Latest news with #JonathanMayers
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jonathan Mayers, Concert Promoter and Bonnaroo Co-Founder, Dies at 51
Jonathan Mayers, a concert promoter who co-founded the music festivals Bonnaroo and helped create Outside Lands as a principal at Superfly Entertainment, has died. He was 51. The cause of death is as yet unknown. The news arrives as the three-day Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is set to kick off Thursday with headliner Luke Combs. More from The Hollywood Reporter Doechii Calls Out Trump's "Ruthless Attacks" Amid L.A. Protests in BET Speech: "What Type of Government Is That?" Thank You, Sly Stone Diddy's Ex Passed Out After Reading Cassie's Lawsuit Describing "Freak-Off" Orgies The New York City native founded Superfly Presents as a marketing and event company in 1996 with partners Kerry Black, Rick Farman and Richard Goodstone, co-creating events such as the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival with Another Planet Entertainment and Bonnaroo, held since 2002 on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. Mayers' first job was working with New Orleans' legendary Tipitina's and the city's Jazz Fest. Superfly then went on to stage its first concert with the Meters, Maceo Parker and Rebirth Brass Band during Mardi Gras. Mayers partnered with AC Entertainment's Ashley Caps, Paradigm agent Chip Hooper and Red Light manager Coran Capshaw to launch Bonnaroo. Featuring headliners like Phish's Trey Anastasio and members of the Grateful Dead and annually drawing crowds of more than 70,000, it has become the model for the modern music festival. Superfly launched Vegoose festival in Las Vegas in 2005, then partnered with Another Planet to launch Outside Lands in San Francisco's fabled Golden Gate Park. In 2017, Mayers partnered with Viacom and Comedy Central to produce a comedy festival dubbed Clusterfest, which included the likes of Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Jon Stewart and Trevor Noah. Mayers' innovative promotion approach included re-creating sets from iconic TV shows like Seinfeld, The Office and The Daily Show offering immersive fan experiences, including a Friends pop-up of one of its sets in New York, Boston and Atlanta. Mayers left Superfly in August 2021 and sued his ex-partners in early 2022, accusing them of breach of contract and fraud for underestimating the value of his ownership in the company. The lawsuit was dismissed in January 2023. Since leaving Superfly, Mayers worked on Core City Detroit, a project which sought funds to invest in the inner city, creating a music campus with entertainment experiences for the public. His longtime friend, Dayglo Presents and Brooklyn Bowl founder Peter Shapiro, told The Hollywood Reporter: 'People use the word visionary a lot in our business, but Jonathan Mayers was the real deal when it came to imagining what something new could be. It takes courage to lean into doing something that could crash and fail. And that is how Jonathan Mayers broke down real barriers and created some next level music festivals that impacted a generation of fans, bands and promoters.' Another Planet Entertainment issued a statement describing Mayers as 'a bright light, always pushing new and creative ideas in the entertainment space. Everyone in the Another Planet family will miss him dearly.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Harvey Weinstein's "Jane Doe 1" Victim Reveals Identity: "I'm Tired of Hiding" 'Awards Chatter' Podcast: 'Sopranos' Creator David Chase Finally Reveals What Happened to Tony (Exclusive)
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Bonnaroo music festival co-founder Jonathan Mayers dead at 51
Jonathan Mayers, an innovative music festival creator known for co-founding Bonnaroo and Superfly Entertainment, died at the age of 51. 'Our hearts are extremely heavy as we mourn the loss of one of our co-founders, Jonathan Mayers,' Bonnaroo wrote in an Instagram story posted on Tuesday. 'For more than a decade, Jonathan was a creative force behind this festival that so many of us have held near and dear to our hearts now for more than twenty years.' A cause of death was not given. 4 Jonathan Mayers died at the age of 51. Getty Images for Relix The live entertainment producer's death was announced days before Bonnaroo kicked off in Manchester, Tenn. as attendees were already on site camping ahead of the annual music event. 'As a very small token of our appreciation for what he contributed to Bonnaroo, we will plant a tree in his honor on The Farm,' Bonnaroo's Instagram post added. The Farm at Bonnaroo is where the festival has occurred since he co-founded it in 2002. 'Our thoughts are with Jonathan's family and friends during this very difficult time,' the festival's account shared. 'This weekend we celebrate Jonathan by doing the two things we know best to do in our favorite place on the planet. Spreading love and radiating positivity. Thank you, Jonathan. This one's for you.' The music festival, which runs from June 12-15, is known for its diverse lineup. 2025 headliners include Luke Combs, Olivia Rodrigo, Avril Lavigne, Nelly, and Vampire Weekend. 4 Bonnaroo is an annual music festival based in Manchester, Tenn. Amy Harris/Invision/AP 4 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is scheduled to begin on Thursday. Getty Images Outside Lands, a San Francisco-based music festival Mayers co-founded under Superfly, paid tribute to him in an Instagram post on Tuesday. 'Jonathan was the creative force behind so much of what makes Outside Lands feel magical,' the post claimed. 'He had a gift for dreaming up the surprise-and-delight moments that turned ordinary spaces into unforgettable experiences. From the Ranger Dave statue and Choco Lands to the whimsical bridge facade on top of the Lands End stage, all Jon.' 'More than anything, we will miss his unwavering dedication to bringing people together, his passion for pushing boundaries, his infectious laugh, and his ability to tap into the inner child in all of us. Thank you for your vision, your heart, and the magic you brought into this world. We will miss you dearly.' 4 The music festival co-founder's cause of death has not been given. Denver Post via Getty Images Mayers left Superfly in 2021 to create Core City Detroit, which sought to raise money and invest in 'culturally rich' neighborhoods, according to an investment deck of the project reviewed by Music Row. The concert producer was also behind creating fan experiences like the 'Friends' pop-up SoHo and 'The Seinfeld Experience' in New York's Gramercy neighborhood.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Bonnaroo co-founder Jonathan Mayers dies, aged 51, days before famed music festival set to begin
Bonnaroo co-founder Jonathan Mayers has died at the age of 51 - days before this year's festival was set to begin. The music mogul's former partners at Superfly Entertainment confirmed his passing, as did the festival on their Instagram page. They did not give a cause of death. 'Our hearts are extremely heavy as we mourn the loss of one of our Co-Founders, Jonathan Mayers,' Bonnaroo said in a statement released on Tuesday. 'For more than a decade Jonathan was a creative force behind this festival that so many of us have held near and dear to our hearts now for more than twenty years. 'As a very small token of our appreciation for what he contributed to Bonnaroo, we will plant a tree in his honor on The Farm. 'Our thoughts are with Jonathan's family and friends during this very difficult time. 'This weekend we celebrate Jonathan by doing the two things we know best to do in our favorite place on the planet. Spreading love and radiating positivity.' New York native Mayers was known for creating iconic American festivals including Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee and Outside Lands in San Francisco, California. Bonnaroo is set to begin in just two days, with Luke Combs and Dom Dolla headlining on Thursday, followed by Tyler, The Creator on Friday, Olivia Rodrigo on Saturday, and Hozier on Sunday. Around 80,000 people flock to the legendary festival each year, which has been going since 2002. 'We are heartbroken with the passing of Jonathan,' his former partners, Superfly Entertainment said in a statement released on Tuesday. 'He was a cherished part of Superfly's story, woven into its history and legacy. 'In addition to the role he's played in bringing joy to millions, we will miss his razor sharp wit, infectious smile and contagious laugh. 'No one could light up a room like Jon.' Mayers grew up around an hour outside New York City, and graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1995. He got his start in the music industry while working with famed New Orleans venue Tipitina's and the city's Jazz Fest. Mayers co-founded Superfly in 1996 with Rick Farman, Richard Goodstone and Kerry Black.. They launched their first concert during Mardi Gras, featuring the Meters, Maceo Parker and Rebirth Brass Band. The quartet launched and sold out the first ever Bonnaroo festival in 2002, situated an hour away from Nashville. Featuring big names like Trey Anastasio from Phish and Grateful Dead's Phil Lesh and Bob Weir from the early days, Bonnaroo paved the way for many more music festivals which emerged in the following years across the US, according to Billboard.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Jonathan Mayers, Bonnaroo cofounder dies, days before festival
Jonathan Mayers, Bonnaroo cofounder dies, days before festival Show Caption Hide Caption The first Bonnaroo started with an epic traffic jam A look back at the first annual Bonnaroo, and the massive traffic jam that preceded it. Nashville Tennessean Jonathan Mayers, a titan of the music festival business and cofounder of Bonnaroo, has died. Mayers' death was confirmed in a post to the Tennessee-based festival's official Instagram page. No cause of death was revealed, and his age is not confirmed at this time. USA TODAY has reached out to Bonnaroo for comment. "Our hearts are extremely heavy as we mourn the loss of one of our Co-Founders, Jonathan Mayers," the post reads. "For more than a decade, Jonathan was a creative force behind this festival that so many of us have held near and dear to our hearts now for more than twenty years." Mayers was highly influential in the music and entertainment scene. He founded several large music festivals, including Bonnaroo and Bay Area-based Outside Lands. Bonnaroo is set to kick off this weekend, running from June 12-15. Mayers' death will no doubt hang heavy over a crowd gathered to enjoy a festival that may well be his crowning achievement. "Our thoughts are with Jonathan's family and friends during this very difficult time," the post continued. "This weekend, we celebrate Jonathan by doing the two things we know best to do in our favorite place on the planet. Spreading love and radiating positivity." In 2002, Mayers teamed up with Ashley Capps to found Bonnaroo, which brought more than 70,000 fans to Middle Tennessee in its inaugural year for a four-day musical experience. The festival remains one of the most well-known music festivals in the U.S. today. In memory of Mayer, a tree will be planted at The Farm in Manchester, according to the festival's Instagram post.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bonnaroo co-founder dies days before festival
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — One of the co-founders of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival has died just days before the annual event. Jonathan Mayers was the co-founder of Superfly Entertainment and co-creator of Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, which is held annually in San Francisco. His age and cause of death was not immediately released. Local agencies prepared for Bonnaroo traffic ahead of festival The festival posted a notice on Mayers' passing to social media, which reads: Our hearts are extremely heavy as we mourn the loss of one of our Co-Founders, Jonathan Mayers. For more than a decade Jonathan was a creative force behind this festival that so many of us have held near and dear to our hearts now for more than twenty years. As a very small token of our appreciation for what he contributed to Bonnaroo, we will plant a tree in his honor on The Farm. Our thoughts are with Jonathan's family and friends during this very difficult time. This weekend we celebrate Jonathan by doing the two things we know best to do in our favorite place on the planet. Spreading love and radiating you, Jonathan. This one's for you. Bonnaroo The population of Manchester grows to anywhere from 50- to 80,000 people annually when campers and other festivalgoers making the pilgrimage to The Farm for Bonnaroo. The pioneering festival sold out its very first year back in 2002 and has become the blueprint for festivals across the country. 📲 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.📧 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.💻 for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
