Created in 2009, Electric Zoo, often referred to as "EZoo", is an annual electronic music festival held over Labor Day weekend in New York City. The festival was founded by Mike Bindra and Laura De Palma of Made Event, and it took place on Randall's Island. From the get-go, EZoo was ambitious, aiming to become a premier hub for electronic music enthusiasts. In the early years, the festival quickly gained traction, drawing attendees from all over the world. Its inaugural year saw around 26,000 music fans, and by its second year, it expanded to a three-day event due to growing demand. Its success in New York City led to international versions of the festival in countries like Mexico, Brazil, and China.

However, like many large events, Electric Zoo has had its share of challenges. The festival faced particular scrutiny in 2013 when two attendees tragically died, leading to the cancellation of the final day of the event. This incident led to increased safety measures in subsequent editions, with a strong focus on attendee well-being.

Over the years, Electric Zoo introduced thematic experiences, enhancing the festival's immersive nature. Themes like "Transformed", "Wild Island", and "The 6th Boro" provided attendees with unique and evolving experiences each year.

In 2022, the festival was purchased from Made Events by Avant Gardner, the investors and operators of the namesake venue in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. The purchase was meant to expand Avant Gardner’s stake on the electronic music scene in New York City, with many fans hoping that the takeover would mean an expansion of the popular festival. And so, the announcement of Electric Zoo "Hyperspace" 2023, came with more hype and buzz than ever, promising an otherworldly experience. Avant Gardner pulled out the stops with a stellar lineup featuring international sensations like Kaskade, The Chainsmokers, and Tiesto, and burgeoning talents like Forester and Elderbrook.

But all of the hype and hype came to abrupt end with the cancellation of the festival's first day, only hours before the gates were to open. Event producers cited "supply chain issues" as the primary reason, but it soon became clear that permits had not been secured in time, and that the festival was mired in unpaid debts to workers. If that wasn’t enough, the second day was riddled with logistical nightmares. The "will call" lines morphed into four-hour-long tests of patience, with many attendees missing acts they had eagerly awaited. While fans were promised refunds for Friday, nothing was offered for fans on Saturday.

On the third day, frustrations reached a boiling point. The will-call situation deteriorated further, and in an unprecedented turn of events, disgruntled fans stormed the gates. Amidst the chaos, event producers conveyed to "paid ticket holders" that the venue had reached capacity. Rumors swirled that the event had been oversold by thousands, casting shadows on the integrity of the festival's management.

In the aftermath of what was to be Electric Zoo's most iconic edition, the repercussions were swift and severe. New York City Mayor Adams voiced his concerns, stating, "It's unfortunate organizers wanted to turn our city into a zoo, and we were not going to allow that to happen. We will be dealing with them in the next few days based on their behavior and actions.” There's been a growing movement to boycott Avant Gardner events. More so, with the shadows of a previous lawsuit, two deaths at their Bushwhack venue, and a reported kidnapping, the demand for transparency in Avant Gardner's operations has intensified. A class-action lawsuit is also in the offing, spearheaded by disgruntled attendees who have gathered together on Reddit.

As New York City's electronic music community grapples with the fallout of the Electric Zoo debacle, questions loom large. What will become of Electric Zoo? Will Avant Gardner survive the mounting controversies? And, most importantly, what does this mean for the future of electronic music in the city?