Peter Shapiro Named HeadCount Board Of Directors Chair

– Peter Shapiro

Independent concert promoter Peter Shapiro has been named chair of the board of directors of nonprofit voter mobilization organization HeadCount, which registers voters at thousands of live music events each year.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help recruit the next generation of voters and political leaders,” said Shapiro, who has been a member of HeadCount’s board of directors since its formation in 2004. “HeadCount is one of the leading youth-oriented political engagement organizations in America, so becoming Chair of the Board is a great honor and responsibility. I look forward to helping push things to the next level.”

Shapiro begins a four-year term as board chair.

Shapiro’s live music credentials include operating the Wetlands Preserve rock club in New York City, opening multiple Brooklyn Bowls and the restoration of Port Chester, N.Y.’s Capitol theatre, as well as creating the 2015 Fare Thee Well concerts celebrating 50 years of the Grateful Dead and co-founding the jam-heavy Lock’n Festival.

HeadCount has registered nearly 600,000 voters at concerts and via HeadCount.org, and has more than 30,000 volunteers nationwide, with volunteers at current tours for artists including Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Death Cab for Cutie, and Dave Matthews Band. Another prominent HeadCount tour was Jim James’ “The Future Is Voting” tour, which was underwritten by HeadCount and took in college towns in electoral swing districts, and he spoke at Pollstar Live! in February about HeadCount and the need to vote.

Just recently, HeadCount set an organization record by registering close to 1,400 voters in just one weekend at Bonnaroo.

Their goal is to register another 200,000 voters by next November and help turn out 1 million young voters by providing information and election reminders. HeadCount also manages “Participation Row” activism villages on the current Dead & Company tour and the upcoming Lockn’ Festival, which is produced by Shapiro.

See Lockn’s Poppin: Q’s With Dave Frey and Peter Shapiro

HeadCount’s Chair position had been shared by co-founders Marc Brownstein, bass player of the electronic rock band The Disco Biscuits, and former journalist Andy Bernstein, who is the organization’s executive director.

“It’s an honor to pass the reins to my friend of more than 20 years,” said Brownstein, who remains a member of the HeadCount Board of Directors and will now have the title of “Founder, Chairman Emeritus.”

Bernstein, who has been executive director since 2008, added that “Collaborations with Pete Shapiro have always been integral to how HeadCount achieves its mission. With Pete now in the Chair role, we will tap into both his creativity and his vast professional network like never before.”

The HeadCount board of directors also includes Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, John McCrea of CAKE, Kam Franklin of the Suffers, TicketFly Founder Andrew Dreskin, AEG Live promoter Don Strasburg, and former White House official Alyssa Mastromonaco, among others.