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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/
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:
If you’ve ever asked why ticket fees are so high or how artists can reclaim control, this is the episode for you.
(00:00:38) - Randy's Shit Talking on LinkedIn Randy talks about his active presence on LinkedIn and the professional discourse he engages in.
(00:02:04) - NITO and Industry Activism Randy's involvement with NITO and his advocacy work around important music industry issues.
(00:12:57) - Ticket Scalping Concerns Randy's view on the importance of protecting artists and fans from ticket scalping practices.
(00:15:40) - Historical Context of Ticketmaster The historical struggle with Ticketmaster and the impact of prominent artists like Taylor Swift.
(00:23:01) - Complexities of the Ticketing Ecosystem Deep dive into the nuanced landscape of ticket scalping and corporate practices.
(00:33:04) - DOJ Meetings and Legislative Efforts Randy describes meetings with the DOJ and the legislative complexities in the ticketing industry.
(00:44:37) - DOJ vs. Trump Executive Order Clarification of the DOJ’s dual investigations and the separation from the Trump administration initiatives.
(00:50:01) - Political Polarization in Advocacy Randy's stance on working with any administration if it benefits the fans and the industry.
(00:57:51) - Democratic Party's Missteps Discussion on historical misalignments of the Democratic Party in relation to ticketing issues.
(1:29:44) - Timely Update Because this episode was originally recorded a month ago, we’ve included a fresh update added just before release. It covers key developments, including how the industry is responding to the first month of mandatory all-in pricing.
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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -Matt Ford
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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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -Matt Ford
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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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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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -Matt Ford
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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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -Matt Ford
Opening Music - Banana Bread - Layton.rx (Prism engineer!)
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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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -Matt Ford
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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Join us in Prism's Hangout
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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -Matt Ford
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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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism -Matt Ford
Opening Music -Papooz - The Garde
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.
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Meet the Podcast Host/CEO of Prism - Matt Ford
Opening Music - Papooz - The Garde