Bootleg: Beyond The Setlist. THE CHANGE WE WANT TO HEAR
Notes on live music, connection, and the emerging future, by Bootleg founder and CEO Rod Yancy
🎤 Sound Check
The music industry would not exist without artists. Literally.
They generate the product, and everything else is built around that.
But over time, the ecosystem has evolved in ways that often extract value from what artists create, sometimes removing them from the process entirely.
This isn’t the result of fate or technology. Industries evolve based on the choices people make. What we build, fund, amplify, and support is what grows.
Bootleg was born from a belief that a new era is probable. An era where artists sell directly to fans. Own their live recordings. Build deeper connections. And keep the artist–fan relationship at the center of everything.
We’re living through massive change across nearly every layer of society, and the music industry is no exception.
Entrepreneurship is often framed around disruption. But I’m more interested in evolution.
If you’re part of this industry right now, the invitation is to move with intention. What we choose to invest our time, money, and life force into is the direction the future will grow.
Whether we realize it or not, we’re all constantly co-creating the future. We have a chance to let go of what’s not working well and build something better. Something that reflects our values.
Let’s create an industry that works for everyone, and honors the artists who make it all possible.
⚡️ Live Wire
The industry’s moving fast. I’m just trying to stay tuned in, and share what I hear along the way.
🎛️ AI & the Future of Music: Who’s Steering the Ship?
Last week I shared how Bootleg uses AI to support, not replace, humans, and to create jobs that keep artists and engineers in the center of the process. Now the U.S. government has released its AI Action Plan, a sweeping effort to accelerate innovation and remove regulatory “barriers.” But the troubling piece is that the 36-page document doesn’t mention copyright once. No mention of “creators,” “music,” or “culture” either. That silence speaks volumes. At Bootleg, we believe AI must serve artists, not treat them as fuel for the machine. If policymakers erase creators from the conversation, they erase the very soul of the industry. The future of music will reflect what we choose to build and protect. Let’s choose wisely.
👉Read the article at Digital Music News
🎟️ Royal Albert Hall Steps Up for Grassroots Venues
This is such a cool story, and the kind of soulful innovation I hope to see more of. Starting this October, London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall will donate £1 from every rock and pop ticket sold to support grassroots venues, promoters, festivals, and artists through the newly formed Live Trust. It’s the first major UK venue to commit to the long-discussed idea of a per-ticket contribution, and it could generate over £300,000 annually. This is the kind of leadership we need more of in live music. Every arena act starts on a small stage, and if we want the ecosystem to thrive, we have to invest in the foundation. At Bootleg, we believe the future of music is built from the ground up. Props to Royal Albert Hall for leading the way.
🎟️ Backstage Pass
At Bootleg, we help artists capture and sell high-quality audio recordings and photographs from their shows so fans can collect and relive the moment, and artists can keep earning beyond the encore.
What’s Moving
Last week, I spent the week in Nashville meeting with labels, artists, investors, and other folks across the industry sharing the Bootleg vision and exploring ways to collaborate.
Trips like this are always a good gut check. And this one felt like nothing but green lights. The energy was high, the conversations were real, and I left feeling more optimistic than ever about where we’re headed.
Grateful to everyone who made time for us. Too many friends new and old to mention them all, but shout out to Jake West, Zach Jones and Chris Fairbank (Triple 8 Management), Adrian Michaels and Peter Strickland (BMG North America), and John Showfety, Janelle Flint, Taylor Grady and Tate Hotz (WME).
It’s clear that people are hungry for something that puts artists, and the humans behind the music, at the center. That’s what we’re building.
Already looking forward to my next visit to Music City!
🎵 Fade Out
The music industry is changing, but it’s not changing on its own.
It’s changing because people are choosing to build something different.
In every studio, meeting, or late-night brainstorm, there are people deciding to move with intention. We don’t need more noise. We need more signal.
More soul. More alignment. More care.
Thanks for being part of this with me.
The future of music is still being written, and with our actions we get to create the change we want to hear.
With gratitude,
Founder & CEO, Bootleg.live