Despite CEO Adam Klein’s previous insistence that CMJ Holdings Corp’s Music Marathon “will absolutely happen this year,” the music event company’s absence of life signals seems to suggest otherwise. With the marathon only a few weeks away, CMJ has not announced a lineup, venue, nor has it updated its own website, which is still promoting last year’s event. CMJ social media platforms have remained silent this summer, leaving us with one vague tweet posted in June.
Prior to this message, CMJ’s social media channels have been silent for an additional 2 months. The company’s updates pose more questions than they answer and have led to rampant speculation about the fate of the event. Rumors of CMJ’s financial woes are not new, nor is conjecture about the event’s cancellation. Back in April, Brooklyn Vegan questioned “Is CMJ Happening This Year?” indicating that “CMJ’s website still has all the 2015 info, artist submissions never started, we haven’t heard about any shows or bands playing, rumors are spreading, and CMJ is remaining quiet (as they probably look for money).”
Brooklyn Vegan may have been onto something. 5 months later, it seems all but impossible for the event to come together in time. If CMJ Music Marathon has its lineup and logistics planned and ready to be announced this week, the company would still be on a time crunch to properly promote and sell tickets mere weeks before day 1.
Even this best case scenario is highly unlikely. Paper reports that major agencies have not been contacted to book artists for the festival. Dream Downtown, who provided the venue in 2015 not does have any agreement with CMJ to use their property this year. CMJ’s notion that the Music Marathon will “absolutely happen” is questionable at best.
CMJ Music Marathon has been running longer than any of its peers – the event has come to New York City every Fall without fail for the past 35 years. CMJ Holdings, Corp. is a music event and online media company that runs a website, hosts its annual festival in New York City, and for years published CMJ New Music Monthly, which promoted upcoming artists.
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