See Unsee summary
John Rubey, a respected pioneer in live entertainment broadcasting, has died unexpectedly at the age of 73. From his early days promoting concerts in Colorado to revolutionizing live cinema events with Fathom Events, Rubey leaves behind a legacy that helped shape how millions experience music and performance through screens around the world.
A Foundation Built on Live Music
Rubey’s journey began in 1977 with Feyline Productions, the legendary Denver music promotion company founded by Barry Fey. For a full decade, he cut his teeth on some of the most iconic concert tours of the time. As vice president and treasurer, he worked on shows with the likes of George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Willie Nelson, Santana, and The Grateful Dead. The Red Rocks Summer series, a staple of live outdoor music, also thrived under his influence.
That era of the music industry was raw, unpredictable, and deeply human. From what I’ve read of his interviews and recollections from those who worked with him, Rubey wasn’t just crunching numbers—he was in the thick of the emotion, the logistics, and the magic of live performance. That feeling would never leave him.
Pushing Boundaries with the US Festival
In 1983, Rubey helped bring to life the now-legendary US Festival near San Bernardino, California. A collaboration with Barry Fey and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, the event attracted over 670,000 people across four days. Back then, pulling off a festival of that scale felt impossible. They didn’t have the models we rely on today—only guts and vision. To read Gwen Stefani headlines magical 2025 Disney Christmas Parade
The US Festival may not be as widely remembered as Woodstock, but it was just as ambitious. That kind of risk-taking defines who Rubey was behind the scenes: willing to dream bigger than the format allowed.
A Career that Spanned Mediums and Generations
When Rubey joined PACE Management in 1987 as COO, he carried this forward-thinking mindset with him. In 1992, he launched Spring Communications, a company that quietly changed the way concerts reached viewers. Long before livestreams and on-demand specials, they pushed pay-per-view concert broadcasts—opening up new revenue streams and new ways for fans to connect with their favorite artists.
And then came AEG-TV and its division, AEG Network LIVE, where Rubey served as president from 2004 to 2014. That decade saw an explosion in high-profile productions: Beyoncé, Bon Jovi, Prince, Celine Dion, Katy Perry. But Rubey wasn’t just promoting stars—he was shaping the ecosystem they thrived in. He forged brand deals with Ford, Nokia, and Apple and helped develop digital broadcasting strategies for festivals like Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits.
Having lived through the early 2000s concert DVD boom, I remember how thrilling it was to feel like you could be part of a stadium show from your own living room. Those experiences didn’t just happen by accident—people like Rubey were engineering them, quietly and behind the curtain.
Highlights of his work during this time included: To read Toho expands into Europe with bold anime distribution moves
- Debuting large-scale 3D cinema broadcasts of concerts
- Partnering with global brands to fund innovative music content
- Creating concert specials for American Forces Networks
- Helping coordinate the international distribution of Michael Jackson’s memorial service
- Producing the 3D “We Are the World 25” for Haiti relief
The Fathom Events Revolution
In 2014, Rubey stepped into possibly the most defining role of his career—as the founding CEO of Fathom Events. Under his leadership, the company became the world’s largest live cinema broadcast network, with partnerships extending into Canada, the UK, and Mexico. Fathom’s attendance soared by 120%, a statistic that doesn’t just show profitability—it proves hunger. Audiences wanted more than trailers and blockbusters; they wanted experiences.
Under Rubey, Fathom Events offered:
- The “Fare Thee Well” concerts from The Grateful Dead
- Live boxing matches, including Mayweather bouts
- Woody Harrelson’s one-take experiment Lost in London
- Collaborations with The Metropolitan Opera and Turner Classic Movies
- A broad expansion into faith-based theatrical programming
What stood out to me was his belief that cinema itself could be more than film. It could be a window into a stadium, a conversation with an artist, a moment shared across continents. He redefined what it meant to “go to the movies.”
A Life Rooted in Purpose and Community
John Rubey was born on October 5, 1951, in Evergreen Park, Illinois, the oldest of eight siblings. As a student at Regis University, he oversaw concerts and student films—a clue, even then, that he was drawn to the electricity of shared experiences. With a dual degree in accounting and economics, he later became a CPA and earned his MBA from the University of Houston.
Even at the height of his professional success, he never lost sight of people. His family remembers him as warm, faithful, kind, and funny. Colleagues often describe how quick he was to mentor, how grounded he was despite working with the biggest acts in the world. That tone of humility makes his story oddly comforting. He wasn’t chasing the spotlight—he was building platforms for others to shine.
He is survived by his wife, Donna.
After founding Rubey Entertainment in 2017, he remained true to his first love: live events, re-imagined for a changing world. And as someone who deeply values what performance can mean emotionally, I think John Rubey understood the simple truth that every show, every screen, every connection—matters. That’s the legacy he leaves behind.
