The Industry Connection

Interview with Becca Morris, Talent Buyer, Insomniac

👋 Warner from The Industry Connection here 👋

📰 Today we dive into Universal Music Group’s big week, and sit down with Becca Morris, a talent buyer from the electronic music event promoter, Insomniac. Plus a bunch of open jobs and internships at the bottom of this newsletter.

Not a subscriber yet and want this newsletter in your inbox every Thursday? 

Today’s Call Log

  • COMPLEX has been acquired by NTWRK, the live-stream shopping platform for $108.6M in an all-cash deal, with investments from Universal Music Group and Interscope Records founder Jimmy Iovine.

    • Bad Beat: Buzzfeed had acquired COMPLEX for $300M in 2021

    • Sad Beat: 16% of the remaining Buzzfeed/COMPLEX workforce will reportedly be laid off as part of the restructuring.

  • Universal’s week wasn’t done there, as they announce a $240M investment (25.8%) in Chord Music, a catalog of 60,000+ songs

    • Excited to not hear any of those songs on TikTok!

  • TikTok rolled out their “Add To Music App” in 163 additional countries, which allows users to save music on the app to the streaming platform of their choice.

  • J-Pop’s global market shared doubled in 2023

  • Australia is in a festival crisis

Interview with Becca Morris, Talent Buyer, Insomniac

AvA: How did you get involved in the business side of music? 

Morris: Well it all started at raves in New Orleans with Winter Circle Productions (Shoutout Dante and Reeves) and Disco Donnie. I started flyering shows at 4am and in turn running a street team at one point. I helped bring the first BUKU Fest to life and I will cherish those days for eternity. Working for WCP I realized quickly what I wanted to do, how in love I was with this scene and just stuck to that path. I did contract work with a ton of festivals and took every gig box office, AR, VIP, Guest Services you name it - I was down. I moved to Austin needing a change of scenery and by the dream job gods I was hired by C3 Presents.

After being Bob Clay's greatest assistant, I finally was on the booking team for Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Middlelands (10/10 best festival to ever exist) and booked concerts across Texas in various venues. During the pandemic I got a call and decided to join the Insomniac team and the rest is history. Insomniac has been amazing and the shows we are booking, the production our team is facilitating is all so inspiring and really I'm just happy to be part of it all. 

Middlelands / Credit: Insomniac

AvA: What is your primary area of focus with Insomniac? 

Morris: I'm a talent buyer for Insomniac in LA & SF across 20+ venues. 

AvA: How do you stay on top of genre and ticket buying trends?

Morris: I've worked in dance music for 16 years and I think everyone can watch and learn what people are into. I am chronically online and I also still love going to raves and concerts. I think knowing what to book in theory comes naturally if you are part of it all. 

AvA: One piece of advice you have for someone wanting to get into the music industry? 

Morris: If I can do it from the swamps of Slidell Louisiana, so can you. Work every gig, do it well and be a good person. You will find your way in no time. 

Quick Hits:

AvA: Favorite shows you’ve booked?

Morris: Honey Dijon at Palladium, John Summit at BMO Stadium, Klangkuenstler in a warehouse in SF and probably Chase & Status coming up in 2 weeks at Palladium.. big moment for dnb in the states, and Emo Nite at the Torch at the Coliseum 

John Summit at BMO / Credit: @johnsummit

AvA: Dream venue to book?

Morris: Oh man.. The Caverns in Tennessee is so sick. I think a cave rave may be one of the coolest things ever. 

AvA: Dream artist to book? 

Morris: Ozzy 

AvA: Favorite show you've been to?

Morris: Lil Wayne in New Orleans when Tha Carter came out 

Job Board

💼 = Job | 🎒 = Internship

💼 Sr. Coordinator, Digital - Warner Music Group - LA - Apply Here

💼 Diversity & Inclusion Manager - The Recording Academy - Remote - Apply Here

💼 Director, Ticketing Strategy (Club) - AEG - LA - Apply Here

💼 Senior Manager, Integrated Marketing - Goldenvoice - LA - Apply Here

💼 Ticketing Coordinator - Live Nation - LA - Apply Here

💼 Strategic Partnerships Associate - UnitedMasters - Brooklyn - Apply Here

💼 Netflix is a Joke, Comedy Assistant - Live Nation - LA - Apply Here

💼 Recruiting & Onboarding Coordinator - Live Nation - Holmdel, NJ - Apply Here

💼 Manager, Digital Planning & Strategy - Live Nation - NYC - Apply Here

💼 Digital Music Industry Marketing Team - Crowd Surf - Remote - Apply Here

💼 Post Coordinator - JTN Music - LA - Apply Here

💼 Music Brand Partnerships Assistant - CAA - LA - Apply Here

💼 Marketing & Content Coordinator - Insomniac - LA - Apply Here

💼 A&R Scout - RCA Records - LA - Apply Here

💼 Assistant Artist Marketing - Sony Music - LA - Apply Here

💼 Operations Coordinator - Disney Music Group - LA - Apply Here

🎒 Summer Internship - Sony Music - NYC - Apply Here

🎒 A&R West Coast Intern - Sony Music Publishing - LA - Apply Here

🎒 Client Marketing Internship - Ticketmaster - Charlotte - Apply Here

🎒 Membership Services Intern - Monumental Sports & Entertainment - Washington DC - Apply Here

🎒 Intern, A&R Research - Sony Music Publishing - NYC - Apply Here

🎒 Music Booking Internship - Elsewhere - Brooklyn - Apply Here

Want this newsletter in your inbox every week?

This newsletter is written by Warner Bailey.

Get in touch! Email us at [email protected].

Want to partner with us and reach 15k+ music and entertainment professionals? Email [email protected].