Bonnaroo Founder Dies at 51 | Music News
Jonathan Mayers, co-founder of the iconic Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, has died at 51, leaving a profound impact on the music industry. The death of this innovator, who also co-created Outside Lands, marks the end of an era. Mayers’ vision shaped modern music festivals, drawing crowds exceeding 70,000 to Bonnaroo annually, which is set to begin June 12. He departed Superfly in 2021 and later pursued other ventures, including Core City Detroit, a project focused on investing in the inner city. News Directory 3 is following this story. Discover what his legacy means for the future of music festivals.
Bonnaroo Co-Founder Jonathan Mayers Dies at 51
Updated June 10, 2025
Jonathan Mayers, a driving force behind the creation of the Bonnaroo Music adn Arts Festival and a key figure in launching Outside Lands, has died. He was 51. The cause of death has not been released.
Mayers co-founded Superfly presents in 1996, wich went on to co-create Outside Lands with Another Planet Entertainment. Bonnaroo, held annually on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tenn., has been a major success as its launch in 2002. The Bonnaroo music festival is scheduled to begin June 12.
Early in his career, Mayers worked with Tipitina’s and the New Orleans jazz Fest.Superfly’s first concert featured the Meters, Maceo Parker, and rebirth Brass Band during Mardi Gras.
Mayers partnered with Ashley Caps of AC Entertainment, Chip Hooper of Paradigm, and Coran Capshaw of Red Light to launch Bonnaroo. The festival,which has drawn crowds exceeding 70,000,has become a model for modern music festivals.
In 2005, Superfly launched the Vegoose festival in Las Vegas. Later, the company partnered with Another Planet to launch Outside Lands in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Mayers also partnered with Viacom and Comedy Central in 2017 to produce Clusterfest, a comedy festival featuring Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Jon Stewart, and trevor Noah.
Mayers was known for his innovative promotional ideas, including recreating sets from TV shows such as Seinfeld, The Office, and The Daily Show to create immersive fan experiences.
Mayers departed Superfly in August 2021 and later filed a lawsuit against his former partners in early 2022, alleging breach of contract and fraud. The lawsuit was dismissed in January 2023.
After leaving Superfly, Mayers dedicated his efforts to Core City Detroit, a project focused on investing in the inner city and establishing a music campus with public entertainment experiences.
Peter Shapiro, founder of Dayglo Presents and Brooklyn Bowl, described Mayers as a visionary who “broke down real barriers and created some next level music festivals that impacted a generation of fans, bands and promoters.”
Another Planet Entertainment released a statement calling Mayers “a bright light, always pushing new and creative ideas in the entertainment space.”
What’s next
The music industry reflects on Mayers’ contributions as Bonnaroo prepares to open its doors, continuing his legacy in the festival world.