Goldenvoice, the event producers behind the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, announced plans Monday to launch Panorama Fest at New York City’s Randall’s Island Park on July 22-24. The new music festival will take place less than two months after Governors Ball is scheduled to take place for the fifth consecutive year in the same location.
In October, Governors Ball launched a petition asking New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to prevent Panorama from entering the market.
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In a statement to Billboard, a representative for Governors Ball — Founders Entertainment partner Tom Russell — expressed concern over the new event: “We’re very confident our lineup and proven track record will draw a great crowd to Governors Ball this year, and our experience with the festival site allows us to put on a great event for music fans. But this is a short-sighted and disappointing solution. The city needs a long-term strategy for approving music festivals that ensures it is maximizing the economic and community impact of these events. Scheduling two same-genre festivals on top of each other like this makes it difficult for either to provide the maximum benefit to its fans, its neighbors and taxpayers.”
On the other hand, Panorama’s team asserts that multiple music festivals can “coexist, thrive, and have long-term success” in the New York market.
Goldenvoice festival producer Mark Shulman says in a statement to Billboard: “New York City has 12.5 million residents, plus an enormous number of domestic and international visitors, who keep our many sports arenas, music venues, museums, theaters and restaurants at capacity each night. NYC sustains multiple music festivals and Panorama will add one additional entertainment option over the summer.”
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On Jan. 8, Governors Ball announced its 2016 lineup, led by Kanye West, the Strokes and the Killers. The festival will run June 3-5.
Panorama has not yet announced its lineup.
Founders Entertainment also runs the country music festival FarmBorough, which will take place on Randall’s Island for the second consecutive year, June 17-19.