Peter Shapiro (concert promoter)

Peter Shapiro in 2016

Peter Shapiro (born September 7, 1972) is an American club owner, concert promoter, filmmaker, magazine publisher, author and entrepreneur from New York City. He is widely known as the promoter for Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead, the Grateful Dead's 50th anniversary "final shows".[1] Shapiro first gained renown through two films that screened at the Sundance Film Festival: Tie-Died: Rock 'n Roll's Most Deadicated Fans (1995) and American Road (1997). He has gone on to produce numerous other projects including U2 3D (2007) and All Access: Front Row. Backstage. Live! (2001). The Producers Guild of America identified him as one of "The Digital 25: Visionaries, Innovators and Producers of 2009".[2] On June 8, 2016, Shapiro was honored at the annual gala of the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival.[3]

In 1996, Shapiro purchased New York City nightclub Wetlands Preserve.[4] He currently owns the Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas and the Capitol Theatre.[5] He has helped create such events as the Lockn' Festival, Jammy Awards, Jazz & Colors, the Green Apple Music Festival and Fare Thee Well. Billboard named Shapiro to its Power 100 list in 2015[6] and 2016[7] while in 2017 Variety placed him on its New Power of New York List.[8]

Peter Shapiro currently serves as publisher of Relix magazine.[9] He is also the founder of FANS, an online community with a focus on the live music experience.[10] Shapiro's other ventures have included GreenOrder,[11] The Hoodie Shop[12] and Stone Fox Bride.[13]

On July 8, 2019, he became chairman of HeadCount, the non-profit organization that works with musicians to promote participation in democracy, with a focus on registering voters at live music events.[14]

In August 2022, Hachette published Shapiro's book, The Music Never Stops: What Putting on 10,000 Shows Has Taught Me About Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Magic.[15] Kirkus described The Music Never Stops, written with Dean Budnick, as “an entertaining insider's tour of the concert business from a likable guide.”[16]

  1. ^ "Peter Shapiro, Co-Producer of the Grateful Dead's Reunion Concerts, Reveals How He Got the Band Back Together". Billboard. 26 June 2015.
  2. ^ Finke, Nikki (7 June 2009). "Producers Name "Digital 25" Of 2009". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015.
  3. ^ "Grateful Dead Promoter & Brooklyn Bowl Founder Peter Shapiro Feted for 'Creating Magic and Memories'". Billboard. 9 June 2016.
  4. ^ Strauss, Neil (July 30, 2001). "Vanishing Wetlands of the Musical Sort". The New York Times.
  5. ^ McKinley Jr, James C. (August 5, 2012). "Capitol Theater in Port Chester, N.Y., to Reopen". The New York Times.
  6. ^ "Peter Shapiro: The 2015 Billboard Power 100". Billboard.
  7. ^ "No. 92: Peter Shapiro | Power 100". Billboard. 13 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Variety's New Power of New York List 2017". Variety.com. 3 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Meet The Savvy Businessman Behind The Grateful Dead's Final Shows". Fastcompany.com. 25 June 2015.
  10. ^ Sisario, Ben (23 August 2016). "Fans.Com Is a Place to Talk About Concerts". The New York Times.
  11. ^ Gregor, Alison (October 8, 2006). "A Dollars-and-Cents Man With a Green Philosophy". The New York Times.
  12. ^ "Questlove Opens The Hoodie Shop in New York City". BET.
  13. ^ "Wedding Black Book: Stone Fox Bride Is A Tulle-Free Zone For Free-Spirited Brides". Instyle.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  14. ^ "For a Upstart Voter Non-Profit, a New Chairman Leads the Way". Rolling Stone. 8 July 2019.
  15. ^ "In Forthcoming Book 'The Music Never Stops,' Veteran Promoter Peter Shapiro Documents Life in Concerts". Variety.com.
  16. ^ "The Music Never Stops". Kirkusreviews.com.