The company also argues that Young’s actions damaged its credibility and strained relations with TDE.

AFRAM, Baltimore’s official Juneteenth celebration, draws more than 150,000 attendees daily and is one of the city’s largest cultural festivals. Blackout contends the alleged scheme not only cost them financially but also put the festival’s reputation at risk.