The Bob Lefsetz Podcast Jon Batiste
8 snips
Oct 2, 2025 
Jon Batiste, a Grammy-winning musician and cultural advocate from New Orleans, shares his insights on the powerful role of music in society. He describes his unforgettable first show at Red Rocks, emphasizing music as a sacred communal experience. Batiste critiques the modern music industry, advocating for artist-led changes. He discusses his diverse audience and the challenges of balancing artistic ambition with industry metrics. Batiste also reflects on his creative process for his album 'Big Money' and the complexities of managing fame while staying true to himself.
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Red Rocks As Spiritual Performance
- Jon Batiste described his 2 hour 41 minute Red Rocks show as a spiritual practice where the band and staff became one with the audience.
- He jumped off stage and played inside the crowd for about 30 minutes, calling it a sacred, cathedral-like music moment.
Industry Devalues True Music
- Batiste argues the music industry is increasingly run by people who don't care about music making, causing devaluation of the art.
- He links that devaluation to a broader post-truth culture and predicts artists will again rage against it.
Use Music To Transform People
- Make music with true excellence and authenticity to open people's hearts and enable meaningful dialogue.
- Use music as social practice to unite people and address societal issues rather than only for scale or profit.