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Notes on live music, connection, and the emerging future, by Bootleg founder and CEO, Rod Yancy |
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Usually around this time of year, things slow down in a big way. The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s can quickly turn into a blur of holiday parties, tying up loose ends, or getting a head start on planning for the year ahead.
This year feels different, especially for Bootleg. If anything, we are accelerating. Ever since I returned from my retreat in Japan, doors have opened and new opportunities seem to be waiting at every turn.
We have just formed a new partnership with Sole DXB, one of the most influential culture festivals in the Middle East. We will be capturing select artist performances and giving fans a way to collect and relive their memories. It is a meaningful step into a region where music culture is expanding rapidly and where fans show a deep passion for the artists they love.
We have also had a series of promising conversations with some of my favorite artists, and our investor discussions have heated up in a big way. I have truly never been more excited about the future of our business.
There is nothing wrong with taking a beat in December and letting the year wind down, but closing the year in forward motion feels right for where we are headed.
It feels less like the end of a season and more like the beginning of something big. Excited to have you along for the ride with us.
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The industry's moving fast. I'm just trying to stay tuned in, and share what I hear along the way.
Live Music Is Accelerating Faster Than Anyone Predicted
The recent Live Nation investor presentation made it impossible to ignore the scale of what’s happening in live music. In Q3 2025, Live Nation’s revenue rose 11% year-over-year to a record $8.5 billion, while operating income jumped 24% and adjusted operating income climbed 14%.
At the same time, the company projected the live-music industry could be worth $50 billion by 2030, based on a long-term historical growth rate of roughly 8% annually.
What this means for Bootleg is clear: live is not just stable, it’s scaling up dramatically. That kind of growth validates what we’ve always believed: concerts and festivals remain at the center of cultural connection and fan engagement.
Our new partnership with Sole DXB comes at a perfect inflection point. As live events expand globally, capturing and preserving those moments becomes essential. In 2026 we plan to partner with more festivals around the world to help artists and fans turn each live show into a lasting experience.
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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
If you’re one of the over three thousand users in the Bootleg community, you may have noticed our brand refresh went live in the app last week. It feels good to see this identity fully implemented inside our core product.
We developed this new brand to honor the lost language of music collectibility and to create a visual system that channels the connection of live performance.
The goal was to make Bootleg feel human, confident, and alive. Something that feels familiar to anyone who has ever collected music, yet fresh enough to match where the industry is heading.
More updates are on the way, but seeing this foundation in place is a meaningful milestone for our team and for what we are building with all of you.
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If there is a theme to this moment, it is expansion. What is usually a quiet stretch on the calendar has turned into a period of movement and possibility. New regions, new artists, new ways for fans to stay connected.
We are in a season of acceleration, not pause. The work happening right now is shaping the next version of Bootleg and the global community forming around the power of live memory.
As we close out the year, I am grateful for everyone contributing to this momentum. There is still meaningful work ahead in these final weeks, and I’m excited to keep building this with all of you.
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Bootleg is part of Oath Music — empowering artists and engaging fans through innovative products and a mission to make music last.
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