PANEL - Creator Tools: Empowering Artists to Build, Monetize & Engage
From career management to audience connection, today’s creators have more tools than ever to shape their own success. This panel brings together leaders from Bootleg, Artist Growth, and Generation Now to explore how innovative platforms are helping artists take control—building sustainable businesses, monetizing their work, and engaging fans in new and meaningful ways.
Featured Speakers:
Rod Yancy is an entrepreneur, attorney, writer and founder of Bootleg: a music platform that delivers hi-fi concert audio, exclusive photos and premium content, deepening the connection between artists and their fans while unlocking new value from the live experience. He is also the founder and CEO of Oath, a family of ventures designed to help people live fully and plan intentionally, including Oath Law, Oath Planning and Oath Studio. A husband and father, Rod is driven by the belief that life is short and we are here to live with purpose.
Matt Urmy CEO/Founder, Artist Growth
Matt Urmy is a multi-faceted entrepreneur, musician, poet, and healer whose journey spans diverse creative and business landscapes. Born in New York City, Matt moved to Nashville at age 4, where his early immersion in the music industry sparked a lifelong passion for songwriting and performance. His artistic development continued through high school, expanding to include poetry alongside his musical pursuits.
After initially majoring in poetry at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, Matt took time away from formal education to travel and focus on music before returning to complete his degree in creative writing. His quest for knowledge and spiritual growth led him to New Zealand, where he lived among and studied with indigenous Maori healers—an experience he describes as deeply transformative. Upon returning to Knoxville, which served as his home base while touring as a musician, Matt furthered his formal education by earning an MFA from Spalding University.
Matt's entrepreneurial spirit emerged prominently with the founding of Artist Growth, a platform created to help artists and creators manage their careers. Under his leadership, the company evolved into a leading enterprise roster management system serving the music and media industries..
Royce Monroe is a prominent executive in the music industry, currently serving as the General Manager of Generation Now, an imprint under Atlantic Records. He is based in Atlanta, Georgia, where he plays a crucial role in one of the city's leading Hip-Hop labels. Royce is known for his extensive experience in both music creation and business management, with a focus on increasing the profitability and business growth of the label.
Generation Now is home to some of the biggest names in contemporary Hip-Hop, including artists like Lil Uzi Vert, Jack Harlow, and DJ Drama. Royce's work involves overseeing various aspects of artist development, from production and engineering to branding and marketing. He is particularly passionate about helping artists navigate the complexities of the music industry, ensuring they understand both the creative and business sides of their careers.
In addition to his executive responsibilities, Royce Monroe is also involved in initiatives aimed at discovering and mentoring new talent. Through various platforms, he offers aspiring artists opportunities to receive feedback on their music, providing them with invaluable insights from his wealth of industry knowledge. Royce's career is marked by a commitment to fostering talent and driving success within the music industry, making him a respected figure in the Hip-Hop community.