What Marathon Live does

Marathon Live is a Nashville-based venue management and live entertainment operating company that owns, operates, and consults for independent mid-size live music venues, primarily in the 1,000-2,500 capacity range. Founded in 2011 by Josh Billue with the opening of Marathon Music Works in Nashville, the company has expanded to a portfolio of 7 owned/operated venues across 7 cities (Nashville, Kansas City, Chattanooga, Little Rock, St. Louis, Jacksonville, and Jacksonville Beach) and one facility management client (Tulips FTW in Fort Worth).

The company's service offering spans the full operating stack for live entertainment venues: talent buying and programming (with risk-based deal structuring), marketing (digital ads, street teaming, and promoter coordination), ticketing operations (across all major platforms, now standardized on AXS portfolio-wide), live production (sound and lighting), F&B operations, consulting and strategy, and pre-construction through construction services for 500-3,000 capacity projects. Its underlying technology is described in operational terms — venue management platforms, ticketing infrastructure, and production equipment — rather than proprietary software; the model is relationship-driven, leveraging the leadership team's industry pedigree (CEO Mark Dinerstein's prior roles at LiveCo, Knitting Factory Presents, and Clear Channel/PACE) and a centralized back office serving distributed venues.

Marathon Live generates revenue through six streams: (1) venue operations (ticket sales, F&B, venue rentals for concerts, private events, weddings, galas, and corporate events), (2) facility management service fees, (3) talent buying and programming fees, (4) live production service fees, (5) consulting and strategy engagement fees, and (6) construction and market research service fees. Pricing is custom and quote-based, not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market combines owned/operated venue showcases (which demonstrate capabilities and attract artist and corporate bookings), direct enterprise sales to venue owners and developers, and channel partnerships (AXS for ticketing). In July 2025 the company was acquired by Mark Dinerstein Consulting and JPB Partners, with explicit strategic intent to grow via facility acquisition, ground-up construction, and rolling out management services nationwide.

Name

Marathon Live

Legal name

Marathon Live

Website

https://marathon.live

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Marathon Live is a Nashville-based venue management and live entertainment operating company that owns, operates, and provides facility management services to independent mid-size live music venues (primarily 1,000-2,500 capacity) across 7 U.S. cities, serving touring artists, corporate event clients, and venue developers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Entertainment Venue Management

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB), Event Promotion & Talent Buying (Promoters) (MPAGAJAC), Touring & Production Services (Staging, Lighting, Sound, Video) (MPAIAFAF), Live Event Ticketing (Concerts, Festivals, Comedy) (HSACALAA), Live Event Marketing, Sponsorship & Brand Partnerships (MPAIAFAI)

Keywords

• Live music venue management
• Facility management services
• Talent buying services
• Event production services
• Venue consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Venue Operations: Marathon Live operates its own portfolio of live music and event facilities, generating revenue through ticket sales, venue rentals, food and beverage operations, and event hosting. Revenue is derived from concerts, private events, weddings, galas, fundraisers, and trade shows held at their venues.
2. Facility Management Services: Full-service facility management for existing venues in the 1,000-2,500 capacity range. Services include risk-based and non-risk talent buying, general consultation, operations, sponsorship, marketing, ticketing, production design, food and beverage operations, facility development, facility renovation and preservation. Revenue is generated through management fees and service contracts.
3. Talent Buying & Programming: Talent buying team handles booking for venues, advising ownership groups, installing cash and risk management systems, and securing talent across various facility types. Revenue generated through talent buying fees and promoter liaison services.
4. Live Production: World-class production team provides sound and lighting services for touring artists and private event clients at venues. Revenue is generated through production service fees.
5. Consulting & Strategy: Executive team provides consulting services for facility operations, real estate and construction development, short and long term business strategy, and hybrid scenarios. Revenue through consulting engagement fees.
6. Construction & Market Research: Team provides services from initial planning and pre-construction to design, entitlements, licensing, construction, and FF&E for new venue development (500-3,000 capacity). Market research services analyze growth patterns, development trends, and demographic data for facility location decisions.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Marathon Live operates a portfolio of independently owned and operated live music and event venues across seven U.S. cities. Beyond venue operations, the company provides full-service facility management, talent buying, marketing, ticketing, live production, consulting and strategy, and construction and market research services to third-party venues and developers through its Facilities Management Division.

Product overview

Marathon Live is a full-service facility management, promoter, and operating company for live music and event venues. The company operates a portfolio of owned/operated venues including Marathon Music Works (Nashville), The Truman (Kansas City), The Signal (Chattanooga), The Hall (Little Rock), The Hawthorn (St. Louis), FIVE (Jacksonville), and Kicker's Saloon (Jacksonville Beach). The portfolio spans capacities from 500 to 3,000, primarily serving the 1,000-2,500 capacity sector. In addition to venue operations, Marathon Live offers modular services including Talent Buying, Marketing, Ticketing, Live Production, Consulting & Strategy, and Construction & Market Research. The company also launched a Facilities Management Division in October 2025 offering these services to external venues nationwide, with Tulips FTW in Fort Worth as its first client.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Marathon Music Works A live music and event venue located in Nashville, TN, originally an early 1900s auto manufacturing plant converted into a concert venue. Opened in 2011, it is one of the last independently owned and operated venues in Nashville.
• The Truman A live music and event venue located in Kansas City, MO, part of Marathon Live's portfolio since 2017 expansion.
• The Signal A live music and event venue located in Chattanooga, TN, part of Marathon Live's portfolio since 2018 expansion, with a third event space opening in the former Choo Choo Convention Center in Summer 2026.
• The Hall A live music and event venue located in Little Rock, AR, part of Marathon Live's venue portfolio since 2021.
• The Hawthorn A live music and event venue located in St. Louis, MO, part of Marathon Live's venue portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• Venues maintain profitability while creating unique live experiences and being assets to their communities
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• AXScoreTechnology or Integration · 3 June 2026AXS has partnered with Marathon Live to provide ticketing platform, technology, and tools across the company's portfolio of independent venues. The partnership allows venues to maintain operational independence while benefiting from AXS's ticketing infrastructure. The partnership covers Marathon Live venues in Nashville, Chattanooga, Little Rock, Jacksonville, Kansas City, and St. Louis.
• Tulips FTWflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2025Tulips FTW is a 550-capacity state-of-the-art live music venue in Fort Worth, Texas, located in the Near Southside neighborhood. It is Marathon Live's first Facilities Management Division client. The partnership allows Tulips FTW to access Marathon Live's network of artists, talent buying expertise, and operational support while maintaining its local music scene identity.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Live Nation Entertainment: World's largest live entertainment company and venue operator (House of Blues, Fillmore, Brooklyn Bowl, etc.), with full vertical integration across ticketing (Ticketmaster), artist management, and sponsorship. The dominant broad incumbent in Marathon Live's addressable market and the principal competitive force shaping touring-routing economics.
• AEG Presents: Second-largest live music promoter and venue operator globally, with major venues and festivals (Coachella, The Bowery Presents portfolio, etc.). A direct broad incumbent to Marathon Live — competing for touring artist routing, talent buying, and venue acquisitions across U.S. markets.
• Bowery Presents: Independent-minded venue operator/promoter (now part of AEG Presents) running venues like Brooklyn Bowl, Music Hall of Williamsburg, and Webster Hall. Highly comparable to Marathon Live's multi-venue indie operator model, though now under AEG's broader umbrella.
• Ryman Hospitality Properties: Nashville-based hospitality REIT and venue owner/operator (Ryman Auditorium, Grand Ole Opry, Ole Red). Adjacent broad incumbent: a much larger, publicly traded peer owning marquee Nashville live-music real estate with a hotel/F&B integration that Marathon Live aspires to in the venue-economics category.
• C3 Presents: Austin-based live event producer and promoter behind Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and a portfolio of festivals and venues, now part of Live Nation. Comparable as a talent-buying and event-promotion operator, though focused more on festival-scale events than ongoing club/venue operations.

Direct peers

• Knitting Factory Entertainment: Independent live-music venue operator and promoter with a portfolio of mid-sized venues. Highly comparable: Marathon Live CEO Mark Dinerstein is the former President of Knitting Factory Presents, and the business model — multi-venue indie operator with talent buying — closely mirrors Marathon Live's playbook.
• First Avenue Productions: Legendary Minneapolis-based independent venue operator running First Avenue, 7th St Entry, and other clubs. Direct peer in scale, ethos, and capacity range, and explicitly mentioned alongside Marathon Live in AXS's 2026 independent-venue coalition announcement.
• I.M.P. (9:30 Club): Washington, D.C.-based independent venue operator running the 9:30 Club, The Anthem, and Lincoln Theatre. A direct peer in the 1,000-2,500 capacity indie venue operator category with comparable artist pull and operating philosophy.
• PromoWest Productions: Columbus, Ohio-based independent promoter and venue operator (Newport Music Hall, Express Live!, A&R Music Bar). Operates in the same 1,000-2,500 capacity sweet spot and has a comparable talent-buying and venue-management structure.

Emerging players

• Daydream State: Emerging independent venue management and consulting firm targeting the mid-sized live music segment. Highly comparable to Marathon Live's Facilities Management Division value proposition — providing operational, talent buying, and consulting services to indie venues without requiring ownership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marathon-live
• Xx.com/marathonlivemgt
• Facebookfacebook.com/MarathonLiveMGT

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Marathon Live