Veteran promoter Jen Lyon, Founder of MeanRed Productions, shares a candid, inspiring conversation around how independents can stand their ground in a Live Nation world—plus why she’s urging promoters to join Insights now.

Inside the episode:

• Jen’s personal journey from NYC bottle service clubs to building a values-driven venue in Detroit

• Why Insights is a game-changer, and her urgent plea to fellow independents to join the movement

• The power of transparency in booking, artist development, and leveling the playing field

• How a data-sharing culture can create equity—and why withholding data hurts the whole industryThe real risks independent promoters take—and how tools like Prism help make it sustainable

• Why she’s launching a nonprofit venue with community curators (and a unique for-profit/F&B model)

• What the future of live music could look like, if we choose to build it together

Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned vet, Jen drops truth bombs, challenges the status quo, and brings hope for a more collaborative, independent future.

Episode Timestamps:

• (00:01:01): Evolution of Live Music Booking Technology
• (00:01:49): Early Career Challenges
• (00:02:58): Transition to Prism
• (00:04:04): Transparency in the Industry - Insights deep dive
• (00:06:14): Industry Diversity and Inclusion
• (00:08:05): Tech and the Next Generation
• (00:09:18): Prism's Potential
• (00:10:02): Sustaining an Independent Approach
• (00:11:03): Different Perspectives on Industry Challenges
• (00:13:30): Dynamics Between Large Promoters Versus Independent Venues
• (00:15:40): Insights and Data Sharing
• (00:17:32): Independent Promoters' Struggles
• (00:19:03): Looking to the Future
• (00:21:01): Jen's Journey into Live Music
• (00:25:28): Building Community
• (00:28:21): Finding Sustainability and Purpose

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