WWL-TV reports that Voodoo Music Experience founder Stephen Rehage is no longer employed by Live Nation, the company that owns a majority of the festival.
“We can confirm that Steve Rehage is no longer with Live Nation, but he is still a minority owner of the festival,” Live Nation spokesperson Carrie Davis told the publication. “He is still a stakeholder and actively involved in the festival.”
Rehage, who launched the eclectic festival in 1999, sold a majority stake in the event to Live Nation in 2013. He was then hired as president of Live Nation’s North American festival division, though WWL-TV reports that he left the company shortly after the final day of the 2015 festival was cancelled due to bad weather. That move marked the first cancellation in the festival’s 16 year history.
Rehage has not yet commented on the situation, and Davis declined to inform WWL-TV if he was forced out or resigned.
Live Nation, the largest live entertainment company in the world, has been making big moves into New Orleans over the past couple of years. The concert and artist management powerhouse, which includes ticketing giant Ticketmaster, opened an office in the city in 2014. In addition to the Vodoo Music Experience, it also operates the Smoothie King Center, Champions Square, Gretna Fest and the House of Blues.
The 2016 Voodoo Music Experience featured performances by Ozzy Osbourne, Florence + The Machine, Jack U, Modest Mouse, Jane’s Addiction and many more. The final day, November 1, was scheduled to include sets from Zac Brown Band, Deadmau5, Chance the Rapper and others before it was called off.