MCH Group, the company behind Art Basel, is launching a new event called Jupiter Festival. This move pushes the company further into the media events business.
Jupiter Festival Comes to Miami
The first Jupiter Festival is set for October in Miami. It will feature speakers like Rebecca Glashow from Tribeca Enterprises and Pete Distad from Fox One. Kenny Smith, host of Inside the NBA, Brian Albert from YouTube, and former 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens will also speak.
William Mellis, CEO and co-founder of Jupiter Festival, believes there's a gap in the industry for this event. He told The Hollywood Reporter that the festival focuses on the future of content. Mellis noted the industry is undergoing a "seismic change." The festival aims to bring senior industry leaders together to explore and debate this shift.
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Start Your News DetoxFor MCH Group, Jupiter Festival offers a chance to enter the media world. This new venture complements its global Art Basel events and exhibitions. Andrea Zappia, group CEO of MCH Group, explained that media is a key part of cultural development. He sees media as a natural fit within a broader cultural territory, similar to Art Basel's thought leadership.
Zappia said MCH Group recognized the potential in Mellis's idea. They invested to create a strong brand. The goal is for Jupiter to become a leading event connecting people around important media topics.
James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems is MCH Group's largest individual shareholder. Murdoch is a significant figure in media, having recently acquired New York magazine and Vox Media’s podcast business.
The Jupiter Festival will take place at the Miami Beach Convention Center. This is the same venue used for Art Basel Miami. Mellis plans for a mix of speakers and attendees, including those who might "challenge and provoke the industry," alongside senior executives.
Mellis believes the festival fills a market need. Its main purpose is to bring senior industry people together. They can network, discuss, and debate in this environment. He emphasized that while there will be great content, it's primarily a delegate-focused event for networking.
The festival aims to become a regular fixture in the annual media calendar. It hopes to stand alongside other major events like CES, Cannes Lions, and the Possible conference.
