CEO Danny Hayes Parts Ways With Danny Wimmer Presents

Danny Hayes has announced he’s parting ways with festival producer and talent buyer Danny Wimmer Presents, for which he’s served as CEO and run in partnership with Danny Wimmer for the last 10 years.

“After 10 incredible years, Wimmer and I have made the difficult decision to part ways,” Hayes shared on LinkedIn and other social media platforms on Sunday. “This wasn’t easy but we both knew the time was right. Wimmer has bought out my shares and will continue leading DWP into the future. I have nothing but love, respect and appreciation for him, and I know he will continue to do great things.”

DWP founder Danny Wimmer provided a statement to Pollstar regarding the news, saying, “Since day one, my vision has been to create the best rock festival experience possible—for our fans, the bands, and the communities we serve. Breakups are never easy, especially when there’s history and heart involved. I’m grateful for the time Danny and I had building DWP together and wish him nothing but success in whatever comes next. The DWP team remains laser-focused on delivering world-class festivals and continuing to elevate the live music experience.”

Hayes, a longtime business advisor and attorney for DWP founder Wimmer, was appointed CEO of the company in 2015, a period during which the company grew into one of the largest independent live music companies in the United States, expanding its festival portfolio and bolstering offerings in talent buying, sponsorship and branding sales and in-house food service and catering operations.

In early 2020, the company announced a partnership with Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa companies as DWP continued to add events and solidify its presence in markets including Sacramento, California, which added the Golden Sky country festival to complement the long-running and growing Aftershock rock festival, and in Louisville, continue to grow the Bourbon & Beyond multi-genre music and spirits-themed festival to complement the Louder Than Life rock festival.

DWP representatives said this year’s festival attendance totaled more than 1 million, with attendance records set at festivals including Bourbon & Beyond, which saw 60,000 people onsite for its Saturday night headlined by Zach Bryan.

The company has continued to expand its talent buying division, DWP Talent Services, led by Del Williams, adding contracts including Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut and Mercedes Benz Amphitheater in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

This year’s Bourbon & Beyond festival is nominated for Festival of the Year at upcoming Pollstar Awards.