The Electric Factory: Ownership And Legacy In Philadelphia

who owns the electric factory in philadelphia

The Electric Factory, a music venue in Philadelphia, has had several owners since its opening in 1968. Sheldon Kaplan, Herbert Spivak, and his brothers Jerry and Allen Spivak were the original owners. They hired Larry Magid to book shows, and he later became a partner. In 1995, Magid and Adam Spivak reopened the Electric Factory in a new location. In 2018, the venue was sold to The Bowery Presents, a subsidiary of the entertainment company AEG, and renamed North Seventh. The Bowery Presents and AEG manage several music venues and promote concerts and festivals worldwide.

Characteristics Values
Previous owners Larry Magid Entertainment Group
Larry Magid
Adam Spivak
Current owner The Bowery Presents
Parent company of The Bowery Presents AEG
Year of acquisition 2018
Capacity 2,500 to 3,000

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The Bowery Presents acquires Electric Factory

The Bowery Presents, a New York-based concert promotion and venue management company, has acquired the Electric Factory, an iconic music venue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Electric Factory, which first opened its doors in 1968, has played a significant role in shaping the city's rich musical heritage. Over the years, it has hosted legendary artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Prince, and Bruce Springsteen.

The Bowery Presents, through a valued partnership with R5 Productions, has previously opened venues such as Union Transfer in 2011 and Boot & Saddle in 2013. In 2016, The Bowery Presents merged with AEG Presents, a leading live music company, expanding its reach to venues like the Mann Center for the Performing Arts and Keswick Theatre in Philadelphia. The acquisition of the Electric Factory adds to their growing portfolio of venues in the city, ranging from intimate 150-capacity spaces to large-scale venues that can accommodate up to 14,000 people.

The Electric Factory was previously owned by Larry Magid and Adam Spivak, who operated the venue for 24 years. Magid and Spivak expressed their gratitude to the fans, employees, and artists who graced the stage during their ownership. They highlighted the venue's impact on Philadelphia's music scene and their ongoing ventures in the music industry.

With this acquisition, The Bowery Presents aims to honour the history of the Electric Factory while continuing to book top-tier acts. They plan to maintain the current aesthetic of the venue and ensure a seamless transition without disruptions to existing programming. The Bowery Presents is known for its reputation in developing artists and offering diverse live music experiences to fans across small and large venues.

The Electric Factory, with a capacity of 2,500 to 3,000 people, has been temporarily renamed "North Seventh" due to trademark issues with Live Nation, which owns the venue's trademark and logos. A public naming contest was held to crowdsource a new permanent name for the venue, with the winner receiving complimentary tickets to shows at the venue through 2020.

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AEG and Live Nation's turf war

The Electric Factory, a popular music venue in Philadelphia, was sold to concert promoter AEG in 2018. The venue has hosted performances by artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Radiohead, Lady Gaga, and David Bowie.

AEG, one of the world's largest live music companies, has been involved in a turf war with Live Nation, another prominent player in the live entertainment industry. The rivalry between the two companies dates back to 2008, when negotiations to merge ticketing company Ticketmaster with MSG and AEG fell through. The following year, Ticketmaster merged with Live Nation, with the combined company becoming a significant competitor to AEG.

The animosity between the two companies intensified in 2017, with AEG initiating a booking policy that required artists who wanted to perform at the O2 Arena in London, owned by AEG, to also play at the Staples Center in LA instead of the Forum, controlled by MSG Entertainment. This was seen as a response to MSG's policy of requiring acts to perform at the Forum to secure dates at Madison Square Garden.

The turf war between AEG and Live Nation has also involved allegations of anti-competitive practices. In 2018, the United States Department of Justice launched an investigation following allegations by AEG that Live Nation pressured them into using Ticketmaster and avoided booking acts for AEG venues. Live Nation denied these claims, stating that their venue selections were based on size and management considerations.

Both AEG and Live Nation have continued to expand their global presence and portfolios, acquiring various venues, production companies, and entertainment entities. The rivalry between the two companies has shaped the live entertainment industry, with both seeking to attract the biggest artists and offer the best experiences to fans worldwide.

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The history of Electric Factory

The Electric Factory, a standing-room-only concert hall in Philadelphia, was first opened in 1968 by Sheldon Kaplan, Herbert Spivak, his brothers Jerry and Allen Spivak, and Larry Magid. The original location was a converted tire warehouse on the corner of 22nd and Arch Streets. The Spivak brothers and Magid also founded Electric Factory Concerts, a concert promotion firm, in the same year.

In 1969, Kaplan sold his stake in the company, and Magid became a partner. The Electric Factory hosted concerts by artists such as The Chambers Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who until 1970, when the building was torn down and replaced by condominiums. Despite this setback, Electric Factory Concerts continued to promote concerts at other venues in Philadelphia, including the Philadelphia Spectrum. In 1975, they purchased the Tower Theater.

In 1995, Magid and Adam Spivak, son of Herbert Spivak, reopened the Electric Factory in a converted building from the General Electric Switchgear Plant on 7th and Willow Street. The new venue had a capacity of 2,500 to 3,000 people and became a staple of the live music performance scene in Philadelphia, hosting artists such as Radiohead, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, and many others.

In September 2018, the Electric Factory was sold to The Bowery Presents, a subsidiary of the entertainment company AEG. However, the trademarked name was owned by rival Live Nation, so the venue was temporarily renamed "North Seventh" while a new name was decided. The Bowery Presents aimed to preserve the venue's history and soul by maintaining its aesthetic and booking top-tier acts.

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The Factory's famous performers

The Electric Factory in Philadelphia has been a staple of the city's music scene since 1968. Over the years, the venue has hosted a plethora of famous performers, across genres and generations.

The original Electric Factory, which was located on the northwest corner of 22nd and Arch Streets, was a converted tire warehouse. It hosted performances from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Frank Zappa, Van Morrison, Cream, Rod Stewart, BB King, The Grateful Dead, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, and Prince. The venue was torn down in 1973 and replaced by condominiums.

In 1995, the Electric Factory reopened in a new location on 7th and Willow Street, in a converted building from the General Electric Switchgear Plant. This new venue has also played host to a diverse range of artists, including Radiohead, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Thom Yorke, Greta Van Fleet, MGMT, and Matt and Kim.

The Electric Factory has been owned and operated by various entities throughout its history. In its early years, it was owned by Sheldon Kaplan, Herbert Spivak, and his brothers Jerry and Allen Spivak, who hired Larry Magid to book all the shows. Magid later became a partner and co-owner of the venue. In 2018, the Electric Factory was sold to The Bowery Presents, a New York-based concert promotion and venue management company. The Bowery Presents is affiliated with AEG Worldwide, one of the world's largest live music companies.

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The Factory's new name

The Electric Factory, a music venue in Philadelphia, was previously owned by the Larry Magid Entertainment Group. The venue has played host to many artists, including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Radiohead. In 2018, the Electric Factory was sold to The Bowery Presents, a concert promotion company owned by AEG, a live music giant.

The Bowery Presents had to temporarily rename the venue "North Seventh" due to trademark issues with Live Nation, which owns the trademark, name, and logo of the Electric Factory. Bowery Presents then announced a public naming contest, calling on the public to suggest a new name for the venue. The winner of the contest would receive two complimentary tickets to every show at the venue through 2020.

The Bowery Presents aims to honour the history of the venue and preserve its character by maintaining its current aesthetic and continuing to book top-tier acts. The company is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performances, including producing and promoting global concert tours, regional music events, and world-renowned festivals.

The Electric Factory's new name has not yet been announced, but the venue will continue to be a cornerstone of Philadelphia's music scene, hosting a variety of musical acts in different genres.

Frequently asked questions

The Electric Factory was bought by AEG and promoter Bowery Presents in 2018. Bowery Presents was itself acquired by AEG in 2016.

The Electric Factory was founded by Herbert Spivak, who ran the business with his brothers Jerry Spivak and Allen Spivak. They later hired Larry Magid to become General Manager, and he also became a co-owner.

Live Nation owns the trademark, name, and logo of the Electric Factory and did not relinquish them to Bowery Presents as part of the deal. Bowery Presents held a contest to crowdsource a new name for the venue.

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