In this episode, we chat with Fabrice Sergent, co-founder and CEO of Bandsintown which has grown to become one of the largest most impressive platforms in all of Live Music. In the pod, Fabrice reveals the origin story, showcasing the company's impressive growth. Emphasizing the importance of supporting local musicians and venues, Fabrice discusses how this fosters diversity and vibrancy in the music industry. Wrapping up, he explores the role of AI and shares his visionary outlook on the future of live music.

Fabrice Sergent is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Bandsintown. With over 88 million registered fans and partnerships with Spotify, Apple, Shazam, Google, and more, Bandsintown has 1.5 billion monthly active users and delivers more than 5 billion personalized concert recommendations annually. In addition to helping 600K registered artists and 65K venues, festivals, and promoters share concerts with the world, Bandsintown Promoter, and the new automated marketing solution Bandsintown PRO empower them to bypass algorithms, build their audience, and sell more tickets.

Please share this with anyone that might be interested in the topics, links below to subscribe and stay in the loop with the podcast and Prism:

Subscribe ⁠here⁠

More on ⁠Prism⁠

Follow us on Instagram (⁠@prismfm⁠)

Follow us on LinkedIn (⁠here⁠)

Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism - ⁠Matt Ford⁠

Bandsintown

Timestamps

(01:45) Concert discovery platform

(06:35) Different from streaming apps

(09:45) Bandsintown artist platform

(14:15) Venue and promoter platform

(15:45) Integrations and partnerships

(17:30) The origin story

(20:10) Bandsintown acquisition history

(22:55) Business growth trajectory

(25:00) Fabrice’s entrepreneurial history

(27:00) Live music market equilibrium

(33:15) Market diversity and vibrancy

(35:25) Supporting local venues and acts

(36:45) Increased concert attendance

(39:15) Leaning in even more  to AI

(43:10) Vision for the future of the industry

In this episode, we sit down with Paul Bradley, founder and CEO of Eventric, to explore the company's journey from inception to industry leader. Discover the origin story behind Eventric and their flagship product, Master Tour, designed to streamline tour management. Paul shares the fundraising challenges they faced, recounts an [almost] acquisition, and dives into their turbulent journey through covid. Paul also provides insights into the company's current initiatives and his visionary outlook for the future of the live music industry. Tune in to learn about the resilience and innovation driving Eventric's success.

What is Eventric?

With a deep understanding of tour management, Eventric has developed Master Tour, an innovative software that simplifies logistics for bands and artists. Master Tour focuses on making the complexities of touring more manageable, allowing artists to concentrate on their music. 

(01:50) The Eventric origin story
(09:20) What is Master Tour?
(11:05) Shifting to modern technology
(12:25) Fundraising challenges
(16:40) Master Tour [almost] acquired
(25:50) Surviving the COVID pandemic
(32:00) Current times at Master Tour
(34:30) Post-COVID mental health services
(40:00) New product features coming
(43:30) Pricing the product
(50:45) Incorporating AI
(55:25) Shifts in the industry
(60:00) Vision for the future of the industry
(67:05) Tech in the live music industry

He’s a President, CEO, and an all around-fascinating human being – Ty Sutton is what’s known in the industry and by Prism’s casting directors as a ‘Triple Threat.’

Get a backstage look at what goes into leading Dayton Live, the primary host and presenter of the Performing Arts in the region, and running 5 incredible venues, including the historic 150 year old Victoria Theater, and the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.

Ty shares his incredible story and career that have taken him across 5 different states, working for the Olympics, and eventually finding himself in Dayton, Ohio, at the helm of one of the most significant and efficiently run operations in the entire country. Take your seat for this intriguing lesson on PAC economics, the keys to Ty’s success, the breakdown of donor basses, and everything in between.

(00:50) What is Dayton Live 

(01:20) Ty’s journey into the industry, law school? Singer? 

(04:00) University gig (07:00) Working for the olympics 

(09:50) Booking an enormous resort 

(18:30) The value of seeing great leadership in action 

(22:00) Pacs outside of SF / using technology to stay organized 

(26:00) Ty’s first gig running the show (31:00) Lessons and failings of a new venue operator  

(35:00) PACs in Oil country, Midland Texas (39:00) How to 10x your goals 

(46:50) Building Dayton Live 

(48:46) The economics of Dayton Live and PACS in-general.  

(54:00) Breakdown of donor base (58:20) The value of booking your own shows 

(01:01:22) Technology as a key to running a great business 

(01:09:30) The big question, what is the future of the Performing Arts Industry

In this podcast we explore Hilary's founding story, and how she's helping bring mental health services to The Live Music Industry.

(00:00) - Mission, vision & story of Backline - creating better support networks for the industry

(06:11) - FREE mental health services, and how they work

(08:09) - Struggles in the live music industry / why service this industry?

(11:22) - Who is Backline helping? Artists, industry, agents, family members…

(14:00) - Men reaching out for help, event planning is one of the most stressful jobs

(15:40) - Demographics of bands receiving help

(18:30) - What’s it like to safe lives?

(20:00) - REACH OUT when you need help

(22:00) - Friday the 13th - when the music industry shut down - collective trauma

(29:40) - How to get help, and who help is for

(35:00) - Resources for everyone (not just hitting rock bottom)

(42:50) - How does Backline keep operating

(46:50) - Industry leaders that are a part of Backline

(55:30) - Get Backline in your green room!

Matt helped start Pabst Theatre Group with Gary Witt over 18 years ago. PTG owns, operates and books incredible venues across Milwaukee, including The Pabst Theatre, The Riverside Theatre, and The Fiserv Forum.

In this episode, Matt 1 and Matt 2 shine a spotlight on a wide range of topics: theater life in the 1800's, consolidation across the industry, potential legislation around All-In ticketing, and so much  more. Matt Beringer shares some incredible advice about how he's modernizing and building an extraordinary operation through the use of technology.

Jason was an Agent at Paradigm & Monterey Peninsula Artists before founding Goldengate Talent Agency. Jason represents an intentionally intimate roster of his favorite artists including Big Gigantic, Ripe, The Floozies, Mobley and more.

www.goldengateagency.com

Timestamps:

(00:20) starting Goldman after Paradigm, during the pandemic

(04:10) drive in concerts and how we made it through

(06:00) back in the pit without masks

(10:30) concerts inside of the digital world post covid

(14:53) Inflation

(17:00) The post roaring 20’s live music industry

(23:00) Economics of the industry with everyone on tour at once, supply chain

(27:00) Tick Toc is not a silver bullet for marketing

(31:20) Bo Burnham’s strategy to success

(38:00) “There’s no better indication of a music fan than a ticket buyer”

(40:00) A Key to Bill Strings success and their great team

(43:32) Big roster vs small roster agents

(47:30) Family/work/life balance

(53:00) Kup’s experience with Prism

In this episode, we are joined by JR, the visionary CEO and co-founder of Prekindle and Space Colonel Management. We delve into the recently dropped antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation by the DOJ and explore JR's inspiring journey in co-founding Prekindle. Discover how his company stands out by refusing to lock clients into contracts, their seamless integration with Prism, and JR's remarkable approach to maintaining authenticity in business. Additionally, we discuss the transformative potential of AI in the music industry and what the future holds. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that blends entrepreneurial insights with the cutting edge of technology.

After signing with Atlantic Records as a singer-songwriter and touring for years, J.R. quickly went the entrepreneurial route and helped start Prekindle where he’s currently CEO. Prekindle is an event ticketing and marketing platform started in Texas which now hosts 50,000 events a year across the US - including concerts, festivals, food & drink events, classes, attractions and everything in between. Denson has also built a career as an artist manager, having first discovered Charley Crockett and helped him to build a global touring and recording business. J.R. went on to cofound Space Colonel which now manages 14 music clients in the Country/Americana/Folk space including Shooter Jennings, Jason Boland and The Stragglers, Benjamin Tod, Lost Dog Street Band, The Lone Bellow, Kat Hasty, Beau Bedford. Via Space Colonel, J.R. also runs a publishing joint venture with Warner Chappell where they represent a growing roster of songwriters. His original mission to bring communities together through events and music has turned into a career that now spans 15+ years - over that time, J.R. has played a part in 10 million attendee experiences and counting. 

(00:25) - DOJ suing Live Nation & Ticketmaster
(05:10) - Government intervention in businesses
(08:10) - Monopolistic practices
(11:45) - The Prekindle origin story
(14:50) - Prekindle’s growth trajectory
(16:30) - Prekindle’s model differentiation
(19:20) - How Prekindle competes
(21:25) - Prekindle’s bootstrapped operation
(25:10) - Space Kernel origin story
(28:15) - Discovering Charley Crockett
(29:50) - SaveLive Prekindle partnership
(35:20) - Prekindle’s biggest challenge
(37:45) - Unique approach to business
(41:00) - Seamless Prism+Prekindle integration
(44:05) - Incorporating AI into business
(46:15) - Vision for the future

I had a fascinating conversation with Mark Williamson, the co-founder and CEO of ROSTR, Inc - a tech startup building tools for artists and music industry professionals. During our chat I learned about his wild decade-long ride at Spotify, its growth and success, and how it led to the inception of ROSTR. We dove into the origins of ROSTR, the value the product is providing to the music industry, the challenges faced while building the business, what tactics the team took to gain traction, and where ROSTR is headed next. No conversation would be complete without a discussion around the role of AI in the music industry, how ROSTR plans to incorporate it into the business, and what impact we foresee AI having on the industry & the world as a whole.

ROSTR is a music industry directory and data platform that helps artists and music industry professionals build their network, discover artists and save time. The site tracks relationships, signings, artist data, tours, festivals and more; it's like having an all-knowing assistant. In 2023, ROSTR launched Jobs by ROSTR - a music industry job board that doesn't suck. Jobs by ROSTR is already one of the leading places to find jobs and hire talent in the music industry, with 500+ employers, 1k+ job postings and 35k+ applications so far. 

Please share this with anyone that might be interested in the topics, links below to subscribe and stay in the loop with the podcast and Prism:

Subscribe

www.prism.fm/podcast/

More on Prism

www.prism.fm

Follow us on Instagram (@prismfm)

www.instagram.com/prismfm

Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mford3

ROSTR

https://hq.rostr.cc/

(00:50) - What is ROSTR?

(02:50) - Experience at Spotify

(05:20) - The ROSTR idea is born

(13:05) - Spotify becomes industry leader

(21:55) - Why Spotify and not others?

(25:35) - Spotify moving into live music/ticketing

(38:45) - Building ROSTR

(45:30) - Overcoming resistance and objections

(49:10) - Where does the data come from? 

(51:25) - How ROSTRs growth took off

(64:35) - Extracting value and creating a sustainable business model

(78:45) - Role of AI in the the business and industry

(92:25) - Building software to improve the industry

(96:05) - Optimistic outlook on the future

(99:20) - Music industry job directory in ROSTR

The independent live music industry can rest soundly at night knowing it has NIVA and incredible leaders behind it like Dayna and Stephen fighting with will, resources, and creativity. My mind was blown to learn about the complexity of the problem in ticketing and that NIVA is back taking the fight to Congress and making progress. This was truly a special conversation that shined a light on important issues, such as the complexity and scale of tech in the secondary, progress on getting bills passed to levy fines on so much fraud that is happening every day, and Steve Balmer’s take on technology playing a role in solving the problem. We rounded the podcast out on a sweet and inspiring note about the Future of NIVA, leadership, and what inspires us all so deeply about keeping live music alive and independent. Please share this with anyone that might be interested in the topics, links below to subscribe and stay in the loop with the podcast and Prism: Subscribe www.prism.fm/podcast/ More on Prism www.prism.fm Follow us on Instagram (@prismfm) www.instagram.com/prismfm Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism https://www.linkedin.com/in/mford3 National Independent Venue Association www.nivassoc.org (00:44): What is Fix The Ticks? (03:30): Ticket scalping high tech and Espionage:) (05:40): Spec tickets & fraud (10:00): Making this mess illegal, rallying congress, 15k fines per ticket (22:29): Steve Balmer, anti scalping tech, and dynamic ticketing (26:17): Progress and wins (34:00): Stephen Parker’s story (38:40): Dayna Frank’s story / sneaking into First Ave shows as a kid (43:20): The Why behind live music & leadership (50:10): NIVA con (53:30): The Future

I had a brilliant conversation with Andrew (Senior Talent Agent Rocky Road Touring) that spanned his perspective on booking shows internationally, macroeconomics, the advantages boutique independent agencies have on larger corporations, and more.

Please share this with anyone that might be interested in the topics, links below to subscribe and stay in the loop with the podcast and Prism:

Subscribe

www.prism.fm/podcast/

More on Prism

www.prism.fm

Follow us on Instagram (@prismfm)

www.instagram.com/prismfm

Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mford3

Rocky Road Touring

www.rockyroadtouring.com

(01:48) - Growing and scaling Rocky Road Touring

(06:50) - Booking shows internationally 

(08:50 ) - Live Music in China, Israel and Russia

(13:36) - Roger Waters asking bands to Boycott Israel

(17:00) - Russia, Eastern Europe and Ukraine 

(29:11 ) - Shows in South America, FIAT Currencies & Bitcoin

(34:49) - Booking shows in bitcoin, Macroeconomics of currency exchange 

(45:05) - The advantage of boutique and independent agencies

(54:13) - Strong-manning the perspective of working with bigger agencies 

(58:35) - Can boutique agencies cultivate the same level of relationships 

(01:05:00) - Powering an agency with technology

(01:13:00) - The beauty and joy of a true Mom and Pop Shop

(01:19:07) - Hopes for the future of the music industry

Jessie and Adam Hartke truly embody the tenacity of the broader industry. In this podcast, we ventured through a medley of topics — the live music and entrepreneurial spirit of Wichita, the Hartkes’ involvement in 5+ business ventures, the industry’s response to macroeconomic trends, DIY infrastructure and so much more. Enlightening and engaging, this conversation spotlights the Hartkes’ brilliance and expansive industry knowledge, and gives us hope that the industry has a very bright future.

The Live Music Podcast is hosted by Matt Ford, the CEO and Founder of Prism.fm

“NIVA successfully advocated for 16.25B dollars, the single largest arts grant in the history of the country”

This is one conversation that you do not want to miss. Our inspiring, yet practical and informative chat with Cody digs into the roots of his love for music through snapshots of the rebellious Austin Punk Rock scene of the 90’s. Cody maps his mind boggling journey from being that punk rock kid, playing in DIY hardcore bands, to running Mohawk (one of the most iconic clubs in the world), graduating to advocating for all Austin venues, and eventually landing as the COO of NIVA–where he will advocate for all independent venues across the country.

“This is one of the underlying challenges for the fate of our civilization”

(00:10) - Introduction NIVA hangs with Biden at the Whitehouse to discuss ticketing fees

(15:05) - Survival of the fittest, venues need to adapt and survive

(17:02) - Cody’s story on how he got started in this industry / Historical moment in Austin music scene

(23:53) - Tips to make it as a creative

(26:17) - Cody’s reflections at fighting the good fight for Mohawk and Red River Cultural District

(46:39) - The Founding story of NIVA (Music Industry Shutdown trigger warning)

(01:02:39) - Future of NIVA / NIVA Conference preview

(01:19:10) - Where will NIVA Con be held in the future? 

(01:22:00)- Concluding hopes, ambitions, and an extremely optimistic message for the future 

With over 20 years of experience in the Live Music Industry, Cobb is a true expert who deeply cares about the industry's success. As the former owner and operator of several venues, including Exit/In, and the current booker for The Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Cobb has a wealth of knowledge to share.In this episode, we delve into various topics such as the essential qualities needed to run a successful live music venue, the challenges facing the industry, and innovative solutions to revive the live music market. Cobb also discusses his involvement with D Tour and NIVA, shedding light on the crucial work these organizations are doing to support live music venues.If you're a music lover, a venue owner, or anyone interested in the live music industry, this episode is a must-listen. Get ready to be inspired by Cobb's passion and wisdom as he shares his insights on what it takes to succeed in this exciting yet challenging field.

(00:37) Exit/In lowdown

(05:40) Trademark battle

(07:10) The capitalist challenge in Nashville (and other music communities)

(11:30) Solutions and a message of hope

(21:00) Life after Exit/In and what’s next — Niva, Chattanooga, Booking, and more!

(24:00) Music inside the Amazon tower downtown

(31:15) The future of NIVA

(34:55) Incredible advice for opening venues

(39:27) Headliners of the Riverbend festival

(43:55) What is D tour + the future

(56:00) What is Cobb’s why?

It's conversations like this that inspire me to be a better human and believe in a beautiful future. Join us for a beautiful conversation with Ryan Honey, the executive director of TACAW, the world's first all electric Net Zero Carbon PAC. In this convo we unpacked the nuances of sustainability, explored the cutting edges of energy production technology (including nuclear, fusion, Geo hydro engineering & space-time bending UFOs), and talked about what's it like to run an incredible community venue. Ryan ended by painting a beautiful picture of his vision for Net Zero Tours and a greener healthier world.

(00:14) The first All Electric, Net Zero (carbon emission) live music venue

(03:44) Net Zero from the ground up

(05:44) Shoveling snow off the solar panels

(06:59) Using people energy to heat the building

(10:29) Cold Colorado nights vs hot summer nights

(13:54) Myth-busting sustainability questions: it costs too much to be Net Zero / Carbon Payoff

(18:44) Why go Net Zero

(22:14) Sustainable communities

(25:04) New construction vs existing buildings moving to sustainable

(27:14) Artists can make a change — Jack Johnson’s impact

(28:36) Geothermal, fusion, windmills, other sustainability technologies

(33:34) Nuclear powered music venues

(36:34) Gravity bending UFOs and Star Trek

(38:54) Lessons learned in creating the venue for sustainability, gardens, compostable cups, single use plastic & locally sourced food

(46:14)The secrets of successful programming at TACAW

(48:29) Utilizing technology in running a successful, sustainable, efficient operation

(54:04) The future & vision of TACAW and a more sustainable industry: Net Zero Tours!

(01:00:14) Ryan’s path into this mission (anyone can do it!)

(01:04:14) Music Industry Sustainability Conference!

(01:05:54) False end… we had to hear the Star Trek story!!

In today’s episode, we talk with Daniel with someone who’s been at the heart of D.C.’s live music scene for over two decades. From starting out as artists to building and running Union Stage Presents, which now operates six venues and hosts thousands of shows each year, they’ve seen it all. We’ll discuss the challenges of running small venues, how to keep a schedule packed with hundreds of shows, the realities of growing a business in a competitive market, and what it’s like to manage a multi-venue operation. We’ll also explore what makes D.C.’s music scene so unique and how the city’s culture and politics shape the way live music thrives here. It’s a conversation about the long road to success, the energy it takes to keep a venue alive, and what the future of live music might look like. Let’s get into it.

—----

(00:13) - “Overnight” Success (23 years of pushing), Union Stage Presents has grown to an operation of 6 venues doing thousands of shows a year

(01:56) - Going from artists to starting their own venue, Jammin Java 10 miles away from the Pentagon on 9/11, and eventually sustaining their 200 cap room for over 20 years

(13:10) - The art and science of keeping a venue booked + the sheer energy and resources required to do 300+ events a year at a small club

(23:12) - Growing beyond one venue, promoting at other venues, and building Union Stage

(29:00) - Surviving in DC, a robust live music market with tons of competition

(35:38) - The unique culture of DC that makes it a thriving live music market + how politics naturally shapes the landscape

(43:56) - Expanding to adding another venue, Capital Turnaround + manages the stresses and challenges of a growing business, and eventually expanding to owning/managing 6 venues

(52:05) - A zoomed out perspective of the flow of artists across the country, and how to create a pipeline of artists and shows

(59:15) - Fastball Questions - how to keep 200+ employees happy and engaged, how Prism and other tech platforms can help with scale, building their own ticketing system/the ticketing ecosystem as a whole, excitement for the future (potentially a large space coming?!)

Please share this with anyone that might be interested in the topics, links below to subscribe and stay in the loop with the podcast and Prism:

Subscribe ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠

More on ⁠⁠⁠Prism⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram (⁠⁠⁠@prismfm⁠⁠⁠)

Follow us on LinkedIn (⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠)

Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism - ⁠⁠⁠Matt Ford⁠⁠⁠

Meet Daniel

Union Stage Presents new website

Opening Music - ⁠⁠⁠Papooz - The Garde⁠⁠

Elsewhere - ⁠⁠ https://www.elsewhere.club/

In this episode, we dive into the journey of PopGun Presents and the iconic Brooklyn venue Elsewhere, with founder Rami. From his early days as an agent to becoming a cornerstone in NYC’s live music scene, Rami shares insights into building a thriving venue in a competitive market. We explore the hustle behind booking in NYC, the impressive $3.5M raise for Elsewhere’s launch, and the successes and challenges. Rami also shares his perspective on the future of music venues amidst rising costs and industry consolidation. A must-listen for anyone curious about the business and soul of NYC’s music scene!

(00:17) - Introduction, Origin Story of PopGun Presents and Elsewhere 

(04:46) - Transitioning from Being an agent to focusing on putting on events

(08:40) - The Hustle to keep a venue booked, intricacies of booking in NYC

(11:35) - The founding of Elsewhere, one of the most incredible venues in Brooklyn, and Rami’s process in raising 3.5m to get the job done

(23:55) - Successes and challenges of Elsewhere’s first year, scaling to a staff of hundreds, and booking over 600 shows a year

(27:25) - Evolving beyond day to day talent buyer, to creating strategy for a team, and keeping Elsewhere booked 

(46:43) - Hot Questions: how elections affect the scene, the future of elsewhere, Rami’s soul searching and personal aspirations for the future, music venues in NYC and raising costs, the battle between staying independent and fending off consolidation, the future growth of the worldwide touring industry

Please share this with anyone that might be interested in the topics, links below to subscribe and stay in the loop with the podcast and Prism:

Subscribe ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

More on ⁠⁠Prism⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram (⁠⁠@prismfm⁠⁠)

Follow us on LinkedIn (⁠⁠here⁠⁠)

Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism - ⁠⁠Matt Ford⁠⁠

Rami's LinkedIn

Opening Music - ⁠⁠Papooz - The Garde⁠

Elsewhere - ⁠ https://www.elsewhere.club/

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Bruce Finkelman, Managing Partner of 16 on Center, to uncover the secrets behind building an independent music venue empire in Chicago. From the founding story of 16 On Center to expanding multiple venues, we explore the economics of owning your own venue space, the evolution of running a venue from 1995 to 2024, and the challenges of staying independent in an industry dominated by giants like Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Bruce also shares insights into building a sustainable team, creating iconic venues like The Salt Shed, and his vision for the future of the music industry.

Chapters
(00:10) -Bruce’s story and the founding story of 16 On Center
(09:53) - The first empty bottle
(13:38) - Expanding to multiple venues
(27:14) - Economics: Owning the dirt at your venue + The evolution of running a venue from 1995 to 2024
(35:31) -Attracting to talent and Building a company that employs and sustains 600 people
(41:30) - The creation story of The Salt Shed
(48:00) - Making the jump to book larger rooms
(52:00) - Fastball questions - Using Prism and the tech stack to organize a massive amount of concerts, Secrets to building a succesful operation, the battle to stay independent, Live Nation, Ticketmaster and the DOJ.
(1:00:10) - Plans for the future (or lack thereof), the future of the industry

Please share this with anyone that might be interested in the topics, links below to subscribe and stay in the loop with the podcast and Prism:

Subscribe ⁠here⁠

More on ⁠Prism⁠

Follow us on Instagram (⁠@prismfm⁠)

Follow us on LinkedIn (⁠here⁠)

Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism - ⁠Matt Ford⁠

Opening Music - ⁠Papooz - The Garde

16 on Center
https://www.16oncenterchicago.com/ 

In this episode we dive into the evolution of Hive, from its roots as a ticketing company to its current role as a key player in marketing automation. We explore the challenges in the industry, and the company’s rapid team growth. Looking ahead, we discuss Hive’s aspirations, the potential of AI, and the intricacies of software design. The convo wrapped with some exciting fastball topics like the DOJ, Live Nation VS Independents, AI, VR/AR, and the booming live entertainment scene.

Please share this with anyone that might be interested in the topics, links below to subscribe and stay in the loop with the podcast and Prism:

Subscribe here

More on Prism

Follow us on Instagram (@prismfm)

Follow us on LinkedIn (here)

Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism - Matt Ford

Hive

Hive Discount

Opening Music - Papooz - The Garden

Chapters

(00:09)Hive’s story from starting a ticketing company to pivoting and becoming one of the most important marketing automation companies in the industry

(14:46) Choosing to not be a ticketing company/challenges in the ticketing industry

(23:30) team size growth over the year

(26:06) AI + Aspirations for the future of Hive

(36:20) complexity of software design + a shoutout to the competition?!!?

(44:30) coolest industry on planet earth / hopes for the future

(46:40) Hive/Prism integration + Hive discount (www.hive.co/prism)

(48:34) Fastballs to end - DOJ, LiveNation, TicketMaster, Independents, acquisitions, private equity, AI, VR/AR, 10x shows, booming industry, The Sphere

Sean & Kendall lay out the what, why, and vision of the State of Live initiative, which will provide music venues with an essential tool for local, regional, and national advocacy. If you run any kind of performance stage, please take the time to fill out the survey. In addition to discussing why this is the most important initiative since SVOG, we also explored an important philosophical discussion on the challenges live music venues face and envisioned a future where the entire industry can thrive beyond the challenges with tools like Prism Insights (link to page we are setting up).

👉 Take the State of Live Survey Now

February 18

• (00:10) What is the State of Live and why it’s the most important thing NIVA has done since SVOG.

• (10:03) Music venues can complete the survey in as little as 10 minutes (while earning a discounted pass to NIVACon!). All results are anonymous, and the survey data will  power advocacy conversations for the next 3-5 years.

• (23:35) A philosophical discussion on the state of the live music industry, the challenges of running a music venue, and what it would take for the industry to thrive.

• (29:39) Will the younger generation tour, play shows, and attend concerts more or less?

• (35:49) Surviving inflation.

• (42:46) To help combat the challenges live music venues face, Prism launched Insights, the most consequential data-sharing initiative in the history of live music.

Please share this with anyone that might be interested in the topics, links below to subscribe and stay in the loop with the podcast and Prism:

Subscribe ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠

More on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Prism⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram (⁠⁠⁠⁠@prismfm⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Follow us on LinkedIn (⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism - ⁠⁠⁠⁠Matt Ford⁠⁠⁠⁠

Opening Music - ⁠⁠⁠⁠Papooz - The Garde⁠⁠⁠

Avant Gardner, home of The Brooklyn Mirage, is truly one of the most spectacular venues in the world, and the innovation isn’t done yet. In this episode, we dive deep into the wild transformation Brooklyn Mirage is undergoing—possibly on the level of an East Coast Sphere (while still being its own thing). The new CEO joins my podcast to share plans for the future and to reflect on some harrowing mistakes made at the last Electric Zoo festival. I loved Josh’s approach: take feedback head-on, make peace, commit to changes, follow through, and keep going.

(00:17) – Josh reflects on his first season as CEO of Avant Gardner and Brooklyn Mirage, and on the background that led him to this incredible opportunity

(04:18) – A breakdown of the executive team, the origin story, and the vision behind one of the most otherworldly music venues in Brooklyn

(13:35) – Pushing the boundaries of what a venue can be: the grand vision of the new Brooklyn Mirage, potentially the “Sphere of the East Coast” or something totally unique—kicking off with two sold-out Sara Landry shows

(23:57) – Learning from failures and facing criticism and bad press head-on: what happened with Electric Zoo, reaching a settlement with vendors and fans, and how the company plans to rebuild for the future.

(39:30) – Fastball questions: the staffing required to run Avant Gardner and Brooklyn Mirage, the software tools used to ensure smooth operations, acquiring Made Events, and the ultimate goal of becoming the most innovative, forward-thinking live electronic venue in the United States.

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Opening Music -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Banana Bread - Layton.rx (Prism engineer!)

TikTok (and social media as a whole) has transformed the music industry, perhaps on the same level as the evolution of digital streaming—from enabling once-unrecognized artists like Chappell Roan to build massive online followings & successful careers overnight, to revolutionizing the way we market and promote live concerts and record releases. The industry has arguably changed for the better thanks to these tools, but the plot thickens with TikTok—perhaps the stickiest of all social media platforms, which also happens to be fully owned and operated by a Chinese company.

Is TikTok a massive psyop for the CCP to gather security intel? The greatest propaganda tool ever invented (broadcasting straight into the minds of hundreds of millions of Americans)? Or is it simply a fun place to share videos? These questions have drawn the attention of everyone from presidents and executives of the world’s largest companies, to the Supreme Court—all weighing in on what should happen.

Through this conversation, Joseph Perla helps us make sense of what’s happening and shares his vision for the second coming of Turntable.fm, called Hangout.fm. Hangout.fm is an exciting new social media platform that relies on HI (Human Intelligence) instead of AI, enabling friends to connect and share music in a fresh, engaging way. I was a user of Turntable.fm back in 2011 and loved the platform—I remember when record labels effectively shut it down. Now, Joseph has partnered with those same labels to refresh the service with a modern take.

All this and more in the latest episode.

(00:15) – The scoop: Is TikTok banned? Did Congress make it illegal? How are Trump’s policies playing into this? Can people still use it now? Will it be sold?

(7:25) – Is the TikTok ban beyond Trump? What does the letter of the law say? Could Apple and Google be fined for new downloads of TikTok?

(11:22) – What is the secret sauce of the TikTok algorithm? Will they ever sell it?

(16:44) – The role Meta’s lobbyists and other tech giants have played in the TikTok ban.

(19:05) – Unpacking the theory that TikTok is a security issue for the U.S.

(31:45) – The argument that allowing TikTok is part of operating in the free world.

(37:47) – How this impacts the music industry, Joseph’s solution with Hangout, and the distinction between HI and AI (Human Intelligence vs. Artificial Intelligence).

(38:50) – The evolution of Turntable.fm, how it was shut down by record labels, and how that eventually led to the launch of Hangout in a post-Spotify era. Plus, the overall evolution of the industry, from cassettes to digital MP3s to VR and AR.

(51:50) – A new solution for using social media to market live shows

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Opening Music -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Papooz - The Garde⁠⁠⁠⁠

This was a truly fun podcast with my good friend Aly, who makes me feel deeply confident about the emerging generation carrying the torch for producing psych rock events and booking fantastic live music.

We explore the world of psychedelic rock festivals with Aly, one of the creators behind Austin Psych Fest and Levitation. In this episode, we’ll hear how he went from booking small clubs like Hole in the Wall to producing cutting-edge events across Austin, discover his process for choosing the perfect bands, and get an inside look at the new format for Levitation 25. We’ll also discuss the rise of Chappell Roan, the power of technology in booking, and the future of psych music. Stick around for our lineup add-on, where we reveal this year’s Psych Fest roster and throw a few “fastballs” at the lineup!

(00:18) – Aly’s story of producing Psych Fest, Levitation, and his start booking local legendary clubs like Hole in the Wall

(02:24) – The process of picking bands for Levitation and Psych Fest

(07:25) – Organizing decentralized music festivals at venues around Austin

(09:35) – Innovative new format & venue for Levitation 25

(24:28) – The art of booking festivals and booking in general during the social media era

(33:18) – Legendary ascent of Chappell Roan, in one tour going from not selling out Parish to headlining ACL

(37:48) – Aly’s story from his childhood in Egypt to booking bands at UT & Hole in the Wall

(49:24) – How Aly has used Prism & technology at various parts of his journey

(53:47) – The future of the industry, the future of Psych, Psych Fest Cairo/Pyramid stage?

(57:02) – The power of live music and world peace

(58:35) – Psych Fest’s absolutely incredible lineup

(1:03:40) – Creative process for booking this year’s Psych Fest

(1:14:42) – Psych Fest fastballs: most innovative in their approach to psych, most likely to show up on Dark Side of the Moon, and more

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Resound Presents,Levitation,Psych Fest

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Opening Music -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Papooz - The Garde⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Matt sits down with outspoken music industry advocate Randy Nichols for an unfiltered deep dive into the broken ticketing system—and the growing movement to fix it. From viral LinkedIn posts to behind-the-scenes talks with the DOJ, Randy shares his personal journey, his work with NITO, and what it will really take to make ticketing fair for fans and artists alike.

Topics covered:

• How Ticketmaster rose to power—and what’s keeping it there
• Why “all-in pricing” is finally gaining traction
• The dark side of scalping, lobbying, and legislation
• Mistakes artists and platforms keep making
• What true fan-first pricing could look like

If you’ve ever asked why ticket fees are so high or how artists can reclaim control, this is the episode for you.

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Opening Music -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Banana Bread - Layton.rx⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Prism engineer!)

Facing outdated systems and growing demands, Pabst turned to Prism to streamline everything from artist discovery and internal communication to financial reporting, offer generation, and show settlement. Prism’s dynamic, ever-evolving platform has empowered Pabst to reduce errors, save money, and make smarter, data-driven decisions. As early adopters of Prism's Insights tool, Pabst helped pioneer a new standard for industry transparency and ticketing analysis. The conversation also explores the implications of all-in ticket pricing, the challenges of scalping, and concludes with a forward-looking discussion on how AI and Prism can continue to transform the live entertainment business.

(00:04) -- Matt’s Background, The Pabst Theater Group, and how Prism has been essential for their operation + the evolution of the tech over the years.

(25:35) -- Pabst Theatre Group was one of the first promoters to sign up for Insights beta and they've been power users ever since, Matt deep dives on why he thinks is a game-changing tool to both mitigate risk on shows and discovering the best before anyone else.

(45:00) -- The Matts discuss the future potential of AI and how Prism + AI could give promoters superpowers.

(59:02) -- We wrap up by discussing the controversial All-In Ticketing legislation. Matt B shares his perspective on its impact—the good, the bad, and the ugly—and ultimately weighs in on whether it’s a net positive for the industry.

You can also find the full case study here!

In this episode, I sit down with Pat, CTO of Hive, technologist, futurist, a fellow live music fanatic, and friend. We explore how AI is transforming the live music industry—from automating concert marketing to revolutionizing how shows are discovered and booked. We also unpack the big questions: Is AI a threat to jobs? How much more productive are teams thanks to AI? What does the world look like in 10 years? If you’re curious about where AI is headed—and how it’s helping now—this one’s for you.

(00:20) The future of Hive & their AI strategy – is AI at the risk of creating massive job displacement?

(17:55) How is AI automating concert marketing + Hive’s new ad product

(55:11) The future of concert discovery + using data to book bands

(01:09:10) Fastball questions: what does the world look like in 10 years, what’s Hive’s boost in productivity thanks to AI, how disruptive is AI, hope for the future of the live music industry

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Opening Music -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Banana Bread - Layton.rx⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Prism engineer!)

We had an extremely fun and informative industry deep dive with this one. From the origin story and future of NITO to epic tales from the independent agent world, we covered it all.

We kicked things off exploring how the pandemic helped galvanize agents to work together, and why that collaboration still matters. Then we dug into what it truly means to be independent—both in spirit and in practice—with some unforgettable booking stories (shoutout to Derek Trucks).

We also unpacked the pressures and realities of working in a landscape increasingly dominated by consolidation, weighing the pros and cons of major vs. indie and asking: who’s really better equipped to support artists?

From there, we examined the elusive path to stardom, broke down the economics behind agent-promoter relationships, and debated a big question—who should carry the most risk in today’s live music deals, promoters, venues or agents?

This one’s full of insight, laughs, and a ton of real talk from deep inside the live music trenches.

(00:15) Origin story, and future of NITO + a silver lining of the pandemic & the value of agents working together.

(18:08) What does it mean to be an independent promoter or independent agent? The spirit + the letter of the law. Some epic stories including booking Derick Trucks.

(41:16) The NITO perspective on cohexisiting/battling with the forces of consolidation. The pros and cons with going with the majors vs staying independent. Who is better setup to help artists?

(53:31) The ascension of artists, is there a formula to achieving stardom 

(01:06:34) The agent and promoter relationship & co-existence, the economics of striking fair deals, escalating fees to combat higher guarantees, and a debate on who should carry the most risk. Is there room for a new type of deal?

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More on ⁠⁠NITO

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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matt Ford⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Opening Music -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Banana Bread - Layton.rx⁠⁠⁠ (Prism engineer!)

(Chapters below intro)

In this episode, we sit down with Graham Williams, founder of Resound Presents — the legendary indie promoter behind over 600 shows a year across Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas. We dive into the macroeconomics of the live music industry, surviving today’s challenging business environment, and the pros and cons of having a massive venue like The Moody Center in town.

Graham shares what makes Resound’s brand stand out and reflects on how booking in Austin has evolved over the last 30 years. We explore his festival era, from Fun Fun Fun Fest through Sound on Sound, including magical moments, clashes with corporate culture, and the hard lessons learned organizing festivals through unpredictable weather and city bureaucracy.

We also talk about the risk involved in booking shows and the innovative solution Prism launched called Insights, which is now helping promoters save tens of thousands of dollars every month.

Finally, Graham answers a series of fastball questions covering the art of building an iconic indie brand, fostering a melting pot of genres, sustaining success for three decades, putting on shows at haunted western towns and laser tag arenas, staying connected to new bands, and a nod to the classic comedy Blazing Saddles.

(00:11) The story of Resound Presents, a legendary indie promoter that books over 600 shows a year in Austin, San Antonio, and other Central Texas markets

(10:51) Macroeconomics of the industry, surviving the current business environment, and dealing with competition — the pros and cons of having a massive venue like The Moody Center in town

(21:41) What makes Resound’s brand special, and how booking in Austin has evolved over the last 30 years

(36:56) Graham’s festival era, from Fun Fun Fun Fest through Sound on Sound — reflecting on magical moments, clashes with corporate culture, challenges managing the city parks department, inclement weather, and other hard lessons in organizing festivals

(59:38) Reflecting on the risk of booking shows, and the innovative solution Prism launched called Insights, which is helping promoters save tens of thousands of dollars monthly on offers

(01:12:53) Fastball questions: what goes into curating an iconic indie brand, the melting pot of genres covered by Resound, keys to success after 30 years of putting on concerts, building a scene by hosting shows at haunted western towns and laser tag arenas, keeping up with new bands, and a nod to Blazing Saddles

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More on ⁠Resound

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Opening Music -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Banana Bread - Layton.rx⁠⁠ (Prism engineer!)

In this conversation, Kym (the venue owner) walks us through Pinhook’s 16‑year journey from start‑up to beloved cultural anchor in downtown Durham, NC. They open by explaining how Prism’s booking and settlement tools have tightened operations enough for a small, 200‑capacity room to pay fair wages—including their own—without sacrificing the club’s community‑first ethos.

Kym then rewinds to Pinhook’s 2008 founding, sharing how a queer‑owned, radically inclusive space was forged to welcome every walk of life while amplifying Durham’s DIY music roots. They dive into the economics of surviving (and thriving) as a micro‑venue: offsetting inflation and shifting drinking habits with inventive revenue streams—non‑alcoholic options, staggered early and late shows, and relentless programming creativity.

Mid‑episode, we hear the dramatic story of Pinhook’s brush with closure and the grassroots campaign (boosted by hometown heroes Sylvan Esso) that kept its doors open. Kym pulls back the curtain on the hard math of a 200‑cap business, stressing why community goodwill and eventually owning the building “dirt” matter as much as bar sales.

We wrap with a round of fastballs: their playbook for sustaining a tiny venue over decades, hopes for a fairer, more inclusive music ecosystem, and practical advice for fellow operators—chief among them, “Control your real estate, stay agile, and stay true to the people you serve.

(00:20) - Kym reflecting on how helpful Prism is to their 200 capacity community venue and pay them and their employees more

(3:24) - Kym’s story and the founding of Pinhook, a queer owned and ran club in Durham NC, and their unique ethos to truly embody inclusion while creating a safe space for everyone

(13:26) – the shifting landscape of drinking preferences, inflation and Kym’s success offering NAs, doing early shows & late night shows, and overall how Kym gets creative to make their venue work

(22:33) – The economics of making a 200 cap community centric club work, staying in business for 16 years + the heroic story of Kym and the community saving Pinhook early on–in part thanks to incredible local bands like Sylvan Esso 

(32:07) – Fastballs: how do you make a 200 cap sustain for 16 years, the importance of owning the dirt under your venue, hopes for the music industry for the future

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More on The Pinhook

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Opening Music -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Banana Bread - Layton.rx⁠ (Prism engineer!)

What does the future of payments at live events look like? In this episode of The Live Music Industry Podcast, Matt Ford sits down with Stas Chijik, co-founder of Billfold, to talk about reshaping the point-of-sale experience for venues with tens of thousands of attendees.

From RFID wristbands and AI-powered operations to biometric “Look to Pay” systems, this episode offers a fascinating glimpse into how technology is streamlining transactions and changing the way fans experience live events.

Inside the Episode:

• Introduction to Billfold: A look at how Billfold serves large-scale events with a focus on transaction speed and vendor integration.
• Client Reach: Billfold’s success with approximately 150 clients handling massive venues with up to 100,000 attendees.
• Technology & Products: How Billfold embraces RFID technology and the transition to biometric payments to enhance customer experiences.
• Industry Insights: Discussion on current consumer trends such as the rise in non-alcoholic beverage popularity and its effect on spending behaviors.
• Challenges of Inflation: How rising costs impact pricing strategies for concessionaires.
• Biometric Payment System: An inside look into the potential of "Look to Pay" technology in the event industry.
• The Impact of AI: How AI is being used in product development and its role in enhancing operational efficiency.
• Privacy and Biometrics: A critical look at privacy concerns surrounding biometric data use and the philosophy of trust within technology.

If you’re looking to stay ahead of the tech curve, you won’t want to miss this one.

Episode Timestamps:

• (00:00:14) Overview of Billfold & The Founding Story - Stas discusses what Billfold is, their client base, and the benefits it brings to large events.
• (00:03:56) Evolution of Billfold & RFID POS Technology - Details about the evolution of Billfold's technology and the integration of RFID.
• (00:05:02) Market Focus, Customer Base & Competitors - A look into Billfold's target market and client demographics.
• (00:19:15) Downwards Alcoholic Purchase Trends & Inflation -  Examination of current trends in non-alcoholic beverages and the impact of inflation.
• (00:39:29) The Future: Innovations, Biometric Checkout, & Future Developments - Stas shares Billfold's plans for future innovations, including biometric payment solutions.
• (00:52:13) Conclusion and Final Thoughts - Wrap-up of the conversation and closing remarks from Matt Ford and Stas Chijik.

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Opening Music -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Banana Bread - Layton.rx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Prism engineer!)

Veteran promoter Jen Lyon, Founder of MeanRed Productions, shares a candid, inspiring conversation around how independents can stand their ground in a Live Nation world—plus why she’s urging promoters to join Insights now.

Inside the episode:

• Jen’s personal journey from NYC bottle service clubs to building a values-driven venue in Detroit

• Why Insights is a game-changer, and her urgent plea to fellow independents to join the movement

• The power of transparency in booking, artist development, and leveling the playing field

• How a data-sharing culture can create equity—and why withholding data hurts the whole industryThe real risks independent promoters take—and how tools like Prism help make it sustainable

• Why she’s launching a nonprofit venue with community curators (and a unique for-profit/F&B model)

• What the future of live music could look like, if we choose to build it together

Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned vet, Jen drops truth bombs, challenges the status quo, and brings hope for a more collaborative, independent future.

Episode Timestamps:

• (00:01:01): Evolution of Live Music Booking Technology
• (00:01:49): Early Career Challenges
• (00:02:58): Transition to Prism
• (00:04:04): Transparency in the Industry - Insights deep dive
• (00:06:14): Industry Diversity and Inclusion
• (00:08:05): Tech and the Next Generation
• (00:09:18): Prism's Potential
• (00:10:02): Sustaining an Independent Approach
• (00:11:03): Different Perspectives on Industry Challenges
• (00:13:30): Dynamics Between Large Promoters Versus Independent Venues
• (00:15:40): Insights and Data Sharing
• (00:17:32): Independent Promoters' Struggles
• (00:19:03): Looking to the Future
• (00:21:01): Jen's Journey into Live Music
• (00:25:28): Building Community
• (00:28:21): Finding Sustainability and Purpose

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Opening Music -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Banana Bread - Layton.rx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Prism engineer!)

In this episode of The Live Music Industry Podcast, Matt Ford sits down with Stephen Parker, Executive Director of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), for an unfiltered look at the challenges, opportunities, and fight for fairness shaping the industry today.

From the results of the State of Live survey to candid conversations on venue survival, ticketing practices, and industry power imbalances, this episode offers a wide-ranging perspective on what independents are up against and where hope lies.

🎙️ Inside the episode:

• State of Live survey: Optimism, challenges, and the true economic weight of independent venues
• Venue profitability: Scale, competition, and what it takes to survive
• Ticketing controversy: Scalping, all-in pricing, and the imbalance of marketing power
• Industry giants under fire: The DOJ vs. Live Nation and what’s at stake
• The future: Determination, hope, and a path to a more sustainable independent scene

If you want an honest take on the fight for fairness in live music, this is the one to listen to.

Episode Timestamps:

• State of Live Deep Dive (00:00:19): Discussion about the State of Live survey results, optimism, and challenges in the industry. Analysis of economic contributions of the live events industry, highlighting its impact on GDP.

• Discussion on Venues and Profitability (00:09:43): Factors affecting profitability in the industry including venue scale, tax status, and competition.

• Monopolistic Practices in the Industry (00:18:48): Exploration of marketing challenges and the impact of monopolistic practices by larger corporations.

• Scalping and All-In-Ticketing (00:23:10): Discussion about the debate on scalping, and the role scalpers play in the ticketing world.

• Monopoly Discussion +The DOJ Lawsuit Against Live Nation (00:29:00): Update and insights into the DOJ lawsuit against Live Nation and its significance.

• Conclusion and Closing Thoughts + An Optimistic Vision for the Future: (00:46:03) Summary and reflections on the podcast discussion, closing remarks.

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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matt Ford⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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McMenamins is one of the most unique live music businesses in the country, with a portfolio that spans boutique hotels, pubs, and iconic (sometimes haunted 👻) venues like Portland’s Crystal Ballroom. In this case study, we explore how they scaled operations with Prism, starting as a simple calendar tool in 2019 and growing into a system that now runs offers, settlements, reporting, and ticketing integrations across dozens of venues.

You’ll also hear about the game-changing Etix and Prism integration, how Insights helps promoters share data and reduce risk, and a wide-ranging conversation on industry trends including non-alcoholic and CBD beverages, ticketing debates, and the rise of mega concerts.

Explore the full case study here.

Learn more about Prism.

In this episode of the Live Music Industry Podcast, Matt Ford chats with Anthony “Tony” Markun, the talent buyer behind Back 40 Live at Morris Farm Market. Tony shares how a surprise set from then-unknown Oliver Anthony drew 12,000 fans overnight and catapulted a small farm stage into a fast-growing live music destination.

Inside the episode:

• How a backyard bonfire performance turned into a viral breakout moment
• The scramble to produce a 12,000-person show in just two days
• Building a venue from scratch with friends, family, and phone poles
• The challenges (and scrappiness) of booking as an emerging venue
• Why Tony believes live music is the antidote to the digital world

Episode Timestamps:

(00:00:15) Guest Introduction, Venue Origins and Development

(00:02:06) Rise of Oliver Anthony, Putting on His First Live Show, the Psychology of an Internet Sensation

(00:07:41) Handling Sudden Success, The Farm’s Logistics and Challenges

(00:13:04) Describing the Farm’s Attraction / Building a Unique Venue

(00:17:46) Personal Journey and Evolution

(00:29:32) Implementing Tech at the Venue

(00:34:39) Inclusive Initiatives and Community Impact

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On the latest episode of The Live Music Industry Podcast, Matt Ford sits down with Boris Patronoff, founder and CEO of Soundcheck Capital and former CEO of See Tickets US.

In this conversation, Boris breaks down how independent promoters, venues, and festivals actually get financed today and why so many of those dollars come with hidden tradeoffs.

You’ll hear:

• Why traditional banks rarely fund independent live operators

• How ticketing companies became de-facto lenders and what that means for fees and flexibility

• The real economics behind ticketing advances and service charges

• Key differences between U.S. and European ticketing markets

• How all-in pricing and secondary markets are shaping fan trust

• Why separating “the tech” from “the check” can create more optionality and long-term sustainability

Episode Time Stamps:

• (00:00:27) – Boris’s path into ticketing
• (00:03:39) – The financing problem & Europe vs. U.S. ticketing
• (00:12:30)– Founding See Tickets U.S.
• (00:15:30) – Growing See Tickets: festivals to venues
• (00:21:21) – Soundcheck Capital: separating tech from capital

• (00:31:26) – Underwriting risk & why banks can’t do this
• (00:40:08) – Optionality over monopoly
• (00:47:05) – All-in pricing & a potential reset
• (00:52:24) – Long-term belief in live events

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In this episode of The Live Music Industry Podcast, Matt Ford sits down with David Zamora, Founder & CEO of Zamora Live, one of the most active independent Latin promoters in the U.S.

David shares how his family’s Chicago operation grew from booking bands in a restaurant basement into a company promoting arena and stadium tours nationwide. They unpack what makes the Latin live music market structurally and culturally different, why independence has lasted longer in Latin touring, and how economics shift from clubs to stadiums.

The conversation also explores the real-world impact of immigration policy on live events, including a moment when ICE activity and National Guard presence in Chicago affected ticket sales ahead of a major community show.

A candid look at scale, resilience, and what it takes to build an independent live music business today.

Episode Time Stamps:

• (00:00:51) – From restaurant basement to concert company
• (00:05:12) – First stadium show at MetLife: “Just another show… with a zero”
• (00:07:10) – Stadium deals, settlements & wider marketing radius
• (00:09:57) – Family business to bigger organization: how Zamora Live is structured today
• (00:16:49) – How the U.S. Latin live market grew under the radar
• (00:28:06) – Why there’s still room for independents in Latin touring
• (00:33:22) – Consolidation, deals & how Zamora thinks about selling
• (00:36:01) – Chicago show under National Guard & ICE spotlight
• (00:47:48) – From Covid to immigration crackdowns: surviving the waves
• (00:52:36) – Why Zamora adopted Prism & let go of DIY systems
• (00:55:59) – Ticketing stack: from Ticketmaster to Ticketon
• (01:03:09) – Tech shifts, human fear & past revolutions
• (01:08:28) – Why live shows still matter in an AI future
• (01:13:43) – Best-case AI: fewer admin tasks, more creativity
• (01:16:13) – David's aspirations: world tours & beyond music
• (01:19:00) – Gratitude, perspective & the long view

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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matt Ford⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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This one’s a big deal. The Live Nation/Ticketmaster antitrust case is one of the most consequential battles in live music right now, and it’s far more complicated than the headlines suggest. In this episode, Matt Ford sits down with Randy Nichols to break down what’s actually happening, from the DOJ settlement that didn’t end the case to the political and structural forces shaping what comes next.

If you care about the future of live music, this is essential listening.

As mentioned in the episode, Michael Rapino is testifying on Thursday, and Inner City Press is an amazing resource to stay in the loop as things continue to unfold. Check them out here: https://x.com/innercitypress

Episode Timestamps:

(0:00) | The Case Isn't Over

The DOJ settled, but the multi-state case continues. This is a bipartisan issue with Tennessee as a key case study.

(4:30) | What the Case Is Really About

It's not just about breaking up Live Nation — a breakup alone might not fix structural issues. You could end up with local monopolies, and the secondary market drives a lot of the pricing problem.

(10:00) | PR Spin, Pardons & Political Pressure

Live Nation is aggressively shaping the narrative, including a since-deleted blog post signaling fear about a breakup. Tim Leiwicke's pardon adds another political layer.

(16:00) | Antitrust Leadership & Why This Differs from Big Tech

The DOJ antitrust division had a leadership shake-up with Gail Slater and Roger Alford's firing. Unlike Big Tech cases, breaking up Live Nation could redirect revenue back into local economies.

(22:00) | Unintended Consequences, AEG & How States Saved the Case

Regional spinoffs could still squeeze indie venues. Live Nation is trying to frame AEG as equally dominant. The states kept the case alive by hiring a top litigator days before trial.

(33:00) | Trial Mechanics, Trump & Ticket Pricing

The trial runs weeks with major witnesses, and appeals could drag on for years. Trump seems more interested in a "win" than structural reform. Biden's all-in pricing rules are a separate thread.

(42:00) | The Slack Messages Bombshell & the Scalper Fight

Leaked internal Slack messages from Live Nation/Ticketmaster employees were a massive moment — staff openly calling fans "stupid" and celebrating how much money they could extract through ancillary fees.

(54:00) | What's Next

Rapino's testimony is a key upcoming moment. The likely outcome is modest remedies, fines, and long appeals — no single fix.

(1:03:00) | Reforms, Indie Venues & Closing

Randy wants more protection for indies and real ticketing innovation. The death of local radio under Clear Channel is a warning — live music could follow the same path.

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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matt Ford⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, Matt Ford sits down with David Weingarden, Vice President of Concerts + Events at Z2 Entertainment, independent promoter, and chair of the Colorado Independent Venue Association, to unpack what it’s really like fighting on the front lines of ticketing reform. From testifying before the U.S. Senate to experimenting with new tech stacks, David breaks down how independents can survive (and win) in a landscape dominated by monopolies and scalpers.

Episode Time Stamps:

(00:00) • Why This Conversation Matters

(02:11) • Colorado Ticketing Bill & Lobbyists
David’s work on a Colorado bill modeled on Maine’s, the governor’s veto, and the lobbying imbalance: 4 on their side vs. 75 for the scalpers/secondary market.

(06:36) • Getting Pulled Into DC
How David’s relationships with Colorado senators and NIVA led to a last‑minute invite to testify at the Senate Commerce Committee.

(08:50) • Inside the Senate Hearing
Who was in the room (Kid Rock, Live Nation, Ticket Policy Forum, senators), what written vs. spoken testimony looks like, and where most questions landed.

(11:26) • Kid Rock, All‑In Pricing & Artist Control
How Kid Rock helped push all‑in pricing into law, and why his focus now is artists having control over how tickets are priced and resold.

(13:40) • Secondary Markets: Guardrails, Not a Ban
David/NIVA’s stance: resale is fine, but the “wild west” isn’t. Bots, unenforced laws, spec tickets, deceptive sites, and why fixing this at scale is hard.

(16:06) • Bot Farms, Chargebacks & Who Eats the Loss
How bot operations grab huge blocks of tickets, fail to move them, then charge back—leaving promoters on the hook for show costs with no clear path to recover.

(21:16) • State vs Federal Fixes
Why David sees more progress at the state level (Maine, Maryland, others) than in DC, and how scalper‑friendly bills keep popping up in statehouses.

(25:01) • StubHub, “Just a Marketplace” & Open Distribution
Pushback on the “we’re only a platform” line, the Aspen Live panel where StubHub took the heat, and the pros/cons of venues listing primary tickets on StubHub to undercut scalpers.

(40:02) • Live Nation / Ticketmaster Monopoly Talk
Initial reactions to the antitrust case update, David’s view that Live Nation is a monopoly with deep vertical control, and how Ticketmaster’s resale floors trap fans.

(46:02) • Z2’s Tech Stack & Prism
Why Z2 moved to Tixr from AXS, how Prism replaced scattered spreadsheets and calendars, and why open integrations (Tixr, ticketing, POS, Hive, etc.) matter so much to how they work.

(56:55) • Prism Insights, Spotify Data & AI
Why Z2 decided to share their data into Insights, how David actually uses it (recent years, similar markets, sanity checks), and early moves into Spotify local‑listener data and AI‑driven prediction tools.

(01:15:28) • The Bull Case for Independents
Organizing at every level: local (night mayors), state (SIVA), national (NIVA). Why showing up in policy conversations matters for a real seat at the table—and why David is still bullish on live music demand in a digital age.

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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matt Ford⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode of The Live Music Industry Podcast, Matt Ford sits down with Alec Ellin, Co-Founder & CEO of Laylo, for a candid conversation about fan capture, “drops,” and the marketing flywheel powering modern ticket, merch, and content launches. From Laylo’s early pivots through Y Combinator to its breakout product-market fit during the pandemic, they unpack how artists, venues, and festivals are turning social hype into first-party audiences and what that enables next.

In this episode, they cover:

• Laylo 101 — a music-first CRM + messaging platform built to capture fans and drive them to tickets, merch, and content

• The origin story — from Dark Chart & Silo to YC, a painful pivot, and finding the winning “drops” model in 2021

• What a “drop” really does — productizing FOMO to convert attention into signups before the on-sale moment

• Scale by the numbers — 60M+ fans reached, 200K drops in a year, and tens of thousands of platform users

• Multi-channel messaging — SMS, email, Instagram, and WhatsApp, plus high-performing IG DM capture flows

• Why venues and festivals are adopting Laylo — high-conversion drop pages, list growth without requiring a ticket purchase, and demand-driving campaigns

• First-party data, done right — why Laylo won’t share PII, and how “collabs” let artists + promoters build lists compliantly

• Smarter segmentation — targeting likely ticket and merch buyers to improve cost, deliverability, and fan experience

• AI inside the product — multi-drop builders, “magic templates,” and the roadmap to put CRM workflows on autopilot

⭐️ Get 50,000 free message credits through Laylo right now when you use code LAYLO26: https://laylo.com/refer?ref=prism&utm_source=prism

Episode Timestamps:

(0:00) — What Laylo Is & Who It’s For A CRM and messaging platform built around “drops” — announce something, collect fans, then message them when it goes live. Supports SMS, email, Instagram, and WhatsApp, with a free tier available.

(7:24) — How Alec & Saj Ended Up Building Laylo Alec came from music blogging and Epic Records, while Saj built a competing analytics app. They met, merged ideas, sold a fan analytics tool to The Orchard, went through Y Combinator, then pivoted when growth stalled.

(24:01) — The Birth of “Drops” COVID shut down touring. A simple “text me when this drops” experiment on Saj’s own music clicked instantly. Artists were already teasing releases — Laylo made capturing and re-engaging those fans automatic. Early wins with ODESZA and Dillon Francis validated the idea.

(40:03) — Adding Venues & Festivals Same product, new use case — venues collect signups before onsales and message fans when tickets go live. Laylo built “Collabs” for shared pages with explicit opt-in for both lists. The Midway sees ~55–60% conversion on ad traffic vs ~10% on typical pages.

(52:09) — Team, Fundraising & AI Inside Laylo 24-person distributed team. ~$8.5M raised, with the last round over three years ago. AI features include Multi-Drop Builder (paste tour dates, auto-build pages), Magic Templates (auto-design emails), and Suggested Segments (surface likely buyers).

(1:05:14) — AI, Coding & Why Live Still Wins AI accelerates development but doesn’t replace great engineers. Alec expects AI to flood music with generic tracks — increasing demand for real live experiences. Laylo’s core bet: own your audience, automate the busywork, and drive fans to shows.

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In this episode of The Live Music Industry Podcast, Matt Ford sits down with Chris Battaglino (Chief Product Officer at Etix) and Michael Reklis (Director of Sales, Music Venues at Etix) for a candid conversation about ticketing at scale. From clubs to arenas to international markets, they unpack what it takes to serve thousands of venues while navigating resale, dynamic pricing, AI, and the broader economic shifts impacting live events.

Episode Timestamps:

• (2:26) - Deep Dive into Etix’s Global Ticketing Empire
• (5:17) - Client Mix & Always-On Seasonality
• (7:06) - Cross-Vertical Product Strategy
• (10:11) - Etix Marketing Agency (Rockhouse Partners)
• (19:41) - Why Etix Built a POS System (Octave)
• (29:57) - Seat Relay: Etix’s Integrated Secondary
• (32:30) - Philosophy on Secondary & Distributed Commerce
• (38:17) - Ethics, Fans & the Secondary Market Mess
• (40:30) - All-In Ticket Pricing: What Changes?
• (48:18) - Regulation, NIVA & Fix the Tix
• (54:16) - AI deep Dive
• (56:40) - Brainstorming an AI-first ticketing UX
• (59:04) - Security, Bots & Fraud in an AI World
• (1:01:32) - What’s Etix’s Role in an Agent-Driven Future?
• (1:02:43) - Prism Insights + Etix: Data as a Shared Asset
• (1:03:35) - Closing Thoughts, Partnership & Hopes for 2026

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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matt Ford⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, Matt Ford sits down with Sara Mertz (VP, Music Partnerships) and Steve Oberman (VP, Partnerships) from Tixr to discuss the future of independent ticketing, the evolution of the secondary market, and the technology shaping live events.
They explore how Tixr has built a customer-driven ticketing platform, why promoters need a strategy for resale, what the Live Nation/Ticketmaster antitrust case could mean for the industry, and how AI is changing everything from marketing to fan discovery.
They also discuss the importance of best-of-breed technology, the role of first-party data, and why independent operators need better tools to compete in an increasingly complex market.
Inside the episode:
• How Tixr built a technology-first ticketing platform for independent promoters
• Why the secondary market isn’t going away—and how operators can use it strategically
• Key takeaways from the Live Nation/Ticketmaster antitrust case
• How AI is changing ticketing, marketing, and event discovery
• The role of first-party data in modern live event businesses
• Why best-of-breed platforms often outperform all-in-one solutions
• How independent venues and promoters can compete more effectively in today’s market

Episode Timestamps:

(00:50) Meet Tixr & the Team — Tixr's independent-first origins and approach to long-term venue/promoter/artist partnerships, plus Sara's path from artist management and labels into ticketing and Steve's role across partnerships, sales, and promoter financing.

(07:55) What Makes Tixr Different — Tixr's industry reputation and why promoters gravitate toward its collaborative approach.

(13:20) Features & Resale — Waitlists, integrated resale marketplace, ticket security, and flexible refunds, plus how promoters use secondary markets for discovery while steering fans back to primary.

(24:25) The Live Nation/Ticketmaster Debate — The DOJ antitrust case, industry implications, and what more competition means for promoters.

(38:34) AI, Data & Industry Change — Tixr's use of AI across ops, marketing, and fan experience, plus making data actionable, responsible adoption, and first-party data advantages.

(01:03:05) Prism Insights & Data Transparency — Matt introduces Prism Insights and how better data helps independents decide smarter.

(01:08:27) Surviving & Growing in a Tough Market — Venue economics, headwinds, the role of NIVA and community, plus revenue strategies via premium experiences, upsells, and referrals.

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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matt Ford⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, Matt Ford sits down with Justin Kantor, Founder of VenuePilot, to unpack a radically different approach to ticketing—one that challenges long-standing industry norms around contracts, fees, and control.

They explore the hidden economics behind ticketing deals, from advances and per-ticket fees to the real cost venues carry over time. Along the way, they dig into why Justin built VenuePilot without contracts or venture capital, how collaboration (not competition) led to a Prism integration, and what it means to build technology that actually serves operators.

The conversation also expands beyond ticketing into the future of live music itself—touching on AI, human connection, and why small, local venues may be more important than ever in the years ahead.

Episode Timestamps:

(01:13) Justin’s background + founding VenuePilot

Justin shares his journey from professional cellist to running a New York venue, and how that experience led him to build VenuePilot in response to industry pain points.

(03:04) The core problem with ticketing companies

A candid look at how ticketing platforms gained outsized control over venues—and why Justin believes technology should serve operators, not the other way around.

(07:17) No contracts, no lock-ins

Justin explains the philosophy behind eliminating contracts, arguing that strong products—not restrictions—are what actually create long-term customer loyalty.

(10:41) The hidden economics of ticketing deals

A deep dive into advances, signing bonuses, and how “free money” from ticketing companies often comes with long-term financial tradeoffs for venues.

(13:42) Why “cheap” ticketing isn’t actually cheap

Breaking down per-ticket fees and how small differences compound over time, often costing venues far more than they realize.

(20:27) All-in pricing and its impact on the industry

How new pricing transparency is reshaping conversations between venues, promoters, artists, and fans—and what it reveals about true ticket value.

(25:55) Why VenuePilot didn’t take VC funding

Justin shares why venture capital doesn’t align with the realities of the live event industry, and how that decision shaped a more sustainable business model.

(37:28) Why VenuePilot + Prism chose to collaborate

What led two perceived competitors to integrate and work together—and why collaboration may be a better path forward for the industry.

(50:12) The future of live music in an AI world

A broader conversation on why human connection, intimacy, and live experiences will become even more valuable as technology advances.

(01:00:36) Optimistic outlook for independent venues

Justin paints a forward-looking vision of growth in mid-sized markets, stronger local scenes, and new opportunities for independent venues to thrive.

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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matt Ford⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, Matt Ford sits down with Lucas Fritz and Jessica Gordon, co-owners and talent buyers for Broadberry Entertainment Group, to explore how independent promoters are scaling from clubs to theaters and even booking arena-level shows in a Live Nation–dominated landscape.

They dig into how data and AI are reshaping the way they evaluate offers and compete, from using Prism Insights and Etix to making smarter, faster decisions. Along the way, they unpack the real economics behind today’s shows—VIP packages, bar revenue, merch splits—and what it takes to stay competitive while keeping the live experience human-centered.

Episode Timestamps:

(00:00) • Why Broadberry Presents Joined Insights

Skepticism, what changed, and how it fits into daily offer-writing workflow. Why real-time data beats legacy tools — and why independents need it to compete with major promoters.

(12:36) • AI + The Future of Booking

Matt on combining AI with ticketing signals. Jessica’s custom “Artist Offer Researcher” GPT and how it works.

(21:04) • Origin Story: Broadberry & Trigger System

How Lucas and Jessica started separately and built their partnership.

(33:09) • State of the Industry

Down bar sales, too many shows, ticket-price pressure, and why return plays for mid-tier acts are struggling.

(40:16) • Data, Merch & Ticketing Philosophy

Merch split approach, fan data ownership, and why they moved to Etix.

(52:25) • Moving from Spreadsheets to Prism

Change management story: initial slowdown, then big time savings once offers, holds, and settlements lived in one place.

(59:04) • AI, Automation & the Human Core of Concerts

What AI should and shouldn’t replace — automating hold emails, entry-level career paths, and what makes live music worth preserving.

(01:10:06) • Hopes for the Industry

Better data sharing, less zero-sum thinking, pricing ethics, bots, and a fairer ecosystem for artists and fans.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Please share this with anyone that might be interested in the topics, links below to subscribe and stay in the loop with the podcast and Prism:

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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matt Ford⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, Matt sits down with Jesse Lauter, Head of Production & Media at Dayglo Presents, the team behind iconic venues like Brooklyn Bowl and The Capitol Theatre, to talk about launching new spaces in a challenging economic climate and why live music is still one of the most human experiences we have.

From transforming historic buildings like Stable Hall into world-class venues, to navigating shifting consumer behavior and industry headwinds, Jesse shares a deeply grounded perspective on what it means to create spaces for connection, culture, and community.

Episode Timestamps:

• (02:00) · What Is Stable Hall? Origins & The Pearl
  Jesse explains how Dayglo got involved with Stable Hall, introduces Peter Shapiro and Dayglo’s ecosystem, and describes the Pearl District’s brewery history and redevelopment.
• (10:40) · Why Build Venues Now? Mission Over Money
  Discussion of economic headwinds, why Dayglo is still opening and partnering on new rooms, and Jesse’s view of live music as sacred, community‑building, and rooted in the Grateful Dead/Jerry Garcia ethos.
• (19:20) · Cracking the Texas Market: Strategy & Team
  How Dayglo is approaching Texas: working with Jason Adams/Outback, bringing in Hannah Gold (Newport Folk/Jazz, Luck Reunion), Stable’s independent status, and co‑promoter relationships.
• (24:40) · Tech Stack Shout‑Out: Using Prism & Insights
  Jesse on why calendar visibility and clean UI matter when running multiple rooms, how Prism is used internally, and how Insights’ real‑time ticketing/financial dashboards drive marketing and booking decisions.
• (30:40) · From Production to Dayglo & The Pussy Riot Sessions
  Transition into his role as Dayglo’s Head of Production, long‑term connection to Shapiro’s world, and the story of recording two unreleased Pussy Riot tracks with Lenny K (Patti Smith Group) and keeping a custom mask.
• (37:25) · Economy, Sober Trends & F&B Shifts
  Jesse’s energetic read on the economy, pressures on fans, declining alcohol sales, rise of sobriety, and experimenting with non‑alcoholic options and THC beverages across Dayglo venues.
• (40:40) · AI, Jobs & Why Live Music Is “Safe”
  Big‑picture talk on AI’s impact on white‑collar work, fears around AI‑generated music, and why Jesse believes live human performance and venues are among the few things that can’t be automated away.
• (42:30) · Spiritual Stakes of Live Music & The Mind of Peter Shapiro
  Jesse and Matt frame live music as spiritual work, not just business; they connect it to broader societal well‑being and describe Dayglo as essentially “the mind of Peter Shapiro” made physical.

Please share this with anyone that might be interested in the topics, links below to subscribe and stay in the loop with the podcast and Prism:

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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matt Ford⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The live music industry runs on ticket sales but fights over who owns the data behind them. Matt Washburn of Atlas Touring joins us to debate the case for and against sharing ticket buyer data — who benefits, who's afraid of it, and what the industry loses by keeping it siloed. I've had this debate a hundred times, but I'd never heard Matt's take before — and it was surprisingly insightful. For an agent, he's remarkably considerate of the promoter perspective, and it made for one of the more honest conversations I've had on the topic.

We also go way beyond the data debate and get into Prism's Insights product, how AI could reshape booking and routing, the shift in fan buying behavior, how Atlas rebuilt their workflow, and a bigger picture look at where the live music industry is headed and what it takes to survive in it.

Episode Timestamps:

• (01:10) Why Fan Data Matters (and Why the Industry Resists It) The value of ticket buyer data, the fear around sharing it, and how better data-sharing grows artists and cuts marketing costs.
• (09:55) Deals, Leverage, and the Reality of Booking Decisions Door deals vs guarantees, venue leverage, email marketing ROI, and whether sharing data really changes where artists play.
• (16:30) How Real Data Changes Booking (and Prevents Bad Deals) Introduction to Insights, using box office data for better valuation, a story of buying a show on bad data, and the shared responsibility between artists and promoters.
• (27:01) What AI Could Actually Do for Booking and Routing Predicting ticket sales, modeling fan behavior, and matching artists with the right markets.
• (34:01) How Ticketing and Fan Behavior Have Changed Walk-up culture to social ads, and how buying behavior has shifted over time.
• (38:00) From Booking Shows to Building Better Systems Matt's background, building Atlas, adopting Prism, and the push toward eliminating double entry and industry silos.
• (47:05) The Future of Live Music Long-term industry outlook, surviving headwinds, and building sustainable careers and venues.

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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matt Ford⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Opening Music -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Banana Bread - Layton.rx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Prism engineer!)