Phil Pulitano was deep in an ayahuasca ceremony when he definitively knew it was time to leave his old job behind. In 2008, Pulitano co-founded the BPM Festival, a January gathering for electronic music industry professionals — named for “bartenders, promoters, and musicians” — that over the years became one of the most prominent independent festivals in the electronic scene. During its nine years in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, the event drew tens of thousands of fans and a solid selection of techno, minimal, and house producers and DJs. Then, in 2017, a shooting at a club adjacent to the festival left one person dead, made the threat of violence painfully real, and effectively forced BPM out of the city. A spray-painted message read, “This is a sign that we are already here. It was because you didn’t align yourself with Phillip-BPM. This is just the beginning.” The warning was signed by the Zetas Cartel.
“In 90 seconds, our lives changed completely,” says Pulitano via Zoom from his home in Ibiza, Spain. “We went from being [on the verge of closing] a 50% purchase for $40 million to having to pick up one of our security guards and dear friends off the ground after he was shot.” Although BPM went ahead with its expansion plans — organizing editions in places like Portugal and Tel Aviv, Israel, and eventually finding a new permanent home in Tamarindo, Costa Rica — the 2017 attack ended up being the first in a series of unfortunate events.
After its debut edition in Costa Rica in 2020, the 2021 festival was canceled due to the pandemic. Then, in 2022, BPM was forced to cancel 30 hours before its start due to emergency COVID restrictions imposed by the government, which banned large gatherings. The festival’s organizers received the news after about 7,000 people, half of the total attendees, had already arrived at the venue for the event. Although the team managed to organize several smaller, underground parties on nearby private property, Pulitano says the situation was “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” causing a financial blow that cost BPM millions.
The situation worsened when the company in charge of ticket sales for the event failed to fulfill its promise to refund money to the 14,000 attendees, forcing Pulitano and his partner, Canadian and BPM co-founder Craig Pettigrew, to find a way to pay everyone out of their own pockets. Pulitano says his relationship with Pettigrew deteriorated under the pressure. “I couldn’t just walk away even if I wanted to,” he says. “My name was involved, and people hadn’t received their ticket money.”
BPM 2023 created an opportunity for the company to recoup funds and pay off debts, even though it was the most challenging edition yet. The festival was set to take place in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, but the team faced numerous obstacles, including a lack of support from local authorities and difficulties obtaining permits. Despite these challenges, Pulitano and Pettigrew were determined to make it happen.
However, just 30 days before the festival was set to begin, a massive hurricane hit the area, causing widespread damage and forcing the cancellation of the event. This was yet another devastating blow for BPM, as they had already invested a significant amount of money and resources into the festival. Pulitano and Pettigrew were once again faced with the daunting task of refunding thousands of attendees and finding a way to cover the financial losses.
Despite the challenges and setbacks, Pulitano remains determined to keep BPM alive and thriving. He believes in the power of music and the community it creates, and he is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees. He also recognizes the importance of learning from past mistakes and continuously improving the festival’s operations and safety measures.
As BPM looks towards the future, Pulitano is excited about the potential for growth and expansion. He envisions the festival becoming a global brand, with editions in different countries and continents. He also hopes to continue supporting and showcasing emerging artists and providing a platform for them to share their music with the world.
In the end, Pulitano’s journey with BPM has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, but he remains grateful for the experiences and lessons learned along the way. He is determined to overcome any challenges that come his way and continue to provide a world-class festival experience for electronic music lovers around the world.