![\"Entertainment](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmusicnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Cuban-SXSW-1024x546.jpg\" "\\"Entertainment\\"")
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Mark Cuban, who\u2019s invested in Burwoodland, at SXSW 2025. Photo Credit: Bea Phi<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Entertainment Burwoodland, the social entertainment events organizer behind Emo Night Brooklyn and more, has scored \u201ca significant investment\u201d from Mark Cuban.<\/strong><\/h2>\nNew York City-headquartered Burwoodland confirmed the investment \u2013 but not the deal\u2019s dollar amount or ownership stake \u2013 today. Founded 11 years back by Ethan Maccoby and Alex Badanes, Burwoodland is said to produce north of 1,200 shows annually.<\/p>\n
Besides Emo Night Brooklyn, these shows are running under owned brands including Gimme Gimme Disco, Broadway Rave, and All Your Friends. It probably doesn\u2019t need saying in light of Cuban\u2019s investment, but the happenings are attracting fans \u2013 to the tune of 1.5 million tickets moved thus far.<\/p>\n
At the intersection of the crowded annual schedule and the cumulative ticket sales, Burwoodland has booked 2026 outings in Milan, Brooklyn, Louisville, Nashville, Antwerp, and many other cities. The company is also testing the festival waters; \u201cthe first ever Long Live Emo Fest\u201d is teed up for January 24th at the 2,700-capacity Brooklyn Paramount.<\/p>\n
With Burwoodland having previously drawn support from Split Second head Izvor Zivkovic, Brooklyn Bowl owner Peter Shapiro, and Justin Kalifowitz\u2019s Klaf Companies, Badanes described Cuban\u2019s investment as \u201ca tremendous honor.\u201d <\/strong><\/h4>\n\u201cEthan and I started this company because we know firsthand how powerful it is to find your people through the music you love,\u201d the former Kobalt exec stated. \u201cThat sense of community shaped our lives, and creating spaces where others can feel that connection has always been our purpose.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving the confidence of an investor as respected and accomplished as Mark is a tremendous honor,\u201d Badanes concluded.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in remarks of his own, Cuban touted the Burwoodland co-founders\u2019 ability \u201cto create amazing memories and experiences.\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n\u201cIt\u2019s time we all got off our asses, left the house and had fun,\u201d Cuban said. \u201cAlex and Ethan know how to create amazing memories and experiences that people plan their weeks around. In an AI world, what you do is far more important than what you prompt.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the bigger picture, Burwoodland is one of multiple companies making waves with community-focused events. Fever secured<\/a> $100 million from investors last year, when Kygo\u2019s Palm Tree Crew announced<\/a> a $20 million Series B at a $215 million valuation and Posh<\/a> added several features.<\/p>\nOn the other hand, as certain live niches are thriving, many festivals are calling it quits<\/a>. And while blockbuster tours and attendance records<\/a> are continuing to make headlines, the space isn\u2019t without high-profile cancellations and venue struggles<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section><\/div>\n
\u201cEthan and I started this company because we know firsthand how powerful it is to find your people through the music you love,\u201d the former Kobalt exec stated. \u201cThat sense of community shaped our lives, and creating spaces where others can feel that connection has always been our purpose.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving the confidence of an investor as respected and accomplished as Mark is a tremendous honor,\u201d Badanes concluded.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in remarks of his own, Cuban touted the Burwoodland co-founders\u2019 ability \u201cto create amazing memories and experiences.\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n\u201cIt\u2019s time we all got off our asses, left the house and had fun,\u201d Cuban said. \u201cAlex and Ethan know how to create amazing memories and experiences that people plan their weeks around. In an AI world, what you do is far more important than what you prompt.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the bigger picture, Burwoodland is one of multiple companies making waves with community-focused events. Fever secured<\/a> $100 million from investors last year, when Kygo\u2019s Palm Tree Crew announced<\/a> a $20 million Series B at a $215 million valuation and Posh<\/a> added several features.<\/p>\nOn the other hand, as certain live niches are thriving, many festivals are calling it quits<\/a>. And while blockbuster tours and attendance records<\/a> are continuing to make headlines, the space isn\u2019t without high-profile cancellations and venue struggles<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section><\/div>\n
On the other hand, as certain live niches are thriving, many festivals are calling it quits<\/a>. And while blockbuster tours and attendance records<\/a> are continuing to make headlines, the space isn\u2019t without high-profile cancellations and venue struggles<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section><\/div>\n