Charity single in trouble after Xtra-Vision chains close
News broke yesterday that the High Court had appointed a provisional liquidator to Oxtermont Ltd, the holding company of Xtra-Vision.
All Xtra-Vision stores have since closed across the country, this lead to more than 500 jobs lost.
The closer of these stores also puts all money raised from last year’s Christmas charity single, When I Grow Up at risk - roughly estimated at €54,000.
The single - taken from Tim Minchin’s award-winning musical, Matilda - had been released by the Association of Irish Musical Societies in aid of the Children's Medical and Research Foundation in Crumlin and the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and sold at HMV/Xtra-Vision's nationwide.
Speaking to breakingnews.ie, producer Stephen Macken said: "The CD was only distributed by HMV/Xtravision on behalf of the Association of Irish Musical Societies, no margin was taken by the company as they were merely collecting money on our behalf.
“The statement made to the High Court stated that the company was insolvent and unable to pay their debts. Hopeful the liquidator will recognise that the money generated from the sale of our CDs does not belong to HMV/Xtra-Vision."
Macken has since spoken to a representative from Grant Thornton who said that they will look into it as a priority.
Not only that, this is the second time this has happened as the funds from their 2012 single ‘Tiny Dancer’ were tied up in the receivership of HMV 2013.
The recording of ‘When I Grow Up’ was included as part of the ‘Encore’ gala concert in November of last year, a concert that celebrated 50 years of musical theatre in Ireland.
Not only did they manage to gather the largest ensemble choir ever to record a charity single in Irish chart history, it also features special guests Shane Filan and ten-year-old, Grace Lee.
Grace from the Isle of Man has had ten heart procedures for Congenital Heart Disease and suffers from Chronic Lung Disease.
The recording was dedicated to the memory of Jack Lam from Castlebar in Co. Mayo.
Jack died in November 2013 from complications arising from his treatment for Neuroblastoma.
He was part of the original social media campaign set-up by the team to create awareness of the recording, but sadly he passed away just a month after submitting his ‘When I Grow Up’ photo.
