Christopher BarrettLos Angeles-based, Superstruct Entertainment has acquired a controlling stake in Derbyshire music festival Y Not (cap. 40,000).
The acquisition of Y Not Festivals UK Limited, formerly Count of Ten Ltd, sees Superstruct founder and chairman James Barton become a director of the company.
Following Superstruct’s acquisition of Bluedot Festival (21,000) early this year, it means the company now controls nine major UK festivals including Victorious Festival (100,000), South West Four (20,000), Kendal Calling (25,000), Truck (10,000), Tramlines (40,000), Boardmasters (50,000) and NASS (15,000).
Providence Equity-owned Superstruct owns and operates more than 30 large scale festivals and live music events globally. It is headed by Superstruct Entertainment CEO Roderik Schlosser, who has become a director of Y Not alongside Barton. Barton founded UK club and festival brands Cream, and the Creamfields festival (cap. 70,000).
A Companies House filing shows that Superstruct has acquired at least 75% of the shares in Y Not Festival.
Having been acquired by radio group Global in 2016, Y Not Festival returned to independent ownership three years later under the stewardship of Jason Oakley, who has worked on the festival since its inception in 2005.
An application for a variation in the premises licence was granted by Derbyshire Dales District Council and saw Y Not’s capacity extended from 29,999 to 39,999 this year. The event was headlined by Stereophonics, Courteeners and Blossoms.