

The Live Music Industry Podcast
Matt Ford
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.
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Podcast host: Matt Ford, CEO / Founder of Prism.fm
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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/
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 1, 2026 • 49min
#38 - Should Promoters Share Ticket Buyer Data? with Matt Washburn (Atlas Touring)
Matt Washburn, touring agent and Atlas Touring co-founder focused on artist development and data-driven routing. He debates whether ticket-buyer data should be shared and why some fear it. The conversation also covers Prism Insights, AI’s role in booking and routing, changing fan buying habits, and how Atlas rebuilt workflows to cut friction.

Mar 18, 2026 • 1h 30min
#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/innercitypressEpisode 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 hereMore on PrismFollow us on Instagram (@prismfm)Follow us on LinkedIn (here)Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -Matt FordOpening Music - Banana Bread - Layton.rx (Prism engineer!)

Mar 11, 2026 • 1h 24min
#36 – David vs. Goliath: The Promoter Who Went to Washington
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 & LobbyistsDavid’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 DCHow 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 HearingWho 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 ControlHow 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 BanDavid/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 LossHow 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 FixesWhy 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 DistributionPushback 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 TalkInitial 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 & PrismWhy 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 & AIWhy 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 IndependentsOrganizing 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.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 hereMore on PrismFollow us on Instagram (@prismfm)Follow us on LinkedIn (here)Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -Matt FordOpening Music - Banana Bread - Layton.rx (Prism engineer!)

Feb 25, 2026 • 1h 17min
#35 - Laylo’s “Drops” Playbook: Turning Social Hype into Ticket & Merch Sales
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 contentThe origin story — from Dark Chart & Silo to YC, a painful pivot, and finding the winning “drops” model in 2021What a “drop” really does — productizing FOMO to convert attention into signups before the on-sale momentScale by the numbers — 60M+ fans reached, 200K drops in a year, and tens of thousands of platform usersMulti-channel messaging — SMS, email, Instagram, and WhatsApp, plus high-performing IG DM capture flowsWhy venues and festivals are adopting Laylo — high-conversion drop pages, list growth without requiring a ticket purchase, and demand-driving campaignsFirst-party data, done right — why Laylo won’t share PII, and how “collabs” let artists + promoters build lists compliantlySmarter segmentation — targeting likely ticket and merch buyers to improve cost, deliverability, and fan experienceAI 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=prismEpisode 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.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 hereMore on PrismFollow us on Instagram (@prismfm)Follow us on LinkedIn (here)Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -Matt FordOpening Music - Banana Bread - Layton.rx (Prism engineer!)

Feb 12, 2026 • 1h 5min
#34 - Inside Etix: 100 Million Tickets, Secondary Markets, All-In Pricing & AI
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 2026Please 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 hereMore on PrismFollow us on Instagram (@prismfm)Follow us on LinkedIn (here)Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -Matt FordOpening Music - Banana Bread - Layton.rx (Prism engineer!)

Jan 28, 2026 • 1h 25min
#33 - Family Business to Stadium Promoter: Building a Latin Music Powerhouse
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 viewPlease 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 hereMore on PrismFollow us on Instagram (@prismfm)Follow us on LinkedIn (here)Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -Matt FordOpening Music - Banana Bread - Layton.rx (Prism engineer!)

Jan 12, 2026 • 1h 18min
#32 - The True Cost of the Big Check: Ticketing Advances, Fees, and Fan Frustration
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 operatorsHow ticketing companies became de-facto lenders and what that means for fees and flexibilityThe real economics behind ticketing advances and service chargesKey differences between U.S. and European ticketing marketsHow all-in pricing and secondary markets are shaping fan trustWhy separating “the tech” from “the check” can create more optionality and long-term sustainabilityEpisode 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 eventsPlease 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 hereMore on PrismFollow us on Instagram (@prismfm)Follow us on LinkedIn (here)Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -Matt FordOpening Music - Banana Bread - Layton.rx (Prism engineer!)

Sep 24, 2025 • 57min
#31 - How Back 40 Live Went From Farm Market to 12,000-Person Venue
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 momentThe scramble to produce a 12,000-person show in just two daysBuilding a venue from scratch with friends, family, and phone polesThe challenges (and scrappiness) of booking as an emerging venueWhy Tony believes live music is the antidote to the digital worldEpisode 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 ImpactPlease 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 hereMore on PrismFollow us on Instagram (@prismfm)Follow us on LinkedIn (here)Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -Matt FordOpening Music - Banana Bread - Layton.rx (Prism engineer!)

Aug 29, 2025 • 30min
How McMenamins Streamlined Complexity with Prism
Jen Carrizo, Senior Talent Buyer for McMenamins, shares insights on revolutionizing the live music scene through innovative tools like Prism. They discuss how this platform transformed operations from a basic calendar to a comprehensive system for ticketing and event management. The conversation touches on the unique, sometimes haunted, venues in McMenamins' portfolio, trends like the rise of non-alcoholic beverages, and the financial pressures smaller venues face. Additionally, they explore the move toward simpler touring models that focus on musicality.

Aug 22, 2025 • 1h 19min
#30 - Against All Odds: The Fight for Independent Venues
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 venuesVenue profitability: Scale, competition, and what it takes to surviveTicketing controversy: Scalping, all-in pricing, and the imbalance of marketing powerIndustry giants under fire: The DOJ vs. Live Nation and what’s at stakeThe future: Determination, hope, and a path to a more sustainable independent sceneIf 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.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 hereMore on PrismFollow us on Instagram (@prismfm)Follow us on LinkedIn (here)Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -Matt FordOpening Music - Banana Bread - Layton.rx (Prism engineer!)


