20 Years of Ultra – Episode 5: A Global Phenomenan
Due to its unique timing at the very beginning of festival season, Ultra Music Festival has always been the place where the top artists in electronic music debut all of their newest songs. Musical performances are prepared all winter in the studio, then perfected for their debut at Ultra Music Festival. Often, artists use these performances as their standard sets for the rest of the year.
Due to the historical significance of the Winter Music Conference it is also the first time each year that a huge number of DJs gather in one place, with Miami Music Week as the backdrop. Artists from the mainstream and the underground alike are able to see each other’s best performances and be inspired to improve their own. In this way, the progression of musical development is able to stay authentic year after year.
Over the last 20 years and especially recently, this has begun an arms race of sorts to see who can put on the best performances. Artists use their full spectrum of creativity to try to introduce groundbreaking elements into their shows. From new music, to special guests, to immersive audiovisual experiences, Ultra Music Festival has become the place for an artist to pull out all the stops in order to make their ambitions become reality. The biggest challenge for both the festival and the artists has become how to top the previous year’s performance every single time.
For 20 years, unforgettable moments have arisen across a variety of Ultra Music Festival’s stages. What started in Miami has expanded to dozens of countries across 6 continents, with over a million yearly attendees. Only time will tell what incredible moments will arise in the NEXT 20 years…