WIMMER, HAYES SPLIT; WIMMER BUYS OUT HAYES STAKE IN DWP

After a highly successful decade-long partnership, Danny Wimmer Presents head Danny Wimmer has parted ways with the company’s CEO, Danny Hayes.

Hayes confirmed the surprising news via social media, stating, “After 10 years we made the decision to split and Wimmer bought out my shares [in DWP]. This wasn’t easy.”

Hayes joined DWP in 2014, following a prominent career as an entertainment attorney representing such clients as Linkin Park, Marilyn Manson and Tool. He was brought on as CEO by Wimmer to help scale the growing festival-production company, and together, the pair helped build DWP into an independent powerhouse in the rock and alternative live-event space.

News of the separation began circulating over the weekend when Hayes shared a farewell message with friends and colleagues, writing, “DWP wasn’t just a business—it was our passion, our heart and our way of life… I have made the difficult decision to move on.” He continued, “I have nothing but love, respect and appreciation for Wimmer and DWP, and I know Danny will continue to do great things.”

The Hayes-Wimmer relationship began when Hayes represented Wimmer when he was an A&R rep at Atlantic Records, and it was Hayes who suggested to Wimmer that he exclude his concert-promotion business from his record-company activity.

Wimmer started the Rock on the Range festival on the side and it took off, leading Hayes to join him shortly after giving up his law practice.

DWP festivals currently include hard rockers Aftershock, Louder than Life, Inkcarceration, Welcome to Rockville, Sonic Temple, the more mainstream Bourbon & Beyond and the country-flavored Golden Sky.

Sources close to the situation say the split was the result of differing strategic focus. While the partnership was long and successful, the decision to go separate ways was ultimately about aligning visions for what comes next.

Wimmer remains at the helm of DWP, while Hayes has yet to share plans for his next endeavor.

The split comes amid a resurgence in hard rock as a new generation discovers such scene stalwarts as Korn, Slipknot and Deftones and contemporary acts Sleep Token, Ghost, Spiritbox, Knocked Loose, Bad Omens and Bring Me the Horizon leave their mark.