Fyre Festival, the once notorious event that rocked the music world in 2017, is entering yet another chapter—this time, as a music streaming service.
Founder Billy McFarland, fresh from postponing Fyre Festival 2, has announced the sale of the Fyre brand’s intellectual property to entrepreneur Shawn Rech, who plans to give the name a fresh spin in the digital music space.
The story began when McFarland shared that, after two years of rebuilding Fyre with what he called “honesty, creativity, and relentless effort,” it was time to pass the torch.
“We’re officially putting the FYRE brand up for sale. To the right buyer: the platform is yours. Execute the vision. Make history,” McFarland posted on Instagram.
That buyer turned out to be Shawn Rech, co-founder of TruBlu streaming (alongside Chris Hansen of To Catch a Predator). According to Deadline, Rech acquired two of the Fyre trademarks, setting the stage to turn the once-festival into a user-submitted, fan-curated music streaming service.
The new platform, set to launch on Thanksgiving, will include both subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) and free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) networks, starting with pop and hip hop channels and eventually expanding into more genres.
“This isn’t about festivals or hype—it’s about putting the power of music discovery back in the hands of the fans,” Rech explained, adding that he specifically wanted a recognizable name—even if it’s linked to controversy—to help the new service stand out in a crowded market.
Importantly, Rech did not acquire the festival itself, which McFarland still owns. The postponed Fyre Festival 2, originally planned for Isla Mujeres, Mexico, was shelved after local tourism officials denied knowledge of the event.
McFarland noted that his team remained in talks with Caribbean destinations, but decided to step back and let a new team drive the vision forward. He is expected to have some presence on the new streaming network.
Fyre Festival’s infamy dates back to 2017, when the heavily-promoted Bahamas event collapsed into chaos over failed logistics and unmet promises, leaving guests stranded.
The fallout included two major documentaries (Hulu’s Fyre Festival and Netflix’s Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened) and saw McFarland serve time in prison for wire fraud before being released in 2022.
Now, with the Fyre name set for a digital comeback—and Fyre Fest 2 still on hold—the story continues to evolve. Whether the new platform can turn a troubled legacy into a fan-powered success is something the music world will be watching closely.
