Russell Faibisch

In 1997, Faibisch created the Ultra brand in relation to event productions when he formed Ultra Productions, and began producing electronic music warehouse events and rave parties in Miami, including Amoeba in 1998[12] and Magical Maydaze. Both events were co-produced with then business associate, Ray Navarro. After placing an ad in a local music magazine for one of his events, Faibisch met Alex Omes, publisher of D'VOX magazine.[13] Faibisch and Omes quickly became friends and business partners, together co-founding the Ultra Music Festival.[14] Ultra Music Festival paved the way and built the modern dance festival foundation.[15] Since its founding, Ultra Music Festival has grown into one of the world's largest electronic dance music festivals.[16] An estimated 400,000 people attended Ultra Music Festival over the course of two weekends in 2013, the highest number of attendees to date.[17]

The international festival, founded by Faibisch and Omes, has taken place every March since its inception in 1999 at Collins Park, Miami.[2] The festival celebrated its nineteenth anniversary from 24–26 March 2017 by bringing over 165,000 people[18] to the sold out event at Bayfront Park located in downtown Miami.[19] Ultra Music Festival returns to Bayfront Park for its twentieth anniversary, 23–25 March 2018.[20]

The Ultra and Ultra Worldwide brands represent the world's biggest and most successful remaining independent electronic music festival brand.[21] The Ultra Worldwide brand, created by Faibisch, has established festivals and events in twenty countries internationally across five continents[22]—including Argentina,[23] Bali,[24] Brazil,[25] Chile,[26] Croatia,[27] Ibiza,[28] Japan,[29] Korea,[30] South Africa,[31] Bolivia,[32] Colombia,[33] Hong Kong,[34] Paraguay,[35] Peru,[32] the Philippines,[36] Puerto Rico,[37] Singapore,[38] Taiwan,[39] Thailand,[40] and of course Miami.

In 2017 Ultra Mexico first edition in Mexico took place in Foro Pegaso located 30min away from Mexico City. The biggest stage of Ultra history took place here with headliners like Dash Berlin, Alesso, Armin van Buuren, Afrojack and Martin Garrix among others.

Additionally, Faibisch and the Ultra brands pioneered the live stream experience, Ultra Live, where the festival is brought online to over 20 million viewers globally[41] and the audio broadcasting platform UMF Radio, which was winner of Mixcloud's 2015 "Best EDM Radio Show" and is now syndicated to FM Radio in over 93 countries.

In 2012, Faibisch and Ultra Worldwide also launched UMF Films, a collaboration with Amsterdam-based film company Final Kid, which has gone on to produce many of Ultra's after movies[42]—including a feature-length documentary exploring the rise of dance music, entitled "Can U Feel It" which premiered on 21 March 2012 at the Klipsch Amphitheater in Bayfront Park.[43] "Can U Feel It" was also released in select theaters across the United States for one night only, on 22 March 2012.[44]