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Fighting for the Future of Live Music: Tommy Dorfman on Power, Representation, Monopolies & Industry Change
Description
In this powerful episode of Music Industry Insights Worldwide, Saskhia Menendez is joined by Tommy Dorfman, a pioneering figure in the live music and EDM world whose extraordinary journey is rooted in creativity, resilience, advocacy and a fight for greater equity within the music industry.
Tommy's story began at just 16, when he moved out on his own and went on to become a major force in the New Jersey and New York EDM scene. As the founder of Juice Entertainment and creator of the iconic Bliss nightclub, Tommy helped shape the culture and sound of nightlife, building a reputation for innovation and excellence — including Bliss being recognised for having one of the world's best sound systems.
But Tommy's journey goes far beyond music and entertainment.
Throughout his career, he has fought to protect creative opportunity and ensure that independent and marginalised voices have a place within the industry. His experiences have also brought him into a long-running legal battle following the blocking of a planned festival at the Meadowlands — a fight that has developed into a wider conversation about competition, corporate power and the future of the live music business.
In this fascinating conversation, Saskhia and Tommy explore who really holds power in live music, the challenges facing independent promoters and artists, the importance of representation and diversity, and what happens when individuals challenge established industry systems.
Tommy shares his perspective on resilience, advocacy and why the music industry must continue to evolve if it is to create genuine opportunities for everyone.
In this episode, we explore:
🎧 The evolution of EDM and New York/New Jersey nightlife
🎤 Building an independent music and entertainment empire
🔊 The importance of sound, creativity and live experiences
⚖️ Challenging industry power structures and monopolies
🌍 Representation, diversity and inclusion in live music
✊ Fighting for marginalised and independent voices
💪 Resilience in the face of powerful opposition
🏟️ The future of festivals, promoters and independent live events
💡 Why meaningful industry change requires action, not just words
🚀 Tommy's vision for a fairer, more transparent music industry
This is a conversation about the fight for creative freedom, the future of live music and what it really takes to challenge the systems that shape the industry.