How Ultra Music Festival Got Its Name (And Why It Wasn’t About EDM)

Ultra Music Festival is one of the biggest names in electronic music, but the name didn’t actually come from the EDM scene. It wasn’t inspired by a DJ, a genre, or anything happening in clubs at the time.

When the festival was being created in the late 90s, co-founder Russell Faibisch was really into Depeche Mode. Around that period, the band had released their 1997 album “Ultra” and the name ended up sticking in his head.

So when Ultra launched in Miami in 1999, they just used that name. No deeper strategy behind it, just something that felt right and connected to what inspired him musically.

Over time, “Ultra” became way bigger than its origin. What started as a reference to a Depeche Mode album turned into one of the most recognizable brands in electronic music today.

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