The future of the Electric Zoo festival had somewhat been up in the air ever since it was shut down a day early following the deaths of two participants over Labor Day weekend during 2013. Recent activity on the part of Made Events, the organizer of the EDM-centric music festival, indicate that the company is looking to go ahead with the concerts during 2014.
The promoters have hired Mike McKeon and Patrick Jenkins to lobby for the rights to carry out the festival later this year. Made Event will require a permit from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation in order to stage a concert on Randall's Island, the show's traditional home. The island hosting a concert won't generate any controversy, as the site will already be hosting Governor's Ball and a three-day stretch of Phish concerts over the Summer. Last year's deaths may inspire local government to protest the event occurring again however. Recent deaths at other EDM events, including six at Malaysia's "Future Music Asia" event two weeks ago, have drawn negative attention to the genre and its concerts.
New York City mayor Bill de Blasio doesn't seem like one to oppose social events, but any politician can cave to popular pressure. Hence why McKeon and Jenkins were hired: McKeon has advised multiple New York governors, including working as director of communications for George Pataki, and Jenkins served as deputy campaign manager for both Governors Eliot Spitzer and Andrew Cuomo. So both of these guys know something about public relations. It doesn't hurt that McKeon's employer, public strategy firm Mercury, raised money for de Blasio's election campaign last year.
If worse comes to worst and Made Events can't secure a permit, there's always the Mexico City version of Electric Zoo, which will be doubting this year. Skrillex and Chromeo are listed among the scheduled headliners.
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