The upcoming BBC Three documentary, airing on Sunday 9 June 2024, examines the spectacular rise and dramatic fall of British music and festival company Pollen. Founded in 2014 by brothers Callum and Liam Negus-Fancey, the company rode the wave of the tech boom, attracting significant investment by offering a ticketing platform with VIP rewards. Tapping into the lucrative world of music festivals and Instagram influencing, Pollen promised its customers a ‘bigger life’ and provided a glamorous workplace for its staff.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, Pollen pivoted, accelerating plans to organise their own music festivals, featuring big names such as Justin Bieber, J Balvin, and Tiesto. However, the company faced significant challenges due to the ongoing impact of Covid and poorly managed events, leading to a nosedive in their reputation and increasing complaints from customers.
Despite being valued at $800 million just months earlier, Pollen went bankrupt in August 2022, leaving staff, customers, and shareholders with financial losses. The documentary chronicles Pollen’s increasingly desperate attempts to save the business as complaints mounted, investment dried up, and goodwill faded. It’s a cautionary tale of ambition and excess, told through the eyes of former staff, disgruntled customers, and journalists who questioned Pollen’s success story.
Crashed: $800m Festival Fail airs on Sunday 9 June 2024 at 9:00 pm on BBC Three.
