Watch Pollstar’s Election Panel Featuring Patterson Hood, Vernon Reid, Emily White, Kevin Lyman, More

– Vote!
Pollstar editor and reporter Eric Renner Brown discusses the intersection of voting and civic engagement with (clockwise) San Francisco 49ers’ Hannah Gordon, Kevin Lyman Group’s Kevin Lyman, #iVoted’s Emily White, Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood, Living Colour’s Vernon Reid and HeadCount’s Andy Bernstein.

Industry leaders convened Thursday to discuss the intersection of civic engagement and live entertainment in the latest Pollstar Live! Digital Session.

In a wide-ranging conversation taking place less than a week before America’s presidential election, Emily White (#iVoted), Andy Bernstein (HeadCount), Kevin Lyman (Kevin Lyman Group), Hannah Gordon (San Francisco 49ers), Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers) and Vernon Reid (Living Colour) discussed how the live business has harnessed its platform to inspire political participation – during a pandemic, no less.

Panelists discussed the logistical challenges of initiatives such as #iVoted Festival – the massive Election Day streaming event that’s the topic of Pollstar‘s latest cover story – and the nationwide push for stadiums, arenas and other venues to serve as polling places.

Other highlights from the panel included Hood’s recollection of his first time seeing Living Colour, long before Drive-By Truckers existed, and Bernstein’s revelation of who has driven the most voter registration through HeadCount. (Hint: It’s someone more associated with YouTube than arena stages, and involves Teslas.)

Find video of the panel below, and make sure to make your voice heard, if eligible, by voting in the upcoming election on Nov. 3.