Ultra Music Festival facing legal battle over new venue

Ultra Festival is facing legal trouble after being sent a cease & desist order by Rapture Festival, which was given permission to take place at the same location on the same weekend.

Rapture issued the letter after Ultra, which has locked in David Guetta and Martin Garrix among others for this year's edition, was confirmed by Miami city commissioners for Virginia Key Beach Park, Rapture's planned venue for the same dates. The Miami Herald states that Rapture's lawyer, Paul K. Silverberg sent the cease & desist to both the city of Miami and Ultra to withdraw their application to use the venue.

Silverberg says that Rapture had an understanding with the city that they'd continue to have permission for the park for the next three years. The letter read: "If [you] do not immediately withdraw your application that directly interferes with our client’s planned festival time and location, we will be taking immediate action against you, the City and Virginia Key Beach Park Trust."

Ultra had enquired after Virginia Key Beach Park after being removed from their traditional venue, Bayfront Park, by the city following residents' complaints about noise. The festival also agreed to pay $2 million and submission to a license review after its 2019 edition.

Keep following DJ Mag for the latest updates on this story as we get them.

In the meantime, check out the recap video from last year's edition.