Attending Production Live! 2024?  Click here for the Production Live! Schedule.

More Speakers Announcing Soon!

Opening Remarks

Welcome to Pollstar Live! 2024
 

Booking/Artist Development: Names To Watch

Few topics garner more interest than the list of who’s going out, when, and where. A panel of talent bookers and sellers will weigh in on how the schedule looks for 2024 and beyond, what are the most savvy booking strategies, and how to maximize each show.
 

Rainmaker I:

Candid Q&As with Visionaries, Change Agents & Thought Leaders of the Live Entertainment Industry 

Sponsor Spotlight

Break/Networking

Golden Era 3.0: How Long will This Boom Last (And What Can We Do to Sustain)?

The live entertainment industry has returned with a vengeance, with each “best ever” followed by another and no signs of slowing down apparent. While anecdotally there are some signs of worry at the small venue level, the blockbuster sector is alive and well, with record-setting tours becoming more commonplace and a wealth of hugely popular artists in the pipeline to continue into 2024 and beyond. A group of influential touring industry professionals will discuss what’s driving this boom, an areas of potential softness, and what potential speed bumps lie ahead.
 

The Role of Artists & The Live Thing in an Election Year

Young people in the U.S. are more likely to attend live music events (63% millennials) than vote (35.6% for 18-29). Meanwhile national and local elections are often decided by the size of a concert venue. More than ever, presidential elections tend to consume all the cultural air in the metaphorical room, providing artists and live events a unique opportunity to be a positive force. We’ll discuss how promoters and artists are increasing non-partisan voter turnout for this historic election year by tapping into what we do every day - producing shows that bring communities together and positively impact our society at large.
 

Speakers

• Moderator: Emily White, #iVoted Concerts
• John Boyle, ASM Global
• Brandon Deroche, Propeller
• Kam Franklin, The Suffers, Homegirl Island

The Venue’s Role in Booking, Marketing & Maximizing Concerts

In the same sense that "all politics are local," ground zero for sellout concerts that leave a lasting impression in the marketplace and add value to an artist's career sits squarely on the shoulders of the venue. From landing on the correct date, strategizing an optimal on-sale, marketing locally with valuable in-house data, and executing on day-of-show, the venues play a critical role. Successful bookers and agents covering a diverse range of venues will offer tips on how to maximize shows and earn a permanent spot on routebooks.
 

The Most Impactful Show Possible: Savannah Hosts Dave Matthews Band

For its 2023 fall tour opener at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Ga., Dave Matthews Band had a simple vision: zero waste. The sustainability team at the venue was up to the challenge, but wanted to show that they could do more than just accomplishing zero waste. They teamed up with the sustainability experts with Green Operations & Advanced Leadership (GOAL) to produce a zero-waste concert and much more. For this special event, the team behind the project will discuss how they got there, including zero single-use plastic in fan areas, local community cleanup efforts, fan donations of more than 500 pounds of plant-based food, and a concert powered by renewable energy with more than 90% of waste produced diverted from landfills. This Case Study with players involved will unpack how they helped pilot GOAL’s Elemental Impact Event series, positively impacting Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.
 

Lunch/Networking

Keynote Q&A

The Making of a Blockbuster: Inside the Mind of the Super-Fan

The past two years have been blessed with blockbuster tours by some of the most popular artists in music history, marked by multi-night runs at arenas and stadiums, staggering grosses and merch sales, and social media frenzy. Driven by passionate fans, tours by such red-hot artists as Taylor Swift, Beyonce, P!NK, Olivia Rodrigo, Harry Styles, and other elite acts are not only blowing up Instagram and venue records, but also capturing the cultural zeitgeist in ways that transcend traditional tours and live events. We’ll examine the cultural drivers behind these generationally popular artists and tours, and how to maximize—and extend—that moment when these artists break the Internet.
 

Roundtables + Happy Hour/Networking/Exhibits

ROUNDTABLE: POLLSTAR DATA & REPORTING ROUNDUP
 

ROUNDTABLE: O, CANADA
 

ROUNDTABLE: VENUES: CLUBS & THEATERS
 

ROUNDTABLE: VENUES: ARENAS & STADIUMS
 

ROUNDTABLE: SAFETY/SECURITY
 

ROUNDTABLE: TICKETING/SECONDARY MARKET
 

ROUNDTABLE: MARKETING/FAN ENGAGEMENT
 

ROUNDTABLE: LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT
 

ROUNDTABLE: MERCH/CONCESSIONS
 

ROUNDTABLE: TECH/DIGITAL
 

ROUNDTABLE: SPONSORSHIPS
 

ROUNDTABLE: INTERNATIONAL
 

35th Annual Pollstar Awards Pre-Show Reception

35th Annual Pollstar Awards

What Does the Success of the Sphere Mean for the Rest of the Live Entertainment Industry?

U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at the Sphere has launched in stunning fashion, and amid all the glowing reviews of band and venue on u2.com, one fan comment should catch the eye of all live event professionals: “The Sphere..will be the new gold standard for concert venues anywhere.” OK, sure, why not, except concert venues nowhere have more than $2 billion handy to offer fans a Sphere-like experience. So now that the bar has been raised to the heavens, how will the industry react in meeting fan expectations to compete in a world where the Sphere exists? Let’s discuss…
 

Rainmaker III

Candid Q&As with Visionaries, Change Agents & Thought Leaders of the Live Entertainment Industry

Sponsor Spotlight

Break/Networking

Where To Go & When: Developing the Global Touring Strategy

With Covid-related restrictions in the rearview, the global touring palette is once again broad and receptive. Stakeholders in the international touring world will discuss which markets are the most fertile ground for artists, which markets are developing and worth a visit, and territories that should be avoided.
 

How Will AI Change Live for Booking, Marketing, Operations & Risk Management

Advances in artificial intelligence are dominating headlines and impacting virtually every area of contemporary life. To the extent this is true in the live entertainment industry is largely unknown, but one thing is for certain: AI has the potential to not only change the way live events are routed, marketed, executed, and transported, but also the revenue picture, possible legal exposure, and the way fans experience shows. A panel of experts on AI in the live business will peer into the crystal ball to advise what stakeholders in the touring industry need to know.
 

Lunch/Networking

The Art of the Upsell: Giving Fans What They Want Around a Full Live Event Experience

Mega fans want to mega, and it remains incumbent upon live entertainment professionals to fully capitalize on offering fans the ultimate experience for concerts and events. That means premium seating, travel packages, VIP treatment, enhanced experiences, and a wide range of bundles, and the good news is there is no shortage of ideas nor revenue opportunities in this rapidly growing space. Experts in the world of premium hospitality and the “art of the upsell” will break down how to maximize revenue and elevate the fan experience.
 

Speakers

• Dan Berkowitz, 100x Hospitality
• Daren Libonati, Jampack
• Darby Moeller, Sixthman
• Emily Wright, United Talent Agency

Genre Spotlight: Country!

Keynote Q&A

Agents Live! - Happy Hour - Networking