Notes on live music, connection, and the emerging future, by Bootleg founder and CEO, Rod Yancy

We are just over a week into the new year, and many of the challenges facing the music industry feel more visible than ever.

I don't know about you, but I often find myself having the same conversations with people in very different roles, all noticing the same patterns and frustrations, yet rarely doing anything differently.

Some people would call that the definition of insanity.

In an effort to avoid going down that path, I thought it would be fun to start the year by proposing a few “New Year’s resolutions” for the industry as a whole.

Treat artists like owners, not inventory

Artists are the source of all the value in the music industry. The future belongs to models built on ownership, transparency, and long term alignment.

Experiment earlier and more often

The industry loves proof, which means innovation usually arrives late and watered down. 2026 belongs to artists who are bold enough to act on opportunity before it becomes the common wisdom.

Prioritize connection over scale

The industry has gotten very good at chasing reach, streams, and viral moments, but these things fail to measure the value created by real connection to loyal fans which is the driving force of value for everyone.

Protect the soul of live music

As touring grows more expensive and commercialized, the industry needs to protect what makes live music special: intimacy, presence, and real human connection. Without those, everything else eventually falls apart.

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I’m curious, what New Year’s resolutions do you think the industry as a whole could benefit from adopting? Reply here and let me know and I’ll share some of my favorites on LinkedIn.

Let’s make 2026 the year we stop accepting “this is just how it works” and start embodying the changes we want to see.

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

It’s hard to believe it’s been just over a year since we launched Bootleg. That first year was focused on building relationships, finding truly aligned partners, and pressure testing product-market fit with both artists and fans.

We've sold thousands of Bootlegs, worked with amazing artists and managers, and had so much fun. We've recently formed a partnership with The Orchard that removes a lot of unnecessary red tape and make it easier than ever for artists on major labels to work with Bootleg.

We also learned a great deal through partnerships with Woodsist Festival and Sole DXB, and are excited to prioritize 2026 fests that genuinely want to create added value for artists and fans. Most recently, we signed a deal with Sixthman to bring Bootleg to artist-led cruises throughout 2026.

As we head into the year ahead, we’re already fielding inbound interest from artists and managers looking to bring Bootleg on tour this spring and summer, and some exciting opportunities are starting to take shape.

Finally, as I’ve shared before, I’m comfortable continuing to bootstrap Bootleg, but remain open to the right investment partner joining us. If this resonates, now is a great time to reach out.

This time of year is an opportunity to take stock of what’s working, what isn’t, and make intentional adjustments to keep moving forward.

There are plenty of things in the music industry we all know aren’t working. I believe small, thoughtful changes at the micro level can create ripple effects that quietly reshape the whole system.

Bootleg exists as one of those changes, helping artists own their legacy, grow their revenue, and connect more meaningfully with their most dedicated fans.

That’s why I’m optimistic this will be a year where small changes start adding up in visible ways, if we are bold enough to choose that future.

With gratitude,

Rod Yancy​
Founder & CEO, Bootleg.live

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​www.bootleg.live​

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