The Live Music Industry Podcast

Matt Ford
  • 3.0 (2)
  • Music Interviews
  • Updated Daily

We greatly appreciate the opportunity to share the wealth of knowledge and wisdom coming from our incredible network of Promoters, Venues, Talent Agencies and Business Owners. Subscribe www.prism.fm/podcast/ More on Prism www.prism.fm Follow us on Instagram (@prismfm) www.instagram.com/prismfm Follow us on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/prism-fm/ Podcast host: Matt Ford, CEO / Founder of Prism.fm https://www.linkedin.com/in/mford3/

  1. Jul 23

    #44 - Inside One of America's Most Innovative Performing Arts Centers

    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 Center became a catalyst for downtown revitalization What it takes to build and grow a successful Broadway program Why performing arts centers must balance mission, community impact, and financial sustainability How strong partnerships with promoters lead to better programming opportunities How venue leaders can use data to reduce booking risk and make smarter decisions Why Prism has transformed offers, settlements, and day-to-day operations at Mesa Arts Center Episode Time Stamps: (1:05) How Mesa Arts Center Was Funded Randy explains how Mesa voters approved a Quality of Life sales tax that funded the approximately $95 million Mesa Arts Center—and why that community investment has been key to its long-term success. (8:23) How the Arts Revitalized Downtown Mesa How a world-class arts center became the catalyst for downtown redevelopment and long-term community growth. (13:02) From Musician to Arts Center Executive Randy reflects on his career journey, from studying music to leading one of the nation's premier performing arts centers. (31:01) Building a Successful Broadway Program A look at how Mesa Arts Center built its Broadway series and what it takes to present national touring productions. (38:31) Balancing Mission, Community & Profitability Randy explains how he approaches programming as both a cultural mission and a sustainable business. (47:07) Why Strong Promoter Partnerships Matter Why collaboration—not competition—with promoters leads to better outcomes for venues, artists, and audiences. (57:21) How Data Helps Mesa Arts Center Make Smarter Booking Decisions Randy shares how Insights helps validate offers, assess risk, and make more confident booking decisions. (1:05:25) Why Prism Changed Mesa Arts Center's Workflow From faster offers to simplified settlements, Randy explains how Prism transformed his team's day-to-day operations. 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 -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Banana Bread - Layton.rx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Prism engineer!)

    #44 - Inside One of America's Most Innovative Performing Arts Centers

  2. Jul 6

    #43 - The AI Playbook for Booking & Marketing Shows

    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 fits (and doesn't) in the future of live events. In this episode, you'll learn: How Hive's AI Marketing Assistants help teams automate campaigns without losing the human touch Why "default good marketing" is becoming the new standard for venues and promoters How AI is improving booking decisions with better data—not replacing instinct How Prism's MCP server connects AI directly to your event data and workflows Why verified ticketing data is changing the way promoters evaluate shows Where AI still falls short and why humans remain essential to great live events Whether you're booking shows, building marketing campaigns, or simply trying to understand where AI is headed, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can apply today. Episode Time Stamps: (6:45) From AI Firehose to Hive's Marketing Assistants How Hive evolved from simple AI chat tools to marketing assistants built into real workflows. (17:30) What the Assistants Actually Do Real campaign examples, how assistants draft marketing, and why human review still matters. (24:40) Default Good Marketing Why personalized marketing wins, and how AI makes it practical for lean teams. (36:40) How Hive Uses AI Behind the Scenes Why AI is a tool—not a replacement—and how Hive balances speed with reliability. (45:20) Daily AI Workflows & Prism's MCP Using AI for everyday work, Prism's MCP server, and faster contract reviews. (56:00) Prism Insights & Smarter Booking Decisions How verified ticketing data helps promoters make better booking decisions. (1:03:05) The Future of AI in Live Events AI's limits, smarter booking tools, and why the future is human + AI. 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 -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Banana Bread - Layton.rx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Prism engineer!)

    #43 - The AI Playbook for Booking & Marketing Shows

  3. Jun 17

    #42 - Tixr’s Story: Tech, AI Resale, and the Future of Live Events

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

    #42 - Tixr’s Story: Tech, AI Resale, and the Future of Live Events

  4. May 11

    #41 - No-Contract Ticketing: Why Loyalty Should Be Earned, Not Enforced

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

    #41 - No-Contract Ticketing: Why Loyalty Should Be Earned, Not Enforced

  5. Apr 28

    #40 - From Clubs to Arenas: How Independent Promoters Are Scaling Smarter

    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: 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 -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Banana Bread - Layton.rx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Prism engineer!)

    #40 - From Clubs to Arenas: How Independent Promoters Are Scaling Smarter

  6. Apr 15

    #39 - Why Live Music Is Sacred: Community, Ghosts, and the Economics of Staying Independent

    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 PearlJesse 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 MoneyDiscussion 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 & TeamHow 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 & InsightsJesse 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 P***y Riot SessionsTransition into his role as Dayglo’s Head of Production, long‑term connection to Shapiro’s world, and the story of recording two unreleased P***y Riot tracks with Lenny K (Patti Smith Group) and keeping a custom mask.(37:25) · Economy, Sober Trends & F&B ShiftsJesse’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 ShapiroJesse 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: 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 -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Banana Bread - Layton.rx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Prism engineer!)

    #39 - Why Live Music Is Sacred: Community, Ghosts, and the Economics of Staying Independent

  7. Apr 1

    #38 - Should Promoters Share Ticket Buyer Data? with Matt Washburn (Atlas Touring)

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

    #38 - Should Promoters Share Ticket Buyer Data? with Matt Washburn (Atlas Touring)

  8. Mar 18

    #37 - The Live Nation Trial Isn’t Over: Inside the States’ Revolt

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

    #37 - The Live Nation Trial Isn’t Over: Inside the States’ Revolt
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Ratings & Reviews

3
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

We greatly appreciate the opportunity to share the wealth of knowledge and wisdom coming from our incredible network of Promoters, Venues, Talent Agencies and Business Owners. Subscribe www.prism.fm/podcast/ More on Prism www.prism.fm Follow us on Instagram (@prismfm) www.instagram.com/prismfm Follow us on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/prism-fm/ Podcast host: Matt Ford, CEO / Founder of Prism.fm https://www.linkedin.com/in/mford3/

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