The Gathering
The Gathering Group is a Chicago-based live event production company that creates and operates five proprietary music festival brands, serving consumer ticket buyers, corporate sponsors, and performing artists across events in Chicago and Miami.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Gathering does
The Gathering Group is a Chicago-based, privately held live event production company founded in 2013 that creates and operates a portfolio of five proprietary music festival brands: Future Sound Music Festival (Chicago's first river-front festival), Snowstorm Winter Music & Arts Festival (Chicago's first winter EDM festival, held at Navy Pier), Afterburn (official after-party of The Great Chicago Fire Festival at Redmoon Theater), Afterhours (a private show series produced with Techweek Chicago), and Black Tie Rave Miami (a poolside event during Ultra weekend). The company's technology stack centers on experiential event production rather than software, featuring integrated 3D concert experiences (Morgan Page's MPP3D), RFID ticketing, and projection technology, with theatrical spectacle provided through a core partnership with Redmoon Theater.
The business model is event-driven: revenue is generated primarily through one-time ticket sales across the festival portfolio and sponsorship packages sold in tiers (Presenting, Stage, Food/Beverage, Collateral, Custom) to brand partners including Red Bull, Lagunitas Brewing, Deep Eddy Vodka, Boxed Water, and ChicagoMusic.org. Distribution runs through dedicated festival websites, physical venue partnerships (Merchandise Mart, Navy Pier, Redmoon Theater, American Junkie, South Beach Miami), email newsletters, and a multi-platform social media presence. Customer segments span consumer ticket buyers, corporate sponsors, performing artists (recruited through an open talent submission form), and event volunteers, with no disclosed recurring-revenue or enterprise contract structure.
The company operates with a lean team of fewer than ten people and no disclosed institutional funding, relying on organic operations and event-level economics. Marketing is brand-led across five festival sub-brands, supported by earned media coverage in outlets such as Huffington Post, Edm Assassin, and Why So Chi. The data indicates geographic concentration in the Midwest (primarily Chicago) with a single-event extension into Miami, and no post-2015 product launches or scale signals in the available sources.
The Gathering firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Gathering
- Legal name
- The Gathering Group
- Website
- https://thegatheringgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Gathering Group is a Chicago-based live event production company that creates and operates five proprietary music festival brands, serving consumer ticket buyers, corporate sponsors, and performing artists across events in Chicago and Miami.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Gathering industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Music Festival Production
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Music Festival Organizers & Promoters (MPAGAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Festival & Event Producers/Organizers (MPAIAFAC)
Keywords
Where The Gathering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Gathering business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Event Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from selling tickets to their music festivals and events including Future Sound, Snowstorm, Afterburn, Afterhours, and Black Tie Rave
- Event Sponsorships: Partnerships with brands for sponsorship opportunities including Presenting Sponsor, Stage Sponsor, Food/Beverage Sponsor, Collateral, and Custom Opportunities. Sponsors gain exposure to thousands of festival-goers.
- Festival Brand Licensing: Development and scaling of proprietary festival brands like Future Sound Festival, Snowstorm Winter Music and Arts Festival, and Afterburn
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
The Gathering product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Gathering Group is a Chicago-based live event production company that creates large-scale music festivals and experiential events by integrating technology into in-person experiences. Its product portfolio consists of five proprietary event brands — Snowstorm Winter Music & Arts Festival, Future Sound Music Festival, Afterburn, Afterhours, and Black Tie Rave Miami — featuring world-class DJs and artists across electronic, alternative, rock, hip-hop, and pop genres at venues including Navy Pier, Merchandise Mart, Redmoon Theater, and South Beach Miami. Revenue is generated through consumer ticket sales and tiered corporate sponsorship packages.
Product overview
The Gathering Group is a live events production company that creates large-scale music festivals and experiential events. Their product portfolio consists of five distinct event brands: Snowstorm (winter EDM festival), Future Sound (summer outdoor music festival), Afterburn (house music warehouse after-party), Afterhours (private Techweek shows), and Black Tie Rave Miami (Ultra weekend poolside event). The company integrates technology into live events to deliver experiential in-person experiences, featuring world-class DJs and electronic artists across various venues in Chicago and Miami.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Snowstorm Winter Music and Arts Festival: Chicago's first winter EDM festival held at Navy Pier, featuring electronic music performances with Redmoon spectacles.
- Future Sound Music Festival
- Afterburn
- Afterhours
- Black Tie Rave Miami
Products and services
- Snowstorm Winter Music & Arts Festival Chicago's first winter EDM festival held at Navy Pier, featuring electronic dance music performances, Redmoon theatrical spectacles, and lakeside views for EDM enthusiasts seeking winter festival experiences.
- Future Sound Music Festival Three-day outdoor summer music festival at the South Drive of the Merchandise Mart, featuring world-class indie and electronic acts. First river-front festival in Chicago, showcasing artists like Eric Prydz, St. Lucia, and Morgan Page's 3-D show.
- Afterburn Official after party of The Great Chicago Fire Festival held at Redmoon Theater warehouse venue. Showcases house music paying homage to Chicago's roots at The Warehouse (1977), featuring performances by Goldroom and Dani Deahl with Redmoon pyrotechnic spectacles.
- Afterhours Private show series for Techweek Chicago attendees featuring high-profile EDM artists at American Junkie venue in Chicago's River North neighborhood. Known for powerful sound that resonated throughout the streets.
- Black Tie Rave Miami Poolside rave event held during Ultra weekend in Miami, featuring Brazilian DJ Thiago Mansur and Dutch songstress Elise van der Hourst. Benefits Endeavor and Miami Dade County Public Schools.
Quantifiable outcome
- First river-front festival in Chicago - Future Sound at South Drive of Merchandise Mart
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Gathering
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Gathering technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Gathering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- EndeavorminorBlack Tie Rave Miami benefited Endeavor as a charitable cause during Ultra weekend 2014.
- Miami Dade County Public SchoolsminorBlack Tie Rave Miami benefited Miami Dade County Public Schools as a charitable cause during Ultra weekend 2014.
- Redmoon TheatercoreRedmoon Theater is a key venue and production partner for Afterburn and Snowstorm events. They provide unique theatrical spectacles including pyrotechnics, aerialists, and puppetry that integrate with the musical performances. Redmoon's mission aligns with transforming city experiences through large-scale theatrical events.
- Techweek ChicagocorePartnership for producing Afterhours events during Techweek conferences. The Gathering Group produced Techweek Afterhours featuring Calvin Harris, which was named a Top 10 EDM Event in Chicago 2013 by Huffington Post.
- Boxed WaterminorSponsor for Future Sound 2014 festival.
- ChicagoMusic.orgminorSponsor for Future Sound 2014 festival.
- Deep Eddy VodkaminorSponsor for Future Sound 2014 festival.
- Lagunitas Brewing Co.minorSponsor for Future Sound 2014 festival.
- Red BullminorSponsor for Future Sound 2014 festival.
- American JunkiecoreVenue partner for Techweek Afterhours events featuring Calvin Harris. The venue hosted events that could be heard throughout the streets of River North.
- The Great Chicago Fire FestivalcoreAfterburn serves as the official after party of The Great Chicago Fire Festival, filling Redmoon Theater to capacity with partygoers.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Gathering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- North Coast Music Festival: Chicago-based music festival held at Northerly Island; comparable as a Midwest multi-genre music festival competing for similar attendees and sponsors.
- Riot Fest: Chicago-based annual music festival; operates in the same city as TGG and competes for summer festival audiences, sponsors, and venue resources.
Broad incumbents
- Insomniac Events: Largest US electronic music festival operator (EDC, Beyond Wonderland, Countdown); comparable in producing tech-integrated, multi-brand EDM festival experiences at much larger scale.
- Live Nation Entertainment: Largest global live entertainment promoter; competes for headliners, venues, and sponsorship dollars, and is the parent of Festival Republic which operates Lollapalooza in Chicago — TGG's home market.
- Ultra Music Festival: Miami-based flagship EDM festival driving Ultra-weekend demand that TGG's Black Tie Rave Miami explicitly capitalizes on; the dominant incumbent TGG orbits around in Miami.
- AEG Presents: Major live entertainment promoter and venue operator (Coachella, Stagecoach); broad incumbent competitor for headliner talent and corporate sponsorship budgets.
- C3 Presents: Festival operator behind Austin City Limits and Lollapalooza Chicago; direct competitor for Chicago summer festival share and for sponsorship partners.
Direct peers
- React Presents: Chicago-based electronic dance music promoter producing Spring Awakening, Mamby on the Beach, and other EDM festivals; most directly comparable peer given same geography and genre focus.
- Disco Donnie Presents: US-based electronic music festival promoter producing events in multiple cities including Miami (Ultra-weekend adjacent events); comparable in producing boutique EDM festivals with national touring headliners.
Others
- Redmoon Theater: Chicago-based theatrical production company that is both a strategic partner and peer-adjacent producer of large-scale city spectacles; comparable because TGG integrates Redmoon's theatrical IP into its festivals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Gathering social profiles
Digital presenceThe Gathering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Gathering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The Gathering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Gathering M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Gathering
What does The Gathering do?
The Gathering Group is a Chicago-based live event production company that creates large-scale music festivals and experiential events by integrating technology into in-person experiences. Its product portfolio consists of five proprietary event brands — Snowstorm Winter Music & Arts Festival, Future Sound Music Festival, Afterburn, Afterhours, and Black Tie Rave Miami — featuring world-class DJs and artists across electronic, alternative, rock, hip-hop, and pop genres at venues including Navy Pier, Merchandise Mart, Redmoon Theater, and South Beach Miami. Revenue is generated through consumer ticket sales and tiered corporate sponsorship packages.
Is The Gathering a public or private company?
The Gathering is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Gathering founded?
The Gathering was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Gathering based?
The Gathering is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Gathering make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Event Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are event Sponsorships and festival Brand Licensing.
Who are The Gathering's main competitors?
Regional players on record are North Coast Music Festival and Riot Fest. Broad incumbents are Insomniac Events, Live Nation Entertainment, Ultra Music Festival, AEG Presents and C3 Presents. Direct peers are React Presents and Disco Donnie Presents. Redmoon Theater is listed as an others.
Does The Gathering have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Gathering.
What industry is The Gathering in?
The Gathering's product category is Live Music Festival Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAAAB, Music Festival Organizers & Promoters, with a secondary code of MPAIAFAC, Festival & Event Producers/Organizers. Its NAICS code is 711320 and its SIC code is 7990.