Insomniac (promoter)
Insomniac is an American electronic music event promoter and music distributor. Founded by Pasquale Rotella, it is best known as the organizer of the electronic music festival Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC). Alongside EDC, Insomniac runs the electronic music events Beyond Wonderland and Nocturnal Wonderland, as well as drum and bass and dubstep-oriented events under the brand Bassrush, hardstyle events under the brand Basscon, and trance events under the brand Dreamstate. The company also owns a stake in the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival, Insomniac is also involved in the operation of three Los Angeles nightclubs—Create (in partnership  with SBE, built on the site of the former Vanguard Hollywood), Exchange L.A. and the underground warehouse Factory 93, located at 1756 Naud Street. In 2013, Insomniac entered into a creative partnership with Live Nation. In 2014, it introduced a co-branded EDM record label known as Insomniac Records, initially in partnership with Interscope Geffen A&M. In 2018, Insomniac took its A&R and distribution operations in-house as Insomniac Music Group . Overview and partnerships. Insomniac has been described as placing a larger emphasis on fan experiences over profits and ticket sales, with Rotella having argued that music festivals did not  require "big acts who sell out arenas" (going as far as to praising Burning Man for being an "event by the people for the people" where "the organizers just provide an open space" and "people go all out"). In June 2013, Insomniac announced a number of partnerships, including one with Dick Clark Productions to produce a dance music awards show, and a "creative partnership" with Live Nation that would give Insomniac access to Live Nation's resources, while leaving them creative control over their events. While specifics of the deal were not revealed, Rotella emphasized the deal was not an  acquisition. In August 2015, Rotella announced his new radio show, "Night Owl Radio", on SiriusXM's "Electric Area." "Electric Area" was later replaced by "Diplo's Revolution" in 2018. In the summer of 2018, "Insomniac Radio" launched on SiriusXM. In May 2019, Insomniac partnered with Dash Radio as its flagship station. In June 2019, Insomniac acquired a controlling stake in Soundslinger, LLC, the organizer of the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival, which returned from a one-year hiatus in 2020. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic (which resulted in the postponement of all of its in-person festivals), Insomniac began to  stream a rotation of sets from previous editions of its festivals on its YouTube and Twitch channels under the "Insomniac Rewind" banner, and live "virtual" festivals. In late-2020, Insomniac began a residency of drive-in "Park 'N Rave" concerts at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, and announced a "drive-through audiovisual experience" event known as the "Electric Mile" at Santa Anita Park — featuring installations separated into "worlds" inspired by its main festival brands. In October 2020, Insomniac hosted Boo—a two-night Halloween festival at Lot 54 at The Vanguard in Orlando. It was one of its first  in-person concerts in the midst of the pandemic, conducted with safety protocols such as distribution of personal protective equipment to all attendees. In February 2021, Insomniac announced a number of new brands, including Lost in Dreams—a record label and upcoming festival that will focus upon future bass and melodic dubstep, and a bass music event at The Vanguard known as Abduction, scheduled for April. In March 2022, Insomniac signed a deal with 3-D content studio Unity to host a rotation of music events in the metaverse. Insomniac Music Group. In May 2014, Insomniac announced the formation of  Insomniac Records, an EDM record label created in partnership with Interscope Geffen A&M. The label aimed to attract both "undiscovered" and "established" producers. Arty was announced as the first artist to be signed to the label. Other artists such as Bingo Players, Chris Lake and Dr. Fresch were also signed. In December 2018, Insomniac announced the formation of Insomniac Music Group, which provides A&R and distribution services for its in-house imprints (which includes brand extensions of some of its festivals) and other electronic music labels. Alongside Insomniac Records, its imprints include Basscon Records, Bassrush Records, Discovery Project, Dreamstate Records , Gud Vibrations, HARD Recordings, In / Rotation, Lost in Dreams, and What To Do.