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The Superfan Economy: How Artists Can Rethink Touring, VIP & Direct-to-Fan Revenue with Cody DeLong
Description
n this episode of Music Industry Insights Worldwide, Saskhia Menendez is joined by Cody DeLong, CEO and co-founder of Sound Rink, to explore how artists are rethinking the economics of touring and unlocking new opportunities through superfans, VIP experiences and direct-to-fan strategies.
With more than a decade of experience across touring, ticketing and artist operations, Cody has helped generate millions in incremental revenue for artists while enabling them to retain ownership of their valuable fan data. As a 3x Inc. 5000 founder and co-founder of Armada Merch, Cody brings a practical, operator-led perspective to building sustainable, fan-first businesses in the live music industry.
Together, Saskhia and Cody explore where the real money is on the road, why superfans remain one of the most under-leveraged assets in live music, and how artists can build stronger, more direct relationships with their audiences.
From VIP experiences and meet-and-greets to fan data, pre-sales, merchandise and direct-to-fan commerce, this conversation looks at how artists can move beyond traditional touring revenue models and create long-term value by truly owning their fan relationships.
Cody also shares lessons from building and scaling successful music technology businesses, offering insights into what it takes to create sustainable revenue streams while putting fans and artists at the centre of the live music ecosystem.
In this episode, we explore:
🎟️ How artists can earn more from touring
💎 Why superfans are the future of the live music economy
🤝 The evolution of VIP experiences and meet-and-greets
📊 Why fan data is one of an artist's most valuable assets
📱 How direct-to-fan strategies are changing touring
💰 Building new revenue streams beyond ticket sales
🚀 Lessons from scaling a live music technology startup
🎤 How artists can strengthen long-term fan relationships and value