Martin Gontad (AR)

Dubbed "the most powerful man in the South American dance industry" by DJ Mag, Martin Gontad is the mind behind what's become one of the biggest Creamfields franchises in the world. Buenos Aires was the first international location the UK-based festival juggernaut expanded to – and it wasn't the obvious choice. Coming to Argentina during the worst economic crisis in the nation's history, it wouldn't have been a shock for Creamfields BA to crash and burn. Instead, Gontad turned the festival into a South American success story, bringing tens of thousands through the gates each year and cementing his reputation as South America's go-to promoter. Now, Creamfields BA continues to soar and big name DJs who head to the continent on solo tours do so almost exclusively through Gontad. Monopoly or not, Martin Gontad is the name you need to know if you want to do business south of the border.