Machine Gun Kelly, also known as MGK, is an American rapper and actor who recently got into some legal trouble over a concert in St. Louis. He was issued a citation and fined by the city for violating noise ordinances during the concert. This incident has raised questions about why he was fined and what rules he broke.
Who is MGK?
MGK, real name Colson Baker, is a 31-year-old musician from Cleveland, Ohio. He first gained fame as a rapper, releasing his first major label album in 2012. Since then, he has released 5 studio albums and expanded into other musical genres like punk rock and pop punk. He’s known for his fast-paced rhyming style and lyrics that often reference drug use and mental health issues. Outside of music, MGK has also acted in several films, most notably appearing in the Netflix movie The Dirt as rocker Tommy Lee. He has millions of fans around the world, especially among younger listeners drawn to his angsty persona.
Overview of the concert incident
On October 11th, 2022, MGK performed a sold-out concert at The Factory in St. Louis, Missouri during his Mainstream Sellout Tour. The venue has a capacity of around 3,000 people. During the performance, MGK and his band played loud music that could be heard from a significant distance away. Nearby residential neighborhoods were exposed to the noise from the concert, which led to complaints being filed against MGK and the venue. The next day, the City of St. Louis issued MGK a citation for violating city noise ordinances and disturbing the peace. He was given a $5,000 fine that must be paid within 15 days. The venue was also fined $2,000 for allowing the violation to occur.
What rules and regulations were violated?
The specific regulations that MGK’s concert broke in St. Louis include:
- City Noise Ordinance – This prohibits “the playing of any radio, phonograph, loudspeaker or any other device for the production of sound” in a way that disturbs the peace, quiet or comfort of the nearby premises. There are restrictions on decibel levels allowed from certain hours.
- Nuisance Party Ordinance – This prohibits any parties or gatherings that become a public nuisance because of noise disruptions, disorderly conduct, overcrowding, or other issues.
- Disturbing the Peace – Missouri state law prohibits any act that deliberately disturbs the peace and quiet of others in a way that causes public anger or alarm.
The concert clearly violated the allowable noise levels, based on how far away the music could be heard. It was disruptive enough to spur many complaints, making it a public nuisance under the ordinances. MGK and the venue were issued citations because the loud concert broke these rules and regulations meant to prevent noise pollution and maintain neighborhood harmony.
How the noise ordinances work in St. Louis
The City of St. Louis has detailed noise control ordinances that restrict decibel levels from certain sources:
Noise Source | Time Period | Maximum Decibel Level (dB) |
---|---|---|
Outdoor concerts and public gatherings | 10:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m. | 55 dB |
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. | 80 dB | |
Radios, loudspeakers, horns, etc. | 10:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m. | 50 dB |
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. | 55 dB |
These limits are measured from the property line of the location where the noise originates. The MGK concert took place during the 10:00 pm to 8:00 am time period, when more restrictive rules are in effect. His music clearly exceeded the allowable 55 decibel nighttime limit, with some estimates that it reached as high as 80-90 dB. This explains why it disturbed so many community members in the surrounding neighborhoods. The venue and MGK failed to follow the city’s clear noise ordinance parameters.
What penalties does MGK face?
For the noise violation citation, MGK faces:
- A $5,000 fine to the city of St. Louis, which must be paid within 15 days of issuance.
- Potential additional legal action if he fails to pay the fine or challenges the citation.
- Increased scrutiny of his concerts by local officials in other cities.
- A damaged reputation with St. Louis authorities that could cause issues if he were to perform there again in the future.
The St. Louis ordinance states that violating the noise rules is punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to 90 days in jail. However, the city opted to give him the steeper monetary fine of $5,000 without jail time.
If MGK holds more concerts on this tour that generate noise complaints, he may start to face stiffer penalties. Repeat violations often result in higher fines, possible misdemeanor charges, or even ban from venues. This incident put him on notice that cities will enforce their noise and nuisance laws.
Liability for the venue
The Factory, the concert venue, was also cited for the violation. They face:
- A $2,000 fine payable within 15 days.
- Potential penalties on their operational permits or licenses if further incidents occur.
- Difficulty booking prominent acts if seen as unable or unwilling to monitor noise.
Venues have a responsibility to manage noise levels during events they host. By allowing MGK’s concert to violate the city noise ordinance, The Factory was also found liable. Their fine was lower than MGK’s, but they still received a citation pointing out their duty to control sound volumes. This could cause issues for them when booking major concerts there in the future if problems persist.
How MGK has responded to the fine
So far, MGK does not appear to be disputing the citation or fine publicly. He has not made any statement about the incident on social media or through a spokesperson.
There are a few possible reasons why MGK may be staying silent:
- He wants to quietly pay the fine and put the issue behind him.
- His legal team has advised him not to discuss an ongoing case.
- He hopes to avoid further backlash or attention on the concert disruption.
- He recognizes it’s not worth battling the ordinance violation.
It’s likely MGK’s lawyers are handling the logistics of the citation and will pay the fine before the 15-day deadline. Challenging the noise violation would be an uphill legal battle based on the number of complaints and limits clearly spelled out in the ordinance. Issuing an apology or statement could also be seen as admitting fault. For now, MGK probably hopes to pay the penalty and continue his tour without further incident. However, if more cities start to fine him for noise, he may need to speak up or face escalating problems.
How other musicians have handled noise violations
MGK is far from the first musical artist to face fines for breaking local noise rules. Here are a few other examples:
- Pearl Jam was fined $7,000 for violating noise limits during a Chicago concert in 2000.
- Willie Nelson was arrested for noise violations in North Carolina and paid a fine to get charges dropped.
- Drake and the venue he performed at were fined $300 each by New York City in 2017.
- Ozzy Osbourne paid a $1,200 fine issued in Arizona rather than disputing it in court.
Most artists opt to simply pay the fines rather than challenge them legally. Fighting the violations could lead to harsher penalties and disrupt tour plans. However, some musicians like Pearl Jam have later registered noise complaints against venues they believe failed to inform them of ordinances. An awareness of local noise laws is key for both performers and venues seeking to avoid citations.
How MGK could avoid issues at future concerts
Going forward, there are steps MGK can take to reduce issues with noise at his tour stops:
- Research the specific sound ordinances in each city beforehand.
- Work closely with venues on sound monitoring and agreed cutoff times.
- Face speakers and amplifiers away from residential areas when possible.
- Limit bass vibrations that can disturb surrounding blocks.
- Announce sound curfews to crowds and strictly abide by them.
- Receive pre-approval for higher noise levels from local officials where he can.
- Consider sound dampening materials and barriers to contain noise.
MGK may need to compromise between his desired concert atmosphere and noise reduction methods. However, disciplined sound monitoring and cooperation with each venue and city will help avoid further ordinance citations. Being transparent about efforts to limit disruption could also ease local concerns over his concerts. With care taken to lower noise impacts, MGK can hopefully prevent fines from marring the rest of his tour.
Conclusion
MGK’s citation for violating St. Louis noise ordinances during his October 11th concert comes after neighbor complaints of excessive loud music at night. His $5,000 fine was levied based on provisions in city municipal codes restricting decibel levels from outdoor events, meant to maintain community quiet. While MGK has not publicly addressed the citation yet, he will need to pay the fine or challenge it in court quickly. Going forward, the incident serves as a reminder to musicians and venues to carefully follow local sound rules. With more planning and community outreach, MGK can hopefully avoid similar issues for his remaining tour dates in other cities. The case shows that disregarding noise ordinances can lead to legal penalties and disruption of performances.