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yesterday

Jonathan Mayers, Bonnaroo and Outside Lands Co-Founder, Dies at 51

Bonnaroo organizers will honor his transformative imprint on live events next week.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed attends Clusterfest on June 21, 2019.
Amy Poehler performs onstage at Clusterfest on June 21, 2019 in San Francisco.
Third Eye Blind performs on the Colossal Stage during Clusterfest at Civic Center Plaza and The Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on June 1, 2018 in San Francisco.
Attendees at the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on August 23, 2008.

Overview

  • Mayers co-founded Superfly Entertainment in 1996 and helped launch Bonnaroo in 2002, setting the blueprint for modern multi-day music festivals.
  • He partnered with Another Planet Entertainment to open Outside Lands in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park in 2008, integrating arts and TV-show-style immersive experiences.
  • His departure from Superfly in 2021 led to a 2022 lawsuit alleging breach of contract, which was dismissed by a judge in early 2023.
  • At the time of his death, he was developing Core City Detroit, a planned mixed-use venue aimed at supporting artists with performance and dining spaces.
  • Industry figures have lauded his visionary impact on live events, and Bonnaroo 2025 will proceed next week in his honor despite the undisclosed cause of death.