Getting To Know Your Pollstar Live! Panelists: Brandon Pankey

Pollstar Live!, the world’s largest gathering of live entertainment professionals, returns to the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, Feb. 21-23. The three-day conference is a flagship event for Pollstar magazine with compelling keynotes, panels, roundtables and the Pollstar Awards, celebrating the best in the business, along with plenty of opportunities to network and engage in insightful discussions.

Pollstar Live! kicks off with Production Live!, the one-day companion conference that features panels on all topics related to staging live events including lighting, video, stage management, sound technique, concert production, video, regulations, security and more.

Click these links for the Production Live! schedule and the Pollstar Live! schedule. Register for Pollstar Live! here.

Getting To Know Your Pollstar Live! Panelists

Brandon Pankey
Vice President of Business Development & Operations, Live Nation Urban
Panel: Rainmaker II
Date/Time: Wednesday l Feb. 22 l 3:00 p.m.

Why must everyone go to your panel?
Quite honestly to hear me speaking with Symba, one of the hottest new rappers in the industry today. Who’s next? Who is someone I think promoters and venues need to keep an eye on? It’s Symba. If you want to be in entertainment and informed and understand why Pollstar is important for all demographics and audiences, come to my panel.

What story will you tell during the panel?
The story of a compelling artist figuring his way out in the industry. The insight of an executive in live entertainment helping a dynamic understand the importance and the emphasis he should put toward his live career. It’s a story that needs to be told more in hip-hop and I’m excited to be a part of that conversation.

What’s the story you won’t tell?
Wait, we have to keep things off-limits? It’s an open conversation. Let’s get into what people need to hear!

What may cause tempers to flare?
I hope nothing but ultimately, I hope to have a very thought-provoking conversation with Symba and if that means tempers flare, then tempers flare. I took one class of judo when I was ten years old so I’m ready for anything.

What was the best part of your 2022?
Being a part of the rapid growth of Live Nation Urban while prepping my streaming network APEX. I’m truly blessed to be in the position I’m in and I’m excited about the work done in 2022 leading to even more amazing success in 2023.

Your predictions for 2023’s live industry highlights?
I would say another record-setting year across all genres of music for live shows, events and festivals, even more “tech forward” on-site activations at music festivals and increased integration of social impact at live music events from artists and promoters.

Career tent poles you are most proud of?
I can talk about personal successes or mentions in publications, but I think it’s just being respected in one of the toughest industries in the world. I’m most proud that I never had to change who I am to advance further in my career and being able to be authentically myself and still be where I am today is what I’m most proud of.