Stumptown Soundcheck

Episode 32: Fix the Tix… or Fix the System?

If you’ve tried to buy a concert ticket lately, you know how frustrating it’s become. Oregon is stepping in with new laws aimed at bots, deceptive practices, and speculative ticketing—but will they actually change the experience for fans, artists, and venues? Host Anthony Messano is joined by Jimi Biron and Kevin Erickson to explore what these reforms get right, where they fall short, and what it might really take to fix the system.

Episode 31: Behind the Festival: Building Music Events in the Pacific Northwest

Music festivals don’t just happen—they’re built. We talk with Chad Colwell (Jackalope Jamboree) and Christina Fuller (Waterfront Blues Festival) about what it really takes to create festivals in the Pacific Northwest.

Episode 30: Amplifying the Industry: Inside the MusicPortland–MusicOregon Merger

This episode of Stumptown Soundcheck unpacks the merger between MusicPortland and MusicOregon — what changed, what didn’t, and why it matters to everyone in the music ecosystem. Host Anthony Messano talks with Music Oregon Board President Tim Wilson and Music Portland board member (and former president) Kate O’Brien about advocacy, statewide expansion, and the real impact these organizations have behind the scenes. From policy wins to artist investment and membership changes, they clarify the biggest misconceptions and explain who should be paying attention now. If you’re an artist, venue, or industry worker wondering who’s fighting for music in Oregon, this conversation is for you.

Episode 29: Turning the Corner: Music, Policy, and Portland’s Next Chapter

Portland is in the middle of another transition, and conversations about safety, culture, and identity often blur together. On this episode of Stumptown Soundcheck, host Anthony Messano is joined by Marshall Runkel, political strategist and longtime Portland civic advocate, to talk through how music and cultural policy intersect with the city’s future. The conversation touches on public investment in arts and entertainment, statewide support for cultural infrastructure, and why music venues matter beyond nightlife. Rather than revisiting what’s been lost, the episode looks toward what could be built next.

Episode 28: To park or not to park...

With new host Anthony Messano at the helm, Stumptown Soundcheck digs into one of the most universal — and maddening — parts of Portland’s live-music experience: parking. Joined by venue leaders Cheri Jamison (Alberta Abbey) and Jimi Byron (McMenamins/Crystal Ballroom), the conversation explores how parking availability influences ticket sales, audience turnout, artist load-ins, neighborhood relations, and overall venue operation