What is Insomniac?
A Look Inside the Corporate Company Driving the EDM Industry.
Insomniac has become a global leader in the electronic dance music (EDM) industry, transforming it into a worldwide phenomenon. Founded by Pasquale Rotella in 1993, Insomniac started with small, local events and has since expanded to massive festivals like Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), which attracts hundreds of thousands of fans globally. Known for its innovative production, diverse artist lineups, and immersive experiences, Insomniac has set new standards for music festivals, influencing both music and pop culture. A closer look at their business operations reveals how strategic decisions have shaped the EDM scene, highlighting the creativity and hard work behind their success.
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Overview
Insomniac started back in 1992 when Pasquale Rotella threw his first warehouse party at age 17. In 1993, he threw his first real Insomniac Event in Los Angeles where the brand originated. In 1995, Insomniac threw their first festival, Nocturnal Wonderland, which is the longest running EDM Festival to date. Additionally, EDC first debuted in 1997 at Expo Hall, eventually moving to Las Vegas in 2011.
Insomniac Events
Insomniac owns some of the best clubs in the world including; Academy LA, Club Space, Factory Town, and Echostage. However, they also own the biggest U.S. festivals including Nocturnal Wonderland which has been running for nearly 30 years, (See All Below)
Insomniac Records
Insomniac Records is their record label that was developed to work with the Discovery Project. The label not only targeted established talent but also upcoming artists. The label features tracks from Tiesto, Mau P, Odd Mob, and more!
Insomniac Radio (Dash Radio)
Night Owl Radio was first introduced in 2015. After 150 episodes it transitioned to Dash Radio under the management of Insomniac.
The Discovery Project
The Discovery Project is submission-based platform was first introduced in 2012. The Discovery Project was introduced by Insomniac to find talented dance music artists.
Insomniac Cares
Night Owl Radio was first introduced in 2015. After 150 episodes it transitioned to Dash Radio under the management of Insomniac.
Insomniac Nightclubs & Festivals
Electric Daisy Carnival
EDC Las Vegas is arguably the biggest and best music festival the U.S. has to offer fans. However since its debut festival in 1997, it has grown to be an international event with several locations. Before its expansion to Las Vegas, Electric Daisy Carnival was held at Thunderhill Raceway in Austin, TX, San Juan Puerto Rico back in 2009, and even London! The introduction of EDCLV in 2011 generated over $1.5 Billion for the Las Vegas economy when EDC Week was officially announced as a holiday week. Additionally, in 2019 it officially became the largest EDM Festival in the world with 465,000 in attendance.
Nocturnal Wonderland
Nocturnal Wonderland is the longest running EDM Festival in America which happens in the fall! It’s first installment dates back to 1995. Eventually this festival developed a sister festival in Beyond Wonderland. In 2000 Nocturnal Wonderland set a world record with 40,000 attends at Empire Polo Field in California.
Beyond Wonderland
Beyond Wonderland was created as a brother/ sister festival to Nocturnal Wonderland. This annual festival happens ever spring in a number of different locations in the U.S. The newest location being Chicago, which debuted in 2024. The most popular location is at The Gorge in Washington. The first Beyond Wonderland in 2010 sold out, and was hosted in San Bernadino, CA.
Escape from Wonderland
Escape from Wonderland, now titled Escape Halloween, is another spin off of the original Nocturnal Wonderland. The festival started in 2011, and is now hosted annually in the last week of October.
Day Trip
Held on the patio of Academy LA in Hollywood, these day parties have become a tradition for house music fans. In 2021, Day Trip took things to the next level with the first-ever Day Trip Festival, a two-day, two-stage event in Southern California. Its nighttime counterpart, Night Trip, brings the same house music passion to the clubs, keeping the energy high until late hours.
Forbidden Kingdom
Founded in South Florida in 2019, Forbidden Kingdom has quickly established itself as one of the largest bass music festivals. Partnering with Insomniac in 2020, it now features over 100 artists across four stages. Forbidden Kingdom offers The Forbidden Tale, which details the ancient conflict among the Forbidden Kingdom. The festival inspires the medieval fantasy themes found throughout the event, including stage designs and art installations. Step into this magical world where music and fantasy merge, and experience the enchanting power of Forbidden Kingdom.
BOO!
Insomniac’s BOO! Halloween first debuted in New York in 2014. Since, it has delivered spine-chilling sounds of dubstep, house, trap, and more to various locations across the US, including Southern California, San Francisco, Arizona, Orlando, and Dallas. The 2021 debut in Seattle expanded BOO! into a full three-stage festival, so keep an eye out, it might haunt a city near you soon…
HARD Summer
Since its debut in 2007, HARD Summer has earned a reputation as one of the West Coast’s most popular dance music events. Past lineups featured legends like Skrillex B2B Four Tet, The Weeknd, Virgil Abloh, Kaytranada, Megan Thee Stallion, Major Lazer, and Disclosure. Furthermore, it’s no surprise that HARD Summer has made a lasting impact on the North American festival circuit.
Countdown NYE
Since 2015, EDM fans have gathered each year for what has become the largest New Year’s Eve celebration on the West Coast: Countdown NYE. Whether you’re looking to groove to some space tunes or hoping for an otherworldly experience, Countdown is the place to be on New Year’s Eve.
Project Glow
Project GLOW launched in Spring 2022, and now offers ravers a unique experience with three custom stages and a lineup of globally recognized artists. Fans can look forward to more from this exciting partnership and the Project GLOW brand in the coming years. This past lineup featured Zedd B2B Knock2!
Electric Forest
Since 2011, Electric Forest has gained a reputation for bringing together passionate fans whose sense of community creates a unique festival experience. At the heart of Electric Forest lies the beloved Sherwood Forest, where fans gather during the day among hundreds of hammocks draped between trees and art installations. By night, Sherwood Forest transforms with jaw-dropping light displays, secret parties, and surprises around every corner. Thus making E Forest “the most well-produced and artistically inspired area ever seen at a music festival.”
Dreamstate
Dreamstate was first debuted in 2015 when EDM started to become more mainstream internationally. Dreamstate was created as a Trance festival, when Tiesto had the scene in the palm of his hand. Originally, this festival was hosted in Australia and the UK, but quickly expanded to the U.S.
Apocalypse
Apocalypse Fest emerges as the hottest and most exhilarating bass festival in Southern California. Presented by Bassrush, this extraordinary event harnesses the power of bass music to save the world. Taking place over two days in November, Apocalypse: Zombieland features four massive stages of bass that hold the key to salvaging our world. In this dark era, Apocalypse Fest becomes more than just an escape; it stands as a symbol of resilience and the triumphant spirit of humanity.
Lost in Dreams
Lost In Dreams is a recent addition to the Insomniac universe, established in 2021 as both a new festival and a dedicated record label. It aims to showcase the best in future bass, melodic dubstep, and vocal-driven dance music, spotlighting the next generation of producers and DJs.
Basscon
Launched in 2013, Basscon has become the epicenter of hard dance genres, from hard house and euphoric hardstyle to rawstyle, hardcore, and uptempo. As the largest hard dance promoter in North America, Basscon has carved out a significant presence in the scene. The brand has found a home at various Insomniac festivals, notably the renowned Wasteland stage at EDC Las Vegas, and has collaborated with bass music brand Bassrush on the multi-day Project Z festival.
Insomniac’s Impact
Insomniac has undoubtably pioneered and developed the EDM Community, and commercializing the genre. Although they often get backlash for monopolizing the industry, they have done more for the industry than anyone. Without Insomniac, the festival scene in America would not be where it is at, let alone the EDM Community in it’s entirety.
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