006. Building the Music Empire Of the Midwest: The 46-Year Legacy of Scott Stienecker

006. Building the Music Empire Of the Midwest: The 46-Year Legacy of Scott Stienecker

What does it take to build a music empire from the ground up? For over four decades, Scott Stienecker ran PromoWest, booking 15,000 shows and welcoming 20 million fans through his venues. He helped bands grow from club acts to arena headliners—but as the industry changed, he had to make a critical choice: go corporate or stay independent? This is the story of a music visionary who always put the fans first. Subscribe to Showmaker everywhere you get your podcasts: YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/promowesttv Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1778680099 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1gAXN13tzhUEOaqe4rTIVD Brought To You By Art Makes Columbus – https://columbusmakesart.com/ Anheuser-Busch – https://anheuser-busch.com Mikey’s Late Night Slice – https://latenightslice.com See more at https://nevertoldstories.com Catch upcoming shows at https://promowestlive.com Learn more at https://aegpresents.com Follow PromoWest on Facebook: https://facebook.com/promowestlive Follow PromoWest on Instagram: https://instagram.com/promowestlive Follow PromoWest on Twitter: https://x.com/promowestlive Credits Featuring - Scott Stienecker Host - Brad Circone Exec. Producer - Cody Boyce Exec. Producer - Brad Circone Exec. Producer - Don Nixon Director of Photography - Dustin Franz 1st AC - Ryan Scott Grip - Elijah Jimenez Art Director - Andy Fisher PA - Wes Kasik Still Photographer - Dustin Franz Editor - Tom Davies Produced by Crate Media Cinematography by Sanggwen Media Special Thanks to Marissa, Joey, Brian, Jason, and the entire PromoWest Productions staff

005. The Reversible Music Venue That Revolutionized The Concert Industry

Necessity is the mother of invention, especially in the concert business. After PromoWest lost control of Polaris Amphitheater, there was worry that their iconic Newport Music Hall would be taken over next. In the face of this competition, Scott Stienecker created a groundbreaking design for a new venue that would cement his legacy in Columbus. PromoWest Pavilion (now KEMBA Live! Pavilion) is a pioneering achievement in venue design, combining the intimacy of a rock hall with the ambience of an amphitheater lawn—completely integrated, thanks to the industry’s very first reversible stage. See more at nevertoldstories.com [https://nevertoldstories.com/] Brought To You By: Art Makes Columbus – columbusmakesart.com [https://www.columbusmakesart.com/] Anheuser-Busch – anheuser-busch.com [https://anheuser-busch.com/]  Mikey’s Late Night Slice – latenightslice.com [https://latenightslice.com/]  Resources: • Watch on YouTube at youtube.com/@PromoWestTV [https://www.youtube.com/@PromoWestTV/podcasts]  • Catch upcoming shows at promowestlive.com [https://promowestlive.com/]  • Learn more at aegpresents.com [https://aegpresents.com/]  • Follow PromoWest on Facebook: facebook.com/promowestlive [https://www.facebook.com/promowestlive]  • Follow PromoWest on Instagram: instagram.com/promowestlive [https://www.instagram.com/promowestlive]  • Follow PromoWest on Twitter: x.com/promowestlive [https://x.com/promowestlive]  Crew Credits: Featuring - Scott Stienecker Host - Brad Circone Exec. Producer - Cody Boyce Exec. Producer - Brad Circone Exec. Producer - Don Nixon Director of Photography - Dustin Franz 1st AC - Ryan Scott Grip - Elijah Jimenez Art Director - Andy Fisher PA - Wes Kasik Still Photographer - Dustin Franz Editor - Tom Davies Produced by Crate Media Cinematography by Sanggwen Media Special Thanks to Marissa, Joey, Brian, Jason, and the entire PromoWest Productions staff

004. The $4 Million Dollar Gamble That Changed Columbus Live Music Forever

How did a young promoter take on Ohio’s live music monopoly and win? After 7 years, 5 dead deals, and a $4.1 million land lease, Polaris Amphitheater was finally built, creating the first 18,000 capacity outdoor venue in Central Ohio, putting Polaris on the map alongside Blossom (Cleveland) and Riverbend (Cincinnati). This is the untold story of how a young, ambitious promoter fought industry giants, risked millions, and changed Columbus’ music legacy forever. See more at nevertoldstories.com [https://nevertoldstories.com/] Brought To You By: Art Makes Columbus – columbusmakesart.com [https://www.columbusmakesart.com/] Anheuser-Busch – anheuser-busch.com [https://anheuser-busch.com/]  Mikey’s Late Night Slice – latenightslice.com [https://latenightslice.com/]  Resources: • Watch on YouTube at youtube.com/@PromoWestTV [https://www.youtube.com/@PromoWestTV/podcasts]  • Catch upcoming shows at promowestlive.com [https://promowestlive.com/]  • Learn more at aegpresents.com [https://aegpresents.com/]  • Follow PromoWest on Facebook: facebook.com/promowestlive [https://www.facebook.com/promowestlive]  • Follow PromoWest on Instagram: instagram.com/promowestlive [https://www.instagram.com/promowestlive]  • Follow PromoWest on Twitter: x.com/promowestlive [https://x.com/promowestlive]  Crew Credits: Featuring - Scott Stienecker Host - Brad Circone Exec. Producer - Cody Boyce Exec. Producer - Brad Circone Exec. Producer - Don Nixon Director of Photography - Dustin Franz 1st AC - Ryan Scott Grip - Elijah Jimenez Art Director - Andy Fisher PA - Wes Kasik Still Photographer - Dustin Franz Editor - Tom Davies Produced by Crate Media Cinematography by Sanggwen Media Special Thanks to Marissa, Joey, Brian, Jason, and the entire PromoWest Productions staff

003. How Twenty One Pilots Grew Up With and Graduated From PromoWest Venues

At the core of the PromoWest legacy are underplays—major artists performing in smaller venues. Scott Stienecker has helped catch lightning in a bottle for dozens of major acts, putting the likes of Beck, Creed, Kid Rock, Post Malone, Muse, and more, into small, intimate venues throughout Central Ohio. Perhaps most notably is Twenty One Pilots, who grew into each PromoWest venue—from The Basement to the A&R Bar to the Newport and beyond—and scaling into the global phenomenon they are today. See more at nevertoldstories.com Brought To You By: Art Makes Columbus – columbusmakesart.com Anheuser-Busch – anheuser-busch.com Mikey’s Late Night Slice – latenightslice.com Resources: Watch on YouTube at youtube.com/@PromoWestTV Catch upcoming shows at promowestlive.com Learn more at aegpresents.com Follow PromoWest on Facebook: facebook.com/promowestlive Follow PromoWest on Instagram: instagram.com/promowestlive Follow PromoWest on Twitter: x.com/promowestlive Crew Credits: Featuring - Scott Stienecker Host - Brad Circone Exec. Producer - Cody Boyce Exec. Producer - Brad Circone Exec. Producer - Don Nixon Director of Photography - Dustin Franz 1st AC - Ryan Scott Grip - Elijah Jimenez Art Director - Andy Fisher PA - Wes Kasik Still Photographer - Dustin Franz Editor - Tom Davies Produced by Crate Media Cinematography by Sanggwen Media Special Thanks to Marissa, Joey, Brian, Jason, and the entire PromoWest Productions staff

002. Saving America’s Longest Running Rock Club from Becoming a Walgreens

Every great city has its iconic music venues, and for Ohio, there’s no name more legendary than the Newport Music Hall.  For decades, this storied rock club has been a launchpad for some of the biggest acts in music and a cornerstone of the city’s culture. At the heart of its legacy is Scott Stienecker, whose vision and dedication saved the one-time Agora from becoming a shopping mall and transformed it into the beating heart of Ohio’s music scene. The Newport has cultivated memories that resonate far beyond the walls. What’s the secret to making a venue not just a place, but an experience? See more at nevertoldstories.com [https://nevertoldstories.com/] Brought To You By: Art Makes Columbus – columbusmakesart.com [https://www.columbusmakesart.com/] Anheuser-Busch – anheuser-busch.com [https://anheuser-busch.com/]  Mikey’s Late Night Slice – latenightslice.com [https://latenightslice.com/]  Resources: • Watch on YouTube at youtube.com/@PromoWestTV [https://www.youtube.com/@PromoWestTV/podcasts]  • Catch upcoming shows at promowestlive.com [https://promowestlive.com/]  • Learn more at aegpresents.com [https://aegpresents.com/]  • Follow PromoWest on Facebook: facebook.com/promowestlive [https://www.facebook.com/promowestlive]  • Follow PromoWest on Instagram: instagram.com/promowestlive [https://www.instagram.com/promowestlive]  • Follow PromoWest on Twitter: x.com/promowestlive [https://x.com/promowestlive]  Crew Credits: Featuring - Scott Stienecker Host - Brad Circone Exec. Producer - Cody Boyce Exec. Producer - Brad Circone Exec. Producer - Don Nixon Director of Photography - Dustin Franz 1st AC - Ryan Scott Grip - Elijah Jimenez Art Director - Andy Fisher PA - Wes Kasik Still Photographer - Dustin Franz Editor - Tom Davies Produced by Crate Media Cinematography by Sanggwen Media Special Thanks to Marissa, Joey, Brian, Jason, and the entire PromoWest Productions staff