The Live Music Industry Podcast

What happens when you stop thinking of a concert as a night out and start treating it like a vacation with the band?

In this episode of the Live Music Industry Podcast, Matt Ford sits down with Andy Levine, Founder and CEO of Topeka, to talk about building Moon Crush, a festival with no lines in Miramar Beach, Florida, where every fan has their own reserved "cove." They dig into how the venue works, why artists like Luke Combs, Brandi Carlile, and Tedeschi Trucks sign on, and how Andy runs offers and revenue-share deals in Prism.

What happens when independent venues stop just surviving and start changing the rules of the ticket market?

In this episode of the Live Music Industry Podcast, Matt Ford sits down with Audrey Fix Schaefer, Director of Communications of I.M.P. and Board President of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), to talk about the venues behind one of the most respected portfolios in live music. They dig into the history of the Lincoln Theatre, the community campaign that saved Merriweather Post Pavilion, and the "show business, not show friends" lessons that shaped the 9:30 Club.

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What does it actually take to move more tickets, and can AI give live music marketers more time to focus on the work that matters?

In this episode of the Live Music Industry Podcast, Matt Ford sits down with Geoff Shames, Co-Founder of Crowd Control Digital, to talk about the realities of marketing live events today. They dig into what separates great marketers from teams simply checking boxes, how data and creativity work together to drive ticket sales, and where AI is already changing the game.

They also explore how buying behavior differs across artists...

What does it take to run a venue that can literally change shape?

In this episode, Matt Ford sits down with Jeff Thielke, Executive Director of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, a one-of-a-kind Southern California venue with multiple configurations, a million pounds of moving infrastructure, and a history that includes everyone from Frank Sinatra to John Legend.

Episode Time Stamps:

(04:02) Inside Cerritos’ Shape-Shifting, Multi-Configuration VenueHistory of the building, how long it takes to reconfigure, what it costs in labor, and how that impacts booking patterns and Broadway tours.

In this week’s episode, Matt Ford sits down with Hap Pardo, Director of Musical Operations at Wha Entertainment to talk about Bleecker Bell, the new 200-cap venue preparing to open in Greenwich Village, and what it takes to build and sustain independent live music spaces in one of the country’s most competitive markets.

Episode Timestamps:

(01:18) Bleecker Bell, the Village, and NYC’s Creative Cycle

Hap introduces Bleecker Bell (new 200-cap club), explains the location near Washington Square Park, and talks through the Village’s music history and how artists...

There’s been a verdict in the Live Nation/Ticketmaster antitrust case. So what happens now?

Matt Ford sits down again with artist manager and industry operator Randy Nichols to unpack what the jury’s monopoly verdict actually means, why the case is still far from over, and what a potential breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster could really look like.

They also dig into another major fight unfolding in ticketing: speculative ticketing and the secondary market. Randy shares his firsthand experience testifying in California in support of legislation targeting speculative ticket sales and breaks down...

Matt sits down with Randy Vogel of Mesa Arts Center to explore what it takes to lead one of the country's most dynamic multidisciplinary performing arts campuses.

Randy shares how Mesa Arts Center became a catalyst for downtown revitalization, why performing arts centers must balance community impact with financial sustainability, and how strong relationships with promoters can open the door to better programming opportunities. He also breaks down the realities of building a Broadway series, evaluating risk, and using technology to streamline everything from offers to settlements.

In this episode:

How Mesa Arts...

After a popular fireside chat at NIVA a few weeks ago, Matt Ford and Pat Hannigan, Co-Founder & CTO of Hive, sat down to continue the conversation around one of the biggest topics shaping live events today: AI.

In this episode, Matt and Pat talk about how AI is moving beyond the hype and into the day-to-day workflows that help live event teams save time, make smarter decisions, and sell more tickets.

They cover everything from Hive's new AI-powered Marketing Assistants to Prism's MCP server and Insights, plus where AI f...

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...

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 th...

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...

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.

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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...

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...

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...

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, m...

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:

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 im...

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 ti...

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:

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...

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:

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:

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...

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:

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...

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 – i...

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, weig...

(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 Fu...

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...

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.

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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...

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...

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).<...

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...

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 musi...

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...

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 topi...

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 f...

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 E...