Firefly Music Festival Sold To AEG; Red Frog CEO Says Event Is In Good Hands

Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for Firefly – Firefly 2018
Odesza performs at Firefly Music Festival 2018 June 17.

AEG Presents has bought out Red Frog Events’ shares of Firefly Music Festival, which for the last four years has been co-produced by the two companies at Dover International Speedway in Delaware. 

“We had one of the best years in Firefly’s history and had an opportunity to sell our interest to AEG, allowing us to focus on growth opportunities outside of music festivals,”  Red Frog Events founder and CEO Joe Reynolds told Pollstar in a statement. “Red Frog has been known for being innovators in the event industry, having pioneered the obstacle course racing industry with Warrior Dash, and launching one of the most successful music festivals in the country with Firefly, which we now leave in good hands with AEG.  We’re confident Firefly is going to be successful for years to come and we’re excited to focus Red Frog’s efforts on innovating new segments within the event industry.”

The festival’s seventh edition recently concluded, with featured artists The Killers, Kendrick Lamar, and Arctic Monkeys.

The Delaware News Journal broke the story, reporting that Firefly co-founder Stephanie Mezzano, who had been president of operations for Red Frog Events, has joined AEG Presents and will stay on as festival director. She’ll be joined by about 10 other Red Frog employees, according to the paper.

Alicia Karlin, a vice president and senior event producer for Madison House Presents in partnership with AEG, will become Firefly’s talent buyer. She also books Electric Forest in Michigan.

Few changes are expected for Firefly thanks to the acquisition, though it is moving its 2019 dates to June 20-23 in response to Bonnaroo’s move to Father’s Day weekend, the paper reports.

Firefly joins Goldenvoice’s festival portfolio that includes the mammoth Coachella and Stagecoach festivals in Indio, among others. 

Pollstar has reached out to AEG Presents for additional comment.