Just 1 Management LLC Under Scrutiny for Withholding Artist Contracts and Financial Records
City Audit Finds Lack of Cooperation in 57 South Music Festival Investigation
EAGLE PASS, Texas – As the City of Eagle Pass continues to audit the 57 South Music Festival, a growing concern centers on the management company hired to oversee the event, Just One Management LLC. According to city-hired auditors, the company has failed to cooperate with document requests critical to verifying how taxpayer funds were spent, including how much was actually paid to artists.
The audit team stated in a recent city council meeting that key records remain under the control of Just One Management and have not been provided, despite multiple formal requests. The missing documents include contracts with performers, vendor agreements, sponsorship collections, and unredacted bank records. These records are essential to verify actual expenses and ensure the city was not overcharged.
READ: Audit Reveals Major Red Flags in 57 South Music Festival Management and Finances
One of the most serious concerns raised by the auditors involves the $1.3 million labeled as “talent fees.” The city paid Just One Management to secure artists, but without the artist contracts, there is no way to confirm how much the artists were actually paid. For instance, if the city paid $200,000 for a specific artist through Just One Management, that company could have paid the artist only $100,000, keeping the rest without the city ever knowing.
Auditors emphasized that the lack of documentation makes it impossible to track how public money was managed. “We do not have any contracts for the various artists that performed,” one auditor explained. “We cannot verify the amounts those artists or their agents received.”
The auditors also discovered discrepancies between what vendors reportedly charged and what Just One Management billed the city. In just a few examples, those differences totaled over $200,000. Compounding the issue, some payments were allegedly made before city approval, raising further red flags about oversight and internal controls.
City council members questioned whether legal action would be necessary to compel Just One Management to release the missing documents. Auditors confirmed that without legal pressure, full cooperation may not occur. The city is now expected to decide whether to pursue that legal route to protect taxpayer interests.
The Maverick Take
This situation goes beyond a failure to turn in paperwork. It’s a matter of public trust. When public funds are spent, there must be full transparency. The refusal—or inability—of Just One Management to provide documentation fuels suspicion and raises concerns about whether Eagle Pass residents got what they paid for.
As questions mount, the city must act decisively. Holding contractors accountable isn’t just about this festival—it’s about making sure all public contracts are managed with integrity, fairness, and transparency.
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