In this episode, Matt Ford sits down with Sara Mertz (VP, Music Partnerships) and Steve Oberman (VP, Partnerships) from Tixr to discuss the future of independent ticketing, the evolution of the secondary market, and the technology shaping live events.

They explore how Tixr has built a customer-driven ticketing platform, why promoters need a strategy for resale, what the Live Nation/Ticketmaster antitrust case could mean for the industry, and how AI is changing everything from marketing to fan discovery.

They also discuss the importance of best-of-breed technology, the role of first-party data, and why independent operators need better tools to compete in an increasingly complex market.

Inside the episode:

• How Tixr built a technology-first ticketing platform for independent promoters
• Why the secondary market isn’t going away—and how operators can use it strategically
• Key takeaways from the Live Nation/Ticketmaster antitrust case
• How AI is changing ticketing, marketing, and event discovery
• The role of first-party data in modern live event businesses
• Why best-of-breed platforms often outperform all-in-one solutions
• How independent venues and promoters can compete more effectively in today’s market