Singer wins £20k payout from music company

Troi Irons, an American singer, has recently won a significant payout of £20,000 after a tribunal found that a music company, 3tone Music, failed to pay him for his work. Troi was brought over to Bristol from Los Angeles in 2023, and he was told to work without a formal contract, relying instead on a handshake agreement. According to the tribunal, Troi was promised a salary of £30,000 a year for his role as an artist and music engineer, but he never received this payment. The situation became so dire that Troi had to reach out to Dean Roberts, the chief executive of 3tone Music, asking for money to buy dinner while Dean was enjoying himself at the Glastonbury Festival. Troi has performed in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, London, and Bristol, showcasing his talent as a musician. Initially, the company provided him with a flat to live in, but they failed to pay the rent, leading to his eviction. Dean Roberts argued that there were no agreed terms for Troi's employment and claimed that Troi had not completed any work for him. However, the tribunal concluded that the level of control the company had over Troi indicated that he was indeed their employee. It was also revealed that Troi was unaware that he could take holidays while working for the company, which meant he never took any time off. Troi arrived in the UK on January 15, 2023, and was assured by 3tone that they would arrange a long-term visa for him. However, when the company finally applied for a creative worker visa in April 2023, the sponsorship certificate stated that he would be working as a 'musician/producer' for an established UK label. In June 2023, while Dean was at the Glastonbury Festival, Troi sent him a WhatsApp message reminding him about the money that needed to be transferred. Dean responded that his phone signal was poor and promised to send something later. Troi then sent a follow-up message pleading for money for dinner. The tribunal also noted that while 3tone had provided Troi with a flat upon his arrival in the UK, he was evicted in November 2023 due to the company's failure to pay the rent. Ultimately, the tribunal ruled that Troi was an employee of 3tone Music and should have been compensated for his work. He was awarded £13,691 for unpaid wages, £2,692 for accrued but unused holiday, and £4,331 for a further work agreement.