Electric Factory Concerts
Encyclopedia
Electric Factory Concerts is the name of a longtime Philadelphia-based concert promotion firm, affiliated with the Electric Factory
venue in that city and also owned by Larry Magid.
Its first concert staging was on February 2, 1968, at the old Electric Factory and featured The Chambers Brothers
. It survived the closing of the original Electory Factory venue and went on to prosper. It became prominent in promoting concerts at all venues in the Philadelphia area, including many at the Philadelphia Spectrum.
In late 1975, Electric Factory Concerts bought the Tower Theater from its owner Midnight Sun. About a year later, Midnight Sun commenced an anti-trust action against Electric Factory and its secret concert partner, Spectrum Corporation, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
. The suit dragged on for several years and was eventually settled for approximately $1 million, as reported in Rolling Stone
and the Philadelphia newspapers. A later anti-trust suit by rock promoter Stephen Starr
against Electric Factory Concerts was also settled for the same amount in 1990, which then financed Starr's rise as a star in the restaurant industry.
The firm gained national renown. It played a role in staging 1985's Live Aid
and 2005's Live 8 concert, Philadelphia
.
Electric Factory Concerts was subsequently purchased by Clear Channel
and now operates as Live Nation
/Electric Factory Concerts. They remain the dominant Philadelphia concert promoter.
Electric Factory
The Electric Factory is a concert venue in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaThe original "Electric Factory" venue was a converted tire warehouse at 22nd and Arch Streets, which opened in 1968. The first performers, on February 2, 1968, were the Chambers Brothers...
venue in that city and also owned by Larry Magid.
Its first concert staging was on February 2, 1968, at the old Electric Factory and featured The Chambers Brothers
The Chambers Brothers
The Chambers Brothers is a soul-music group, best known for its 1968 hit record, the 11-minute long song "Time Has Come Today". The group was part of the wave of new music that integrated American blues and gospel traditions with modern psychedelic and rock elements, spawning a heady mix...
. It survived the closing of the original Electory Factory venue and went on to prosper. It became prominent in promoting concerts at all venues in the Philadelphia area, including many at the Philadelphia Spectrum.
In late 1975, Electric Factory Concerts bought the Tower Theater from its owner Midnight Sun. About a year later, Midnight Sun commenced an anti-trust action against Electric Factory and its secret concert partner, Spectrum Corporation, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 federal judiciary districts created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
. The suit dragged on for several years and was eventually settled for approximately $1 million, as reported in Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
and the Philadelphia newspapers. A later anti-trust suit by rock promoter Stephen Starr
Stephen Starr
Stephen Starr is the owner of several restaurants in Philadelphia, New York City, Fort Lauderdale and Atlantic City. All of these restaurants are part of the Starr Restaurant Organization.- Reality TV :...
against Electric Factory Concerts was also settled for the same amount in 1990, which then financed Starr's rise as a star in the restaurant industry.
The firm gained national renown. It played a role in staging 1985's Live Aid
Live Aid
Live Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...
and 2005's Live 8 concert, Philadelphia
Live 8 concert, Philadelphia
On 2 July 2005, a Live 8 concert was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with a densely packed audience stretched out for one mile along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway...
.
Electric Factory Concerts was subsequently purchased by Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
and now operates as Live Nation
Live Nation
Live Nation is a live-events company based in Beverly Hills, California, focused on concert promotions. Live Nation formed in 2005 as a spin-off from Clear Channel Communications, which then merged with Ticketmaster in 2010 to become Live Nation Entertainment....
/Electric Factory Concerts. They remain the dominant Philadelphia concert promoter.