CHICAGO (WLS) — An extended-running music pageant in Chicago goes silent after almost 20 years.
Pitchfork Music Competition introduced that it’s not returning to town subsequent 12 months after a 19-year run in Union Park.
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What introduced music, tradition, and humanities in Union Park annually since 2006 is turning into mute in the interim.
Organizers mentioned in a press release, partially, “This resolution was not made calmly… We’re deeply grateful to the Metropolis of Chicago for being our Competition’s residence for almost 20 years, to the artists who graced our levels with unforgettable performances, and to the followers who introduced unmatched power 12 months after 12 months.”
Jennifer Fitzgibbon is a type of die-hard followers who has attended the pageant for the final 5 years.
“I believe it is an amazing group occasion. I really like the truth that they bring about different individuals right here to the neighborhood,” Fitzgibbon mentioned. “We’re identified to be a metropolis with music right here, and if we begin to not have festivals, I believe it will make individuals take into consideration, why can we dwell within the metropolis if we will not have and domesticate various tradition and expertise coming in.”
The choice got here after the pageant’s mum or dad firm and media large, Condé Nast, which additionally owns GQ and Vogue, introduced employees layoffs earlier this 12 months.
Alderman Walter Burnett, who represents the twenty seventh Ward, instructed ABC7 he spoke with organizers Monday afternoon. He mentioned the pageant’s departure was not attributable to any issues with town, as an alternative citing a scarcity of sponsorships, insurance coverage prices and the pageant struggling to compete with different summer time music occasions.
“It is greater than disappointing. It is form of aggravating,” mentioned Edward Hoagland, who lives close to Union Park. “I do not know if one thing else is stepping in to fill in with it or not. I suppose that may be one thing that we’d stay up for, as effectively.”
Competition organizers haven’t mentioned if they are going to proceed to host the occasion in Chicago after subsequent 12 months.
Burnett mentioned he’s working with town to verify the occasion doesn’t go away.
The lineup for summer 2024 included artists Alanis Morissette, Carly Rae Jepsen, 100 Gecs, Jai Paul and Black Pumas.
Pitchfork Music Competition’s full assertion:
To our Chicago Competition group:
Because the music pageant panorama continues to evolve quickly, we’ve got made the troublesome resolution to not host Pitchfork Music Competition in Chicago in 2025.
This resolution was not made calmly. For 19 years, Pitchfork Music Competition has been a celebration of music, artwork, and community-a area the place recollections had been made, voices had been amplified, and the shared love of music introduced us all collectively.
The Competition, whereas aligned with the style of the Pitchfork editorial workforce, has all the time been a collaborative effort, taking up a lifetime of its personal as an important pillar of the Chicago arts scene.
We’re deeply grateful to the Metropolis of Chicago for being our Competition’s residence for almost 20 years, to the artists who graced our levels with unforgettable performances, and to the followers who introduced unmatched power 12 months after 12 months.
Thanks to At Pluto and the remainder of the hardworking Competition workforce whose dedication and creativity had been the spine of each occasion, and to the broader group whose spirit and help made the Competition a very distinctive expertise.
And thanks to Mike Reed for founding the Competition and in your inspiring imaginative and prescient.
Pitchfork will proceed to supply occasions in 2025 and past. We stay up for persevering with to create areas the place music, tradition, and group intersect in uplifting ways-and we hope to see you there.
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