Listen Now

You would be given a free pass if you forgot that before the rise of the social media influencer there were already pundits and personalities on TV, radio and print. There’s just been that much exponential change in the media business over the last 15 years. Yet today, those who were formerly the audience are now capable of reaching more fans than even the show itself, just think TikTok. From micro to macro, big stage to small screen, to draw and maintain an audience is not easy. Now that change is the norm, authenticity in all its forms is what we demand of our idols, as we from Richard Crouse in this episode. Throughout the last 25 years, Richard has been authentic to a fault, which has kept him in the spotlight, and a source of light for all who believe in the magic of filmmaking. The post Being your Authentic Self – Richard Crouse in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 035 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

The commercialization of streaming audio is not a new phenomenon. Going back 100 years, it was simply known by another name, broadcasting. With the launch, rise and now transition to digital and apps, the business models of audio-preneurs have generally been the same, mostly because of the challenge of measurement, a problem audio’s cousin television overcame long ago. Transitioning radio broadcasters into audio streamers is still in progress, and not near being completely solved by SiriusXM, Spotify, or iHeartRadio, as we learned from SOCAST Founder Elliott Hurst in this episode. The post The Business of Radio – Elliott Hurst in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 034 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

Over a 20+ year span, as the Toronto pro sports scene evolved from older venues and stands filled with blue and white (Leafs, Blue Jays, Argonauts) to a more intense red (Raptors, TFC), and grand coliseums that define the city’s skyline, there is one sports executive in particular who ownership looked to. We’re of course talking about Richard Peddie, who we had the chance to speak with about the current state of Toronto sports, the importance of social justice, and a safe return to fans in stands. Richard’s current passions are Thrive Amherstburg and his bookstore River Bookshop. For more episodes click here. The post The Custodian of Toronto Sports – Richard Peddie in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 033 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

In today’s everything-on-demand world, it may be hard for anyone born post-Y2 K to answer a simple question, “where do you watch music videos?” A reasonable answer would be YouTube, Apple Music, or maybe even Tiktok. Prior to the dawn of YouTube in 2005, the answer was easy. MTV if you’re American, and of course MuchMusic for us Canadians. If there’s anyone who understands the rise and fall of music TV, it would be David Kines who worked his way up from a Friday night editor for the iconic The New Music show, to being the head of a network. Today, David remains influential in the content distribution business as co-founder of Hollywood Suite, as we learned in this episode. The post The Ultimate Backstage Pass – David Kines in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 032 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

People yearn for live experiences that they can share with others. Though fan and crowd-based events such as sports and concerts may be the source of most of our FOMO, movie theatres are even more appealing. Although the film may be the main attraction, movie theatre owners are constantly looking for new ways to maximize your spend while keeping you focused on the big screen entertainment. We finally find ourselves in our seats after playing a few arcade games and purchasing our snacks, which is where TimePlay comes into the picture, as we discovered in this episode. The post Gamifying the Movie Theatre Experience – Aaron Silverberg in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 031 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

Well behind the scenes in the media business lurks smart folks who really know their way around a spreadsheet. They’re the ones who have charted out and flighted all the commercials, billboards, features and other innovative forms of sponsor integration. We’re of course referring to… revenue management. If you’ve never heard of this career path, there’s no need to apologize. As you’ll learn in this episode, it’s a highly specialized part of the business that you’re groomed for from early on in your career, as was the case with our guests: Derek Myers, Christos Nikitopoulos, and Kevin Worsley. The post Pricing a 30 Second Spot – Derek Myers, Christos Nikitopoulos, Kevin Worsley in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 030 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

Sports fans today can watch more games and global competitions than we could have possibly imagined, even 20 years ago. For those of us that can remember, which generally means Boomers and Gen-X, there really wasn’t much sports to watch until the advent of pay-TV in the mid-80s, which saw the dawn of speciality channels like CNN, MTV and ESPN, plus TSN and MuchMusic up in Canada. As specialty channels found their way into more and more homes, the business really took off, which is where Phil King comes in. As a top executive at TSN and later CTV, Phil oversaw a portfolio of conventional and specialty channels that afforded him an enviable position in rights negotiations with the biggest sports and entertainment properties on the planet, as we learned in this episode. The post King of the Deal – Phil King in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 029 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

For several years, the legalization of single-event sports betting and the planned provincially controlled roll-out has been a hot topic. During that time, Woodbine Entertainment‘s astute executives have been watching and waiting while investing in the media and digital technologies that will be needed in a Canadian landscape where offshore behemoths are permitted to operate legally. Woodbine is led by Jim Lawson, who comes from a family whose history is as steeped in sports as any in Canada, as we learned in this episode. The post Leading the pack in the Sports Betting Race – Jim Lawson in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 028 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

In a world obsessed with digital and mobile engagement, as well as the rise of subscription streaming entertainment services, like Netflix and now Disney+, it’s easy to overlook the going’s on in the broadcast media business. The reality is, the 75-year-old business is having a moment. Perhaps it is due, in part, to a global pandemic, and the endless time we’re spending cooped up in our homes. Whatever the cause, one thing is certain: the biggest brands continue to rely on broadcast media to reach the largest audiences. Now more than ever, brands must communicate with potential new and current consumers to provide a message of optimism for a better future. That is why, as we learned in this episode, brands have trusted Alan Dark for over 20 years. The post Delivering Reach for the Biggest Brands – Alan Dark in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 027 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

This week’s guest — director James Erskine — joins us from England where he has just released his latest feature-length documentary, The End of The Storm. The documentary follows Liverpool Football Club and their fans as they navigate the covid-interrupted 2019-2020 Premier League winning season. LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JULY 22: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Trent Alexander-Arnold, Georginio Wijnaldum, Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, James Milner, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, Adrian, Divock Origi, Adam Lallana, Harvey Elliott, Joel Matip, Xherdan Shaqiri, Jordan Henderson captain of Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool celebrating in the dressing room with the premier league trophy after winning the Premier league at the end of the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on July 22, 2020 in Liverpool, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) James expertly weaves together the voice of Jürgen Klopp, the Team’s manager, with Liverpool players and fans from around the globe. The result is a compelling and unique storytelling experience. LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JULY 22: (THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool with the Trophy at the end of the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on July 22, 2020 in Liverpool, England. (THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Mark sits down for a brief chat with James to talk about the EPL, documentary film-making and gets an insider’s perspective on filming The End of The Storm during a pandemic. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. Watch it on Apple, Google, YouTube, or Amazon. If you would like to know more about the film please contact levelFilm or Route 504 PR for more details. The post Making “The End of The Storm” – James Erskine in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 026 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

Being a Toronto sports fan hasn’t been easy for many generations of Torontonians. Of course, the Raptors NBA title was kind of a reset for the city, and there were a couple of crazy Blue Jays runs a few years back, but those were more so the Toronto sports awakening for Millenials. For Gen X, in the stretch from 1967 to 1991, hope was just a dangerous word. The most seminal moments were those back-to-back Blue Jays titles and the anger of the 1993 Leafs playoff run. Enter Jonah Sigel, a Gen-Xer who decided to carry the weight of his generation and city on his back. For more than a decade Jonah has faithfully represented Toronto sports fans with his Toronto Sports Media blog, Twitter account @yyzsportsmedia and now his podcast. While he’s not in the media business for his day job as a technology executive, he’s made it his passion to promote transparency in the goings’ on, both with the Toronto sports teams and media outlets, as we discussed in-depth on this episode. The post Inside the Toronto Sports Media Scene – Jonah Sigel in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 025 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

Dome Productions is a relatively unknown company. Anyone who has walked by Gate 13 at Rogers Centre while attending a Toronto Blue Jays game has likely missed the small Dome Productions office sign, which looks more like a cornerstone time-capsule on the building’s facade. However, there’s a good reason you’ve never heard of Dome. They don’t need to advertise or even brag about their accomplishments because they are one of the world’s most renowned broadcast technology companies. Why should they? After all their leader, Mary Ellen Carlyle, has been driving broadcast innovation at a rate that rivals Silicon Valley for more than three decades. Furthermore, Mary Ellen and her team have reached the pinnacle of their profession while reporting to a board of directors that includes some of the most well-known names in sports, including ESPN, TSN/RDS, and Rogers Sportsnet, as you’ll learn in this episode. The post In a League of Her Own – Mary Ellen Carlyle in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 024 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

The penultimate sign of fandom, is a team’s jersey. Over the years, the role of the jersey in a team or league’s business has risen to the point where in some leagues it is by far one of the most valuable assets, at least on the team side. Around the world leagues differ in how they allow teams to sell real estate on the jersey to sponsors, from across the chest in soccer to just a patch in the NBA. For over 20 years, Jim Neish has been there, for leagues, teams and brands, dreaming up many of the innovative licensing partnerships that have become the standard. On this episode of The Backstage Project podcast, Jim shared how the licensing business has evolved, as well as a few memorable experiences on his journey. The post The Licensing Game – Jim Neish in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 023 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

Personality, intelligence, and work ethic can take you a long way in life. In the media business, however, these traits are simply not enough. Not only will you have to sacrifice to make your dreams come true, but those closest to you will have to share that commitment and all that comes with it. Now imagine if both you and your significant other are each chasing the dream of media business stardom. Married couple and parents, Kate McKenna and Donnovan Bennett joined The Backstage Project podcast to tell the story of how they manage the pressures of careers and parenthood. The post Making an Impact, Together! – Kate McKenna & Donnovan Bennett in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 022 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

From a young hotshot TV producer to one of the world’s top sports executives, Keith Pelley continues to chase his dreams. As Keith puts it, “life is about adventures”, and what an epic one he’s been on, culminating with the European Golf Tour where he’s now CEO and Commissioner. In this episode Keith shares stories about his journey from Canada to England as well as insights into how he became one of the most sought-after sports business leaders. The post Chasing a Dream – Keith Pelley in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 021 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

Long before the dawn of the internet, fantasy gaming and betting were already wildly popular pastimes for sports fans and gamblers. Fast forward to today, and the internet has more than caught up, it’s the dawn of a new day! Nic Sulsky We’re seeing explosive growth in the market cap and revenue of dozens of fantasy and sportsbook providers as well as the vast ecosystem of content, data and technology companies that support them. Nic Sulsky (President of Monkey Knife Fight) has been at the centre of this rise and shares his first-hand perspectives in this episode. PRODUCERS NOTE: Andrew here to let you know that if you are a Simpson’s fan you might want to pick up one of these awesome MKF t-shirts. The post Who’s Ready for a Monkey Knife Fight? – Nic Sulsky in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 020 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

From being an NCAA football player to becoming a journalist, Morgan Campbell has spent most of his life with an insiders’ view of the sports world. Over his 20+ year career, he’s witnessed the changes and pullback in sports journalism. In this episode, Morgan breaks down the impact of the new realities of sports journalism, specifically how objectivity is more than ever a trade-off for access to players and team officials. The post Tales from the Sports Journalist’s Beat – Morgan Campbell in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 019 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

It is a lot harder to become a paid speaker than you might imagine. While you may think that publishing a book is a surefire way to become sought after, there’s a lot more to it, actually! Sure, there are many authors, politicians and academics that companies pay big bucks to keynote events. There are also athletes, entertainers and astronauts who work closely with speakers bureaus to market themselves, as you will learn from our good friend Martin Perelmutter from Speakers Spotlight in this episode of the Backstage Project Podcast. The post The Speaker Representation Business – Martin Perelmutter in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 018 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

The Easton family has played a vital role in shaping the North American soccer landscape for almost 50 years. In the early 70’s, Jim Easton Sr. uprooted his family from Scotland to take the job as the inaugural head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Over his time in the role, Jim and his family fell in love with the city and called Canada home for good. Jim’s young son James (Jim Jr.) spent his formative playing years in the highly competitive Vancouver soccer system. That’s where James first met Victor Montagliani, who went on to become President of CONCACAF and Vice President of FIFA. James got drafted at 16 into the NASL, playing for Team Canada and finishing his career with the Vancouver 86ers, but that’s just part of the story, as you’ll learn in this episode of the Backstage Project Podcast. The post Born into the Beautiful Game – James Easton in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 017 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.

Traditional media businesses have long struggled to realize the opportunity with digital. Giving away free ad-supported content has backfired with Facebook and Google now controlling the relationship with the audience and all their associated behavioural data and preferences. What has emerged, thanks to Netflix, is that people will pay for good content, which is really a throwback to the pre-digital subscription media world. Chris Skinner has been at the digital epicentre of many media businesses who have grappled with how to balance the pressures of innovation and revenue, as you’ll learn in this episode. The post In Search of a Digital Media Business Model – Chris Skinner in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 016 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.