S6 Ep22: Good Skews – The Crack in Live Nation's Monopoly (with Devon Léger)

Live Nation's predatory grip on live music is finally cracking — and a homegrown, hyper-local music scene is rising up to take its place. Matt sits down with longtime music publicist and industry expert Devon Léger to talk festival season, why the corporate giants are getting pinched, and how Live Nation's monopoly playbook (own the venues, the artists, the tickets, then jack up prices) is running into real backlash. They get into the surprising forces reshaping the industry — from Gen Z drinking less to indie festivals outlasting the Coachellas of the world — plus how house concerts, co-op venues, and immigrant music scenes are quietly building a more sustainable future for live music. If you're feeling discouraged, Devon's prescription is simple: go to a show.Follow Devon's work: Seattle Picks on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seattlepicks_206 Seattle Picks on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@seattlepicks Hearth Music: https://www.hearthmusic.com KITHFOLK newsletter: https://hearthmusic.substack.comThis episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://www.zbiotics.com/SKEW now. You'll get 15% off your first order when you use SKEW at checkoutWeekly Skews is brought to you by Americans United for Separation of Church and State. If you believe religious freedom is supposed to protect everybody, not be weaponized to turn away good families, visit https://www.au.org/crooked to learn more and become a member today.