In this episode of The Live Music Industry Podcast, Matt Ford sits down with David Zamora, Founder & CEO of Zamora Live, one of the most active independent Latin promoters in the U.S.

David shares how his family’s Chicago operation grew from booking bands in a restaurant basement into a company promoting arena and stadium tours nationwide. They unpack what makes the Latin live music market structurally and culturally different, why independence has lasted longer in Latin touring, and how economics shift from clubs to stadiums.

The conversation also explores the real-world impact of immigration policy on live events, including a moment when ICE activity and National Guard presence in Chicago affected ticket sales ahead of a major community show.

A candid look at scale, resilience, and what it takes to build an independent live music business today.

Episode Time Stamps:

(00:00:51) – From restaurant basement to concert company
(00:05:12) – First stadium show at MetLife: “Just another show… with a zero”
(00:07:10) – Stadium deals, settlements & wider marketing radius
(00:09:57) – Family business to bigger organization: how Zamora Live is structured today
(00:16:49) – How the U.S. Latin live market grew under the radar
(00:28:06) – Why there’s still room for independents in Latin touring
(00:33:22) – Consolidation, deals & how Zamora thinks about selling
(00:36:01) – Chicago show under National Guard & ICE spotlight
(00:47:48) – From Covid to immigration crackdowns: surviving the waves
(00:52:36) – Why Zamora adopted Prism & let go of DIY systems
(00:55:59) – Ticketing stack: from Ticketmaster to Ticketon
(01:03:09) – Tech shifts, human fear & past revolutions
(01:08:28) – Why live shows still matter in an AI future
(01:13:43) – Best-case AI: fewer admin tasks, more creativity
(01:16:13) – David's aspirations: world tours & beyond music
(01:19:00) – Gratitude, perspective & the long view

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