If you’ve been paying attention for the past 48 hours, you know a shitstorm has errupted between Miami’s 26-years running Winter Music Conference and the gigantic Ultra Music Festival. The brouhah started when WMC announced the dates for the 2011 conference, March 8-11. that a good three weeks before the traditional dates whicl always fall at the end of the month. Ultra Music Festival, the muti-day dance extravaganza that grew up along side of WMC, has maintained it’s more predictable March 25-27, despite a contact in which it guarantees to occur during WMC. You can get the full gory details from the Miami Herald.
Now, highly successful DJ booking agent Steve Goodgold of the Windish Agency has issued a statement siding with Ultra Music Fest, calling WMC “reckless” for veering from their typical dates without giving proper notice to the entire dance music industry. Goodgold books dozens of top tier DJs, including John Digweed, Sasha, Plump DJs, Adam Freeland and many more. Here is the statement in it’s entirety:
I think that what is happening right now with the WMC is very upsetting. While I have great respect for the conference itself, I believe what they have done here is made a tremendous error. The WMC has happened at the same time in March for the last seven plus years that I can remember (one year the dates shifted by a week because Easter fell on an unusual date in March). What is happening right now is not a WMC versus ULTRA thing, at all. It’s unfortunate that it would be painted in such a way by WMC. It is a gross inconsideration by the WMC for event planners worldwide and Artist scheduling. WMC’s date announcement undermines the work performed by thousands of people who have been building events for the 4th week of March. Ultra Music Festival is only one element of the entire week.
It has been the hard work and dedication of the dance music industry itself (Artists, Managers, Agents, Nightclub Owners, Promoters, Record Labels, Publicists, Radio Stations, Websites, Vendors and more) which has enabled the success of this ‘electronic music celebration/ gathering’ for the past decade. Each year a substantial amount of work is done by an enormous amount of people to create a week long calendar of amazing events that happen 24 hours a day. This is all done with passion (and much pain) to give music fans unforgettable experiences. This takes a lot of planning time. Artists’ schedules are booked as early as 6 months to 1 year out. The fact is that there are many artists (especially the larger known ones) who are already contracted to perform in Miami the week of March 23 – 27, and contracted to perform elsewhere in the world from March 8 – 12.
Considering that this time period effects so many lives, one would assume that the WMC representatives would have had an open communication with the people that make the week such a success. They did not. Instead, they simply made a poor decision by themselves to shift the dates and ran with it. We are also learning that the dates announced are directly linked to the WMC’s inability to secure a venue within the normal week. So what now? They expect an entire army of people that make the week the success it is to just change their entire lives to accommodate their dates? We can’t do it for the reasons I have listed above. There are too many contracts already in place and too many schedules already solidified.
Each year approximately 65,000+ people descend upon Miami to participate in the amazing events, yet less than 4,000 people participate in the conference itself. The WMC’s own press release states, “During WMC, more than 500 annual industry gatherings and performance events boast one of the most sought after aggregations of legendary and emerging artists to be found in the world.” That is correct, and the events they are mentioning are produced by people they neglected to consult with before setting these dates.
The WMC’s announcement is reckless, because a large portion of the 65,000 people discussed above will rush to purchase airfare, book their hotel, and take off work assuming they will experience the usual week of events. Those people will gradually learn between now and then that the premiere events with the biggest Artists will be happening March 23 – 27. Is that fair to the Electronic Dance Music audience? I don’t think so. I think it is important for the general public to be aware of this now. ULTRA has announced that it will occur at the end of the month as always, and so will hundreds of the annual events that the people have come to love. People coming to Miami in 2011 should buy their plane tickets wisely.
[...] will not take place in conjunction with Winter Music Conference, a split that continues to cause a kerfuffle in the dance music community. But looking at how UMF’s three-day line-up is shaking out, it [...]
hi im from australia and never been to america… im plannin a musical holiday and after seein this mess… i think its not going to be a very fun place to spend my money and listen to great music… yes maybe europe or ibiza is where i shall go instead…
be careful about airing dirty laundry on main sites.. you never know who is going to be reading them!
To all my Industry colleagues…
Why do people feel that they must pick sides (WMC or Ultra)? I mean, why can’t we all work together and produce two great music weekends? Ibiza does six months with basically the same talent headlining the same clubs on the same nights every week so why can’t we help Miami do the same for two weeks in March? As a club owner, Miami resident and 35 year supporter of EDM, I am asking you to please help us make WMC 2011 the best it can be for our City, our employees, artists, agents, managers, and everyone involved in our industry.
The fact is that Winter Music Conference which was started 26 years ago is now way too big to be held in just one weekend. While others see this split (WMC vs UMF) as a problem I see it as a great opportunity for us all to produce more events, host our industry proper and take things to the next level. As I mentioned before, every week there is a new group of fans arriving in Ibiza and every week basically repeats itself with the same talent performing on the same days and at the same clubs. Therefore, there really is no reason why the same DJs that play Ultra weekend on the last week of March can’t play clubs the second week of March. Miami will also have two very different groups of people on these two weeks. WMC will bring the EDM Industry folks, Spring Breakers and the adult clubbers and UMF will keep bringing the festivalites (ravers). It just makes sense that we all take advantage of this opportunity as there are enough EDM fans around the world to pack Miami all year long. There is also no reason why there should not be a proper festival on each weekend but this is something for next year’s drama and the topic of another Email.
As for this whole Ultra DJ “exclusivity” issue, I am for exclusivity as long as its for the same type of competition. Clubs don’t compete with Ultra, they don’t even operate at the same times so why not let the artists play at clubs? This Ultra “exclusivity” crap is hurting the artist and the adult nightlife as no adult I know can stand being at a rfestival for more than two hours or going for more than one day. They also cannot stand sweating, getting trampled by the masses, dancing on dirt and or mud and using those disgusting port-o-porties (specially the ladies). Not to mention that there is no valet parking and you have to walk miles to get there and back, there are no proper bars or VIPs and the liquor if you can find it, is shit. This is a lot to ask of an educated EDM loving adult clubber just so that they can see their favorite DJs perform for just one hour. I don’t know about you but if I am going to see my favorite DJ I want it to be in an air conditioned venue with proper parking, bars, VIPs, rest rooms, a proper dance floor and for much more than just 1 or 2 hours. Call me crazy but that is just me and I am sure many of WMC attendees and EDM music lovers feel the same way too. Then there are the folks who are not into festivals and raves and those who have to work during the day and can’t make the festival or can’t affordd paying $175 US. Unfortunately, Ultra does not share this view and they want DJs to only play at Ultra and nowhere else. So much for music democracy. I am sorry but this type of monopolizing exclusivity just does not sit right with me.
I believe it is time for us all to think out of the box. 11 years ago I thought way out of the box, left the safety of South Beach nightlife and opened Club Space in what was then a desolate and dangerous part of town. 26 years ago Bill Kelley created Wnter Music Conference which gave the Ultra creators a chance to create a festival 14 years later. Let’s all think outside the box and see how we can make WMC better and greater than it has been. We have a great and rare opportunity to expand our industry and our culture and at the same time benefit from more days of clubbing, pool parties, beaches, gigs, dates, meetings and conferences. I for one can never get enough of any of these. Let’s all take advantage of these two weekend’s and help make this year’s WMC and ULM the best ever. Below are some facts that might help shed some extra light on this…
WMC vs MC THE FACTS
· Ultra is a weekend event. If people just come to Miami on the weekend we will lose Wednesday, Thursday and Friday events. This hurts us all (less club nights = less gigs).
· WMC is a 5 day event (Wednesday thru Sunday) which means more work and fun for us all.
· Ultra and WMC had a contract to do their events during WMC dates. Ultra pulled out and decided to do their own dates.
· South Beach and Miami hotels are crowded with the Sonny Ericsson tennis matches and other events on the last week of March. Hotels are packed. Changing to the second week of March makes conference and hotels more affordable for everyone. Lower demand = lower prices.
· Not everyone can take their vacation in late March as Spring Break is over by then.
· There is a big festival (Timewarp) in Amsterdam in the beginning of April which might affect DJs and fans coming to Miami on the last week of March.
· Ultra can only go until 11 PM or midnight so only place an adult can see “exclusive” Ultra DJs before midnight.
· It always rains in Miami. If we have a bad rain storm and Ultra is shut down no one will get to see the “exclusive” DJS. So much for all that money you spent and your vacation.
· Adults are not into being pushed around in crowded fields or dancing in mud for hours. They like the comfort of a nightclub.
· Ultra can still move their dates to WMC weekend as they have the park reserved for all of March.
· Monopolies are not only illegal; they are also not good for anyone. The more competition, the lower the prices.
· Most important of all is that there would not be Ultra without WMC.
Please feel free to forward this to all your lists and thank you for your support.
Louis Puig
Owner, Club Space
Dude, most people who love dance music can’t afford to travel to Miami 2 weekends in May – especially from Europe. Think about it.
I see the points on both side…the problem is that time is moving forward….they can’t expect people OUTSIDE the USA to take a side easily. We in other countries will just decide NOT TO GO because we want to see what will REALLY happen during those two separate weeks and then make our choice for NEXT year. If this is a ploy thinking people will pay for two separate tickets and hotel etc etc well its not going to work. If this continues it will become a USA event and the rest of the world will go eslewhere. I for one have canceled with 5 others also (I was paying for three of us). We love and respect what both event have done to the Dance Music scene and was proud that it was occuring in the americas…but both events are to blame here….this is not kids stuff people….. this is serious…. People work for a living…people need to plan WAY ahead for vacation time and saving money… I will not spend 2+ grand/person to go to Miami and not get what I have always expected to get. The WMC is starting $50.00 more then last year (if I recall) and It risuqe not having the same lineup of events… hmmm… I just may save my money and go to the more STABLE European Dance festivals. I had planned my vacation every year around the WMC UMF date of the end of the month of march and cant get this years WMC dates as a vacation. Even if I do get it I will not pay all that money for HALF of what I am expected to get. Stop. We dont care who wins…get the date straight guys…people all over the WORLD are waiting for this shit to settle. I also think that WMC should extend the date of the 275.00 registrstion until final dates have been pour into concrete. The end of the month is an expected date. Make it so. Someone should put a WMC UMF poll together quick to prove to them what effect it will have on both sides… send me the link and I will be the first to vote. Also…the beginning of march will still be a little cool to wear a bikini…it was last year if you all recall…
Steve we’ve never met we do have a mutual friend but I hear you are a good guy, but your letter is one of the most disingenuous pieces of shit I’ve ever read.
Lets start with your lies:
It has been the hard work and dedication of the dance music industry itself (Artists, Managers, Agents, Nightclub Owners, Promoters, Record Labels, Publicists, Radio Stations, Websites, Vendors and more) which has enabled the success of this ‘electronic music celebration/ gathering’ for the past decade
Really? You call up Mansion or Dream etc and say I want to rent out the club and do the XYZ party. These are fully operating clubs, nothing to do. Set the deal, announce your lineup get it on want tix, book flights, hotels update facebook page, done! Is it really that simple. Don’t try and make the public believe you are down here for 4 weeks planning these events. It’s no different than renting out the moose lodge for scrabble night. A monkey can do this. Booking out UMF is even easier. A retarded monkey could do that…
Artists’ schedules are booked as early as 6 months to 1 year out.
This is one very big lie. This is not true. How do we know it’s not true? Every clubber knows the dates change, so how can you book out a dj 1 year to 6 months out if the dates change? Even the actual calendar changes. The truth is this is a lie except for the fact that your big djs will be exclusive to UMF so the dates don’t matter to those djs.
You complain about them moving the dates. So Steve enlighten us, how many months in advance notice do you need to rent out a club and stick your big djs into exclusive contracts with UMF 2 weeks prior than you initially thought? Currently you have 4 months to plan! Let me say that again, 4 fucking months!!! Is that not enough time to alter your plans for a 2 week difference? So how many months would you’ve have preferred? The truth is you are lying, yet again…
If UMF and WMC were on the same dates this year would your djs not be exclusive to UMF? Don’t bother answering that one..
The truth is you are pandering to UMF for $$$$$$$. You need to protect the house. You are worried that WMC may steal some thunder from UMF thus hurting your djs with a less than stellar UMF. Plus you have to put up a facade that you actually do work for these djs. If you are such a great agent then why does 98.5% of your lineup never get booked in Miami outside of WMC? You take your dinosaurs such as sasha (who can’t sell out rooms any more) and say if you want him you must book dj fuck face… And yes Sasha sucks, he (Sasha) personally told a friend of mine his tour was not going well.
Who the fuck are you to say that the premier events will only be at UMF? They will not. How do I know this? Because I know everyone and I’ve been told their plans. There will be great events both dates. See since guys like you locked down all the talent to UMF with exclusive contracts, parties for both UMF and WMC dates will have the B team. Thus no premiere events at either! Right now I”m advising all my friends don’t book anything yet but lean toward WMC dates.
Lastly, 98,5% of your entire roster can’t get booked in Miami if you bribed the clubs. Take a look at your lineup of nobodies. You have a few cats you earn all your income from. Those big guys are all eventually moving to WM out in LA as did a lot of the big jocks. No one cares about what you have to say. We all know what it is about, $$$$$$$ from UMF… Dates? DATES? C’mon man!
For the peeps on here check out his lineup.. It’s dinosaurs, a few big guys and djs none of us have heard of who get 1200 a night at their local strip club..
This dudes letter is all about UMF $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ He references passion, give me a fucking break. He has passion for EDM like I have passion for doing my taxes….
Fuck I hate disingenuous assclowns.. ‘
this has left my brain rattled a bit but I think I am siding with WMC on this one. I went to the very first Ultra and watched it grow from a very humble and unique beach party to a massive pain in the ass. The purpose of WMC is to be able to actually party, network and hang out with your favorite Djs, friends, and industry contacts. I for one am glad that WMC has made a step to take the event back and return it to its roots. Yes this first year will be fucked up but it is a step in the right direction.
I do not agree at all. Its not fair that a festival grows on WMC back and they get nothing out of it. WMC is right to move the dates. I would do the same! IUltra wants to pay less for the artist just because they are there already for wmc.
Go WMC, Ultra sucks.
Here is what Ultra posted on their website recently:
Posted on: November 18, 2010
To all music fans, artists, agents, managers, promoters, labels, sponsors and Ultra supporters who share our belief that it is all about the music:
Ultra Music Festival would like to address certain points in light of recent announcements made.
While the circumstances that have taken place this year have rendered it impossible for Ultra Music Festival and WMC to coincide on the same dates in 2011, we will use our best efforts to try and work with WMC and coordinate dates together in 2012.
First and foremost, Ultra Music Festival has always been an avid supporter of WMC and is grateful for the many years of working together with them. Throughout those years of our partnership Ultra has always admitted WMC delegates into the festival for free, speaking volumes to Ultra’s commitment and support of the music scene. It is with great disappointment that we could not host Ultra during the same week as WMC in 2011.
Due to WMC’s claim to us that they could not secure a convention host hotel on the last week of March to meet their facility requirements as a conference, they chose to go on the second week.
Unfortunately WMC did not take into consideration that during the second week of March the city of Miami hosts the annual Calle Ocho street fair, which attracts more than one million people into Downtown Miami for this free event. As much as we felt it was a bad idea to move the dates to the second week of the month with such short notice to the public, as it would cause serious logistical and financial issues to fans that have already confirmed and purchased travel to Miami for the last week, Ultra used absolute best efforts to maintain the relationship with WMC and join them in the move to the second week. However, this was rendered impossible by the City of Miami police department as they do not have the resources to host Ultra Music Festival and Calle Ocho in Miami on the same weekend due to the fact that all police resources will be outsourced to the one million person annual event.
WMC was notified of this by UMF in writing months in advance of this week’s announcement.
Second, being the last weekend in March in recent history has caused artists and everyone in the industry to rely on these dates to make their touring plans; same goes with music lovers who plan as much in advance to control the costs associated with their trip. We never felt comfortable letting those people down. We always felt a move like this would have to be done well over a year in advance to allow time for proper planning. Large-scale events and festivals traditionally do not move their dates around year to year.
Third, after UMF was notified of the possibility of WMC’s intentions of moving to the second week, we aligned ourselves with every contact and resource we had on Miami Beach to try and secure a host hotel for them on the last weekend as the second weekend was not possible for UMF as stated above. For various reasons, the options we presented were somehow not good enough for them to remain on the last weekend together with us.
Ultra Music Festival is one of the best consumer value propositions in the festival business. The price paid for each day at Ultra is equal to or in many cases less than what is paid to attend a single nightclub for one night. Three full days of Ultra includes 32 hours of more than 300 artists, DJs and bands programmed on 30 stages collectively. Ultra, like most major music festivals around the country, features exclusive performances by many artists, increasing the value of the festival experience.
Our fans agree as the on-sale launch this week shattered past ticketing performances with an increase of over 5,000 percent! We are on pace to sell out Ultra in advance this year.
UMF guarantees all of our loyal long time supporters and new fans alike that we have been humbly working harder than ever throughout the last eight months on producing this festival and the confirmed line-up is extremely impressive. Hands down the best Ultra has ever presented. Once again UMF will set the standard for EDM festival programming and production worldwide.
Phase 1 Line Up Announcement Is Imminent!!
Stay connected for very exciting artist announcements!!!
Let me start by stating the obvious. Ultra is a bane on the WMC. The WMC is NOT an event scheduled around a festival where you can see a few of your favorite DJ’s play for an hour. It used to be about showing up for a free event and seeing Danny T do a 24 hour set. Sasha and Diggers on a boat. JZ and Nick Fan doing a 5 hour set at a pool party.
Ultra..shame on you for attempting to have these staple DJs sign an exclusive agreement not to take part in the WMC events.
$100 club tickets, $25 drinks, $450/night hotel rooms…this is not what the WMC has ever been about.
I for one am glad that the WMC gave Ultra the boot. It’s a place for little kids to take their e’s and wear neon.
no big deal, Detroit pisses all over Miami anyway. True underground vibe and way better music. Miami can stuff its deadmau5 / Guetta shit up its ass. Guidos.
word!
i agree with giggity…been going to WMC for over 10 years
im over it
guido central
$$$ its all about the money
DEMF is where its at…so u can keep you ultra and wmc dont come to DEMF and fuck that up too :)
What a mess, people have a year to sort these events out, how can people stay in Miami for this period especially us Europeans? Arseholes. It’s one or the other now instead of both events coexisting in harmony. Diabolical error I believe.
well i think this is shit!
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Those parties are an elitist retreat for drug dealers, dj’s, label bosses and promoters, while the REAL fans and heart of the scene has to go to work in the real world. Not to sound bitter but fuck both events, cry me a river you over payed booking agents. I have no sympathy for the hyper elite dance set.
65,000 drug dealers? That’s one heck of a party. It’s an Industry event, but a whole lot more people come than that Eddie. Upgrade your hustle, save a little money and take a VACATION to Miami. It’s not that hard.
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WTF… come on…
I made it a few sentences in a seen so many typo’s! This seems to happen every time I read URB! I am not a picky person or even that smart of a dude but COME ON…
“a seen many typo’s!’
there’s two mistakes here. count ‘em.