October 15-19, 2013
New York City
Artists, music fans, and industry insiders descend on New York City every fall for the annual CMJ Music Marathon. The festival is one of the world’s most important outlets for the discovery of new music, with more than 1,300 performers given a chance to shine in over 80 nightclubs and theaters spread across the city.
The CMJ Music Marathon offers an up-close opportunity to see future stars on the rise, often in an intimate setting that artists are about to leave behind.
In 2004, a then-unknown Montreal-based band named Arcade Fire played at the 250-capacity Mercury Lounge—a show still regarded as a crucial part of the band’s success story. The same venue played host to Mumford & Sons in 2009. A year later the band garnered several Grammy nominations and achieved multi-platinum status for their debut album, Sigh No More.
Other success stories at the Music Marathon have included breakout performances by an eclectic array of artists. The past 10 years at CMJ have included appearances by the following:
2002 – Iron & Wine, Lamb of God, Mark Ronson, Mastodon, Moldy Peaches, My Morning Jacket, Sigur Ros, Gossip, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Explosions in the Sky, James Murphy, The Used, Jason Mraz
2003 – Andrew WK, Killers, Damien Rice, Jet, Sufjan Stevens, Against Me!, Mars Volta, My Chemical Romance, The National, The Rapture, The Shins, Broken Social Scene, Citizen Cope
2004 – Arcade Fire, Keane, TV On The Radio, Antony & the Johnsons, The Bravery, The Decemberists, Battles, Brazilian Girls, Regina Spektor, Coheed & Cambria
2005 – Feist, Grizzly Bear, Hot Chip, Wolfmother, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, We Are Scientists, Paramore, Jose Gonzalez, Devendra Banhart, New Pornographers
2006 – Justice, The Knife, Clipse, Cold War Kids, CSS, Girl Talk, Walkmen, Shooter Jennings, Secret Machines, Beach House, Ra Ra Riot, Mute Math
2007 – M.I.A., MGMT, Band of Horses, Bon Iver, Vampire Weekend, Dan Deacon, Deerhunter, Yeasayer, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Ghostland Observatory, Santigold
2008 – Lady Gaga, Passion Pit, Friendly Fires, Lykke Li, B.O.B., Crystal Castles, Janelle Monae, Jay Reatard, Justin Townes Earle, Naked & Famous
2009 – Mumford & Sons, Sleigh Bells, Surfer Blood, Temper Trap, The xx, Portugal. The Man, School of Seven Bells, The Antlers, Atlas Sound, Lana Del Rey
2010 – Avicii, Neon Indian, Dale Earnhart Jr Jr, Diamond Rings, Lower Dens, Oberhofer, Big Freedia, Oh Land, US Royalty, Braids, PS I Love You, First Aid Kit, Company of Thieves
2011 – Alabama Shakes, Gotye, Gary Clark Jr, Kendrick Lamar, Caveman, ASAP Rocky, AraabMUZIK, Art Vs. Science, EMA, Givers, Zomby
2012 – Icona Pop, Foxygen, SKATERS, Daughter, Savages, DIIV, Sky Ferreira, Mac DeMarco, METZ, Joey Bada$$
Who will join those names at the 2013 event? Keep an eye on CMJ.com for details of our lineup this year.