Diversifying The Live Industry Roundtable With Fitz & the Tantrums' Noelle Scaggs, Joe Schaffner, Jerome Crooks & More: Video

– Diversifying The Live Industry Roundtable
Lance “KC” Jackson, Tobi Parks, Jerome Crooks, Brandon Pankey, Sooner Rae Routhier, Noelle Scaggs and Joe Schaffner

Pollstar cover subject Noelle Scaggs, founder of Diversify The Stage and brilliant co-lead vocalist for Fitz & the Tantrums, moderated a Pollstar Live! Digital Sessions livestream roundtable on Tuesday on the crucial topic of diversity in the live industry with six prominent figures in the live business.

The panel featured Tobi Parks, co-head of NIVA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity task force and owner of xBk Live; Brandon Pankey of Live Nation Urban, which last week released the Black Tour Directory; Jerome Crooks of Diversify The Stage, who is the founder of online employment portal NeverFamous.com and the production manager for Nine Inch Nails among others; Sooner Rae Routhier, an award-winning designer, producer and director; Lance “KC” Jackson, co-founder of Roadies of Color; and Joe Schaffner, a legendary tour manager who worked on tours with Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and the Jacksons.

With an artist, venue owner, promoter, production, tour manager and a legend like Mr. Schaffner on the roundtable, the discussion provided both historical and contemporary context and produced a number of keen insights on the importance of diversity and paths forward for our industry. Thank you to all of the participants and viewers. Check out the full video below.