Bootleg: Beyond The Setlist. The Pendulum Swings
Notes on live music, connection, and the emerging future, by Bootleg founder and CEO Rod Yancy
🎤 Sound Check
I was watching the documentary "Becoming Led Zeppelin" on the plane and something stood out.
One of the band members talked about touring the U.S. in the late ’60s and noticing how underground FM radio stations were playing full albums, a stark contrast to the singles dominating British radio at the time. That shift opened the door for artists like Zeppelin to think in long form, crafting immersive albums instead of chasing hits. It helped launch their first record and changed their entire trajectory in America.
It crystallized something I love about what we’re building with Bootleg.
The streaming era we’re in now is undeniably dominated by singles. To play the game, artists not only have to make great songs, they have to hook listeners in the first 30 seconds. That works for some. But others, like Zeppelin, are built to tell longer stories with a full arc of sound and soul.
I see music consumption like a pendulum, swinging between short form and long form over time. And I can already feel it starting to swing back. People are getting tired of snackable content. They want substance. Every live show is long form and Bootleg empowers artists to lean in and memorialize those moments.
We’re not anti-single. But we are pro-artist. Pro-expression. Pro-evolution of the artform.
⚡️ Live Wire
The industry’s moving fast. I’m just trying to stay tuned in, and share what I hear along the way.
🎙️A Win for Artist Ownership
Last week, Taylor Swift made headlines by officially regaining full ownership of her master recordings—a milestone that’s been years in the making. It’s a big moment, not just for her, but for the broader conversation around artist rights and control in the music industry.
For decades, most artists have signed away ownership of their work in exchange for access to the traditional industry infrastructure. But the tides are shifting. More artists are starting to ask harder questions about the deals they’re signing and the long-term value of their work. The music industry simply doesn’t exist without the artists making the music and building real connections with fans. That’s the core of it.
🔍 Streaming Growth Is Slowing. Now What?
A new report from Goldman Sachs suggests the global music industry is entering a new phase. While overall revenues are still projected to rise, streaming is starting to plateau, especially in mature markets like the U.S. and Europe.This doesn’t mean streaming is going away. It just means we may be nearing the ceiling of the current model. For artists and rights holders, this shift raises important questions: What does long-term sustainability look like in a post-growth era? Where will the next wave of innovation and revenue come from?
The obvious answer is to look beyond streams. Artists aren’t just content creators, they’re community builders, performers and storytellers. The live show remains one of the most powerful and under-leveraged assets in an artist’s career. And the more artists can own and monetize that connection directly, the more resilient the ecosystem becomes.
🔗Read more at Digital Music News
🎟️ 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
🎧 Catch me in NYC!
I’ll be flying in from Australia on Tuesday and can’t wait to connect with old and new friends while sharing the Bootleg vision in New York this week. On Wednesday, I’ll be at Spotify HQ for the Music Managers Forum, giving a short talk about Bootleg before joining the panel “Maximizing Direct-to-Consumer and Live.” The next day, I’m speaking at A2IM Indie Week on the panel “Touring Redefined: Creative Strategies for Sustainable Success,” moderated by Katie Garcia (Bayonet) alongside John Chavez (Ground Control) and Susan Rosenberg (Mockle Music). Hope to see you there!
🎸 Jack’s Mannequin On Tour & On Bootleg
Proud to be working with C3 Management and the legend Andrew McMahon as we officially launch our partnership with Jack’s Mannequin this week. The tour celebrates 20 years of "Everything in Transit" and we’ll be there to help fans relive every moment. Most shows are sold out, but you can still experience the magic on Bootleg.
🎵 Fade Out
We’re standing at a crossroads. Old models are breaking, new ones are forming, and the artists brave enough to bet on themselves are leading the way.
Moving confidently into a new future requires paying close attention and actively participating in its creation of what comes next.
We’ll be listening.
We’ll be building.
See you at the show.
With gratitude,
Founder & CEO, Bootleg.live
www.bootleg.live