Episode #16 | Bruce Finkelman (Managing Partner, 16 on Center) Secrets to Success - Building an Independent Music Venue Empire in Chicago

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The Live Music Industry Podcast

Matt Ford

33 episodes

6 days ago

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/

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Episode #16 | Bruce Finkelman (Managing Partner, 16 on Center) Secrets to Success - Building an Independent Music Venue Empire in Chicago

The Live Music Industry Podcast

1 hour 6 minutes 40 seconds

1 year ago

Episode #16 | Bruce Finkelman (Managing Partner, 16 on Center) Secrets to Success - Building an Independent Music Venue Empire in Chicago

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Bruce Finkelman, Managing Partner of 16 on Center, to uncover the secrets behind building an independent music venue empire in Chicago. From the founding story of 16 On Center to expanding multiple venues, we explore the economics of owning your own venue space, the evolution of running a venue from 1995 to 2024, and the challenges of staying independent in an industry dominated by giants like Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Bruce also shares insights into building a sustainable team, creating iconic venues like The Salt Shed, and his vision for the future of the music industry.

Chapters
(00:10) -Bruce’s story and the founding story of 16 On Center
(09:53) - The first empty bottle
(13:38) - Expanding to multiple venues
(27:14) - Economics: Owning the dirt at your venue + The evolution of running a venue from 1995 to 2024
(35:31) -Attracting to talent and Building a company that employs and sustains 600 people
(41:30) - The creation story of The Salt Shed
(48:00) - Making the jump to book larger rooms
(52:00) - Fastball questions - Using Prism and the tech stack to organize a massive amount of concerts, Secrets to building a succesful operation, the battle to stay independent, Live Nation, Ticketmaster and the DOJ.
(1:00:10) - Plans for the future (or lack thereof), the future of the industry

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