The New York City-based CMJ Music Marathon is seeking to comeback in 2020, according to a recent Tweet posted on the organization’s Twitter page, and a statement released to music outlets. According to Pitchfork, set of new organizers have stated in an email that the organization’s former CEO Adam Klein. who was forced to pay former employees over half a million dollars last year over unpaid wages, is no longer involved with the company
“We cannot wait to be back… and we are really looking forward to explaining everything … but we’re sorry to say that, right now, we can’t lift the lid any further,” the email signed by “The Mystery new CMJ Management people,” read. “We promise to let you know, as soon as we can, what is going on and what we have planned. Shouldn’t be long.”
CMJ Music Marathon first launched in 1978, and ran until 2016 when Klein was sued over unpaid wages by several employees working the festival. CMJ was originally founded in 1978 by Robert Haber as the College Media Journal a trade magazine that hosted influential college radio charts, which were crucial to the development of independent and alternative music during the 80’s and 90’s. The organization originally ran the festival until 2015, a year after Klein purchased CMJ, and stopped publishing its charts in 2017.
The festival itself originally ran over five days, and hosted at various times over 1000 artists and served in celebration of music, film, and technology. Prominent artists who have performed at the event in the past include Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eminem, Sonic Youth, Lady Gaga, Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie, Tribe Called Quest, Run DMC, and R.E.M.
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