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The CEO of an online musical instrument marketplace has triggered a backlash after sacking 99 employees in a single day, and going viral across social media.
Despite that, rather than any sort of climbdown he has justified his decision, citing increased web traffic and “hundreds” of job applications since the move.
Baldvin Oddsson, CEO of The Musician’s Club and its subsidiary, The Brass Club, reportedly terminated the contracts of 99 employees and freelancers who failed to attend a short-notice virtual meeting.
The move, which Oddsson defended as a necessary business decision, has been widely condemned online.
Fired by Slack message
The controversy came to light after an intern, who had just joined the company, shared screenshots of Slack messages on Reddit. The post, titled “I joined an internship and an hour later the entire team got fired,” showed Oddsson’s reaction to the poor attendance at the meeting.
In the Slack message, Oddsson wrote:
“Dear Team…This is Baldvin, the CEO.
“For those of you who did not show up to the meeting this morning, consider this your official notice: you’re all fired. You failed to do what you agreed to, you failed to complete your part of the contract, and you failed to show up to the meetings you were supposed to attend and work for.
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“I will cancel all agreements between us. Please return anything you have, sign out of all accounts, and remove yourself from this Slack immediately.
“I gave you an opportunity to make your life better, to work hard, and to grow. Yet you have shown me that you don’t take this seriously. Out of 110 people, only 11 were present this morning. Those 11 get to stay. The rest of you are terminated.
“Get the fuck out of my business right now.”
The intern, who remained anonymous, claimed there was “virtually no notice of the meeting,” which was scheduled at 8:24 AM CST. Oddsson reportedly threatened to fire anyone absent by 1 PM. According to sources, only 11 of the company’s 110 employees attended.
The anonymous intern, tasked with an unpaid cybersecurity role, deactivated their account shortly after joining, calling the company a “potential headache.” They also described the workplace culture as one where “terrible conditions” were exacerbated by Oddsson’s leadership style.
The original Reddit post went viral, garnering attention from industry leaders, employees, and media outlets. Moderators later removed it, however.
CEO defends firing decision
Oddsson responded to the backlash in a statement, doubling down on his actions. While acknowledging the flood of criticism, he claimed the controversy had led to unexpected business growth.
“While some attempted to ‘cancel’ me, it has completely backfired,” Oddsson said. “Our traffic has surged to over 20,000 views, sales are at an all-time high, and we’re receiving hundreds of applications daily... Firing those individuals was the right move for our organization, and we are stronger than ever.”
He also shared that he had been contacted by industry leaders and media for interviews, describing the attention as “overwhelming.”
The Musician’s Club, a Wyoming-based startup founded in 2022, is an online platform specializing in musical instruments and accessories. The company has come under scrutiny for its reliance on remote interns and freelancers, often in unpaid roles.
Former employees have described the environment as chaotic, with inconsistent communication and leadership challenges. A former manager reportedly remarked, “The main issue [with the company] is our CEO…That’s not gonna change.”
Public reaction
The incident has sparked debate about leadership accountability and workplace ethics, with many questioning the abrupt nature of Oddsson’s decision and the lack of formal notice.
While his actions have generated a huge amount of publicity for his business, the controversy has also reignited broader conversations about labor rights and treatment within startups. Whether the surge in visibility will translate into long-term success for The Musician’s Club remains to be seen.
For now, Oddsson is undeterred, saying: “The momentum is undeniable, and we are excited to keep moving forward.”
