Consultant and veteran music executive Mark Dinerstein has joined forces with investors JPB Partners to purchase Nashville music venue Marathon Live from founder Josh Billue. Dinerstein will serve as chief executive for the new organization while Billue has announce plans to remain at the company and serve as Chief Development Officer.
Marathon Live will include six venues in total — besides Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, Marathon also owns The Truman in Kansas City, The Signal in Chattanooga, Tennessee; The Hall in Little Rock, Arkansas; The Hawthorn in St. Louis and FIVE in Jacksonville, Florida. The Five is the newest venue and includes a renovated historic 1,250-capacity theater which opened in May 2025.
Dinerstein hopes to expand Marathon Live through the acquisition of existing facilities and non-traditional spaces in the live entertainment and private events sector. He’s also looking to renovate existing facilities and build new venues in North American with plans for several new projects well underway. As part of the company’s growth strategy, Dinerstein is launching a Marathon Live facility management for facilities with a 1,000 – 2,500 capacity. Services include “risk-based and non-risk talent buying, general consultation, operations, sponsorship, marketing, ticketing, production design, food and beverage operations, facility development, facility renovation and preservation amongst other services,” according to a press release announcing the launch of Marathon Live.
“I am thrilled to join the Marathon Live team, work with a uniquely talented group and lead our network of owned and operated facilities into the next era of growth,” says Dinerstein. “We look forward to connecting with existing facilities looking to join our endeavor with both independent spirit and savvy business strategies to ensure their place in the entertainment and private events sector for generations to come.”
Dinerstein adds, “In addition to facility acquisition, we intend to grow through ground-up construction and offer full-facilities management services aimed at the 1,000 – 2,500 capacity sector offering true partnership through shared ideals.”
Billue adds, “The sale of Marathon Live to Mark and JPB helps protect our thriving organization while rapidly accelerating my original vision of growth. My new role as Chief Development Officer will allow me to continue to focus on building new facilities for Marathon Live, and we have some very exciting projects on the horizon.”
Jim Bolduc, president and CEO of JPB Partners, tells Billboard, “As a family office with a long-term vision, we see an exciting opportunity to support Mark and Josh through strategic consolidation and investment in customer-first platforms. By backing operators who prioritize unforgettable audience moments from iconic venues, we believe Marathon Live has immense potential for growth and innovation.”
Dinerstein most recently served as president of corporate development at domestic event producer LiveCo, which he co-founded. Prior to LiveCo, Dinerstein served as president of Knitting Factory Presents and led the company in all areas of expansion for 13 years.
Dinerstein’s executive team at Marathon Live includes chief operating oficer Ryan Henry, chief accounting officer Chris Hewitt and svp of facilities Casey Osburn.
