Ultra Music Festival Ownership Overview Ultra Music Festival (UMF), the iconic electronic dance music event held annually in Miami, traces its roots back to 1997 when it was founded by two key figures in Miami's burgeoning EDM scene. This festival has grown from a beachfront rave into a global powerhouse, drawing massive crowds and top-tier DJs worldwide, but its ownership story involves collaboration, conflict, and consolidation.

Founders and Early Days

Russell Faibisch and Alex Omes kicked off the Ultra brand with underground warehouse raves and magazine collaborations in Miami. Faibisch, a local promoter, met Omes through a local ad, sparking a partnership that launched the inaugural UMF in 1999 on Miami Beach sands. Their vision blended cutting- edge electronic talent with massive productions, setting the stage for Ultra's explosive growth—now spanning events in over 20 countries.

Key Leadership Shifts

By 2010, tensions led to Omes' ousting from the festival and brand amid a split from the Winter Music Conference. Omes filed a lawsuit in 2012 against Faibisch and executives, alleging conspiracy, but tragically passed away in 2015 from a drug overdose during the trial. Today, Russell Faibisch stands as the primary owner , serving as CEO, President, Executive Producer, and Chairman of Ultra Enterprises, the organizing entity behind international editions.

Role| Key Figure| Details
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Founder & Current Leader| Russell Faibisch| Miami-born promoter; oversees Ultra Worldwide, UMF Radio (22M+ weekly listeners), and Ultra Live streams (2.3B+ views).35
Co-Founder (Deceased)| Alex Omes| Publisher-partner; exited amid disputes in 2010.1
Executive Producer| Adam Russakoff| Joined in 2005; handles business affairs and talent buying.9
Other Principal| Rodolfo Molina| Listed in company records for Ultra Music Festival Corp.8

Corporate Structure and Global Reach

Ultra operates under Ultra Music Festival Corp. and Ultra Enterprises, with Faibisch at the helm of an empire including ROAD TO ULTRA tours and acquisitions like Miami's Winter Music Conference in 2018. No major ownership changes have surfaced in recent years (up to 2026 data), despite the brand's expansions into Asia, Europe, and beyond—think Argentina, Japan, and South Africa editions. Forums and industry chatter often highlight Faibisch's enduring control, crediting him for UMF's "World's #1 Festival" DJ Mag win in 2016.

Trending Context : As of March 2026, discussions on EDM sites still reference the founders' drama as festival lore, with buzz around Ultra's post- pandemic recovery and 2025 Miami edition's record attendance. Speculation on forums like Reddit's r/EDM occasionally floats corporate investor rumors, but public records confirm Faibisch's solo stewardship—no big buyouts reported.

"Ultra evolved from a small beachfront rave into a global phenomenon thanks to two visionaries." – Exron Music recap

TL;DR : Russell Faibisch owns and leads Ultra Music Festival today, post- co-founder Alex Omes' exit and passing; it's a tale of grit, growth, and Miami EDM legacy.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.