Pasquale Rotella
Quick Facts
Biography
Insomniac is an American electronic music event promoter. 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. 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, and in 2014, introduced a co-branded record label in partnership with Interscope Geffen A&M,
Overview and partnerships
By contrast to other promoters, Insomniac places a larger emphasis on fan experiences during its events, as opposed to focusing on profits and ticket sales, and that "our strength lies in the movement as a whole. It’s a culture. It’s powerful. It’s always been about the people that attend. It changes people’s lives.” Rotella has contended that music festivals do 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 major "creative partnership" with Live Nation that would allow Insomniac to take advantage of Live Nation's resources, while still retaining autonomy and creative control over its events. While specifics of the deal were not revealed, Rotella emphasized that the deal was not an acquisition, as had been speculated.Since 1993, Insomniac has produced over 2,000 festivals attended by over 5 Million people.
Insomniac Records
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.
Events
- Audiotistic Music Festival (SoCal, SF)
- Bassrush Massive
- Bay Nites
- Beyond Wonderland
- Boo!
- Countdown
- Crush (SoCal, SF, Phoenix, Dallas)
- Dreamstate
- Electric Daisy Carnival (UK, India, New York, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Brazil discontinued)
- Electric Forest
- Escape:Psycho Circus (formerly Escape From Wonderland)
- Hard (music festival)
- Holy Ship!
- Middle Lands
- Nocturnal Wonderland
- Project Z
- Together as One (discontinued)
- We Are NRG
- White Wonderland (discontinued)
Related media
- Electric Daisy Carnival (2000 album)
- Electric Daisy Carnival, Vol. 1 (2010 album)
- Electric Daisy Carnival Experience (2011 film)
- "Under the Electric Sky" (2013 film)