Pollstar & VenuesNow 2022 Impact: NextGen Hub

With the 2022 Impact: NextGen, Pollstar and VenuesNow are recognizing the industry’s rising stars, with a look to the future. VenuesNow is honoring those who work for venues or in businesses related to them, while Pollstar focuses primarily on the talent, programming and content within the broader live entertainment industry.

Before you are 35 of the best and brightest young talent this industry has to offer, constituting a wide swath of this business. Pollstar‘s list of 20 honorees includes a promoter bringing festivals to Manila and Jakarta; a DJ who founded a tech start-up for opening acts; and a musician who slept in Walmart parking lots while on the road and went on to become a global tour promoter. While VenuesNow‘s honorees include a former assistant at the Greek Theatre; an amphitheater intern who became the building’s GM; and a hockey fanatic who played in the World University Games before running a facility.

Following the NextGen list are several NextGen-themed feature stories, including a Pollstar cover story with teenage punk heroines The Linda Lindas. Congrats to all the 2022 Impact: NextGen honorees!

Steve Ackles
Global Tour Promoter, Live Nation

Zhubin Aghamolla
Co-Director of Booking, I.M.P.

Akin Aliu
Music Touring Agent, CAA

Warda Baig
Tour Promoter, Live Nation

Jared Blashinsky
VP Touring & Live, 88rising

Lindsay Dworman
Director of Global Touring, AEG Presents

Joe Howard
Global Festival Promoter, C3 Presents

Louise Johnson
VP of Marketing, Patriot One Technologies

James June
Creative Manager, Live Nation Urban

Haley McCollister
President, Messina Touring Group – Nashville

Mapuana “Mapi” Moran
Vice President, Brand & Marketing, Goldenvoice

Josh Mulder
Agent, TBA

Andile Ndlovu
Senior Artist Manager, Electric Feel Entertainment

Nate Ritches
VP / Agent, Wasserman Music

Kinsey Shomo
Executive Assistant to Judi Marmel, Levity Live

Scott Schreiber
Agent – Music, UTA

James Simmons
Agent, WME

Tom Skoglund
Manager, Full Stop Management

Ashley Ventura
Booking Agent, MAC Agency

Andrea (Dre) Wallace
CEO, Opnr

Tracy Buskirk
Manager, Events & Settlements Nederlander Concerts

Brita Christensen
VP, Artist & Promoter Relations Ticketmaster

Grant Hall
Director Business Services and Strategy ASM Global

Rachel Hill
General Manager
Ak-Chin Pavilion

Kelly Holton
Principal, Brand Activation DirectorPopulous

Erik Hudson
General Manager
Mountain America Center and Hero Arena

Brian Krajewski
General Manager
Liberty First Credit Union Arena,

Lauren Mahaney
Director of Strategic Hospitality
Sodexo Live

Gracie Pugliese
Director of Marketing
Snapdragon Stadium

Keith Robinson
Principal, Creative Director
MANICA

Ellen Spangler
Senior Project Manager
Mortenson

Ashlee Stokely
Vice President
Stadium Events & Experience
NIssan Stadium

Amanda Trimble
Studio Design Leader, Sports & Entertainment; Vice President
HKS

Paige Vicari
Senior Premium Manager,
Live Nation VIP Food & Beverage Experience

Dionna Widder
Chief Revenue Officer,
Houston Dynamo, Houston Dash, PNC Stadium

The Linda Lindas: Bringing Punk Rock To A New Generation

On The Next Generation In The Biz & The ‘Need To Stand For Something Greater’

Q’s With Barbara ‘Mother’ Hubbard On Turning 95, Working With The Next Gens

How Live Nation Hired 50 Interns From A Pool Of 15K

Guest Post: A Next Gen’er On Turning A Love For Live Into A Career While Improving The Industry

How College Committees & Internships Open Doors For The Music Industry’s Future

Q’s With: Wasserman Music’s Rae Grabowski On The College Market, Next Gen & Billie Eilish’s Campus Plays

2022 NextGen Guest Post: How To Go From Fan To Working On Coldplay’s World Tour