Ryan Saltzman is a Partner, VP and Senior Agent at The Bullitt Agency, founded in 2000 and which has been one of the most preeminent agencies representing some the world’s leading music producers and DJ’s. With offices in Los Angeles, Washington, DC and Barcelona, it has established itself as a staple in the electronic music industry by maintaining a distinct level of excellence.
Life: when was the moment you figured out that Dance Music was meant to you?
I attended my first rave in 1998 when college friends convinced me to check out a party called Buzz in Washington, DC. I was used to the bar scene nightlife, which was quite segregated at my university and where the night usually ended in fights -- but at this party everyone was super friendly and inclusive. I think it was at this moment that I knew I wanted to be a part of this scene.
Laugh / Joy: when was the last time you had real fun?
I make it a point to have fun wherever I am! Most recently, I had the pleasure to attend one of my favorite annual events - Timewarp festival in Mannheim, Germany. This truly exceptional event that for one night has arguably has the biggest underground line up in the world. Timewarp has come to signify the beginning of the festival season and almost everyone from the underground music scene attends. It gives all of us within the industry a chance to reconnect, leave our inhibitions at home, and truly let loose to some amazing music.
Love: name the one thing you love more than anything – and why is that?
At the risk of sounding cheesy, I will have to say my wife. She is an amazing woman who is quite talented in the fashion world, and she provides me with the unconditional love and support that helps to make me a better person.
Past: name a significant moment in your career in Dance Music – and why is that?
The most significant moment in my career to date was when I was formally made a partner in my company (The Bullitt Agency). I started my career at Bullitt as an unpaid intern, despite the fact that I was already a fully licensed lawyer at the time. I worked relentlessly – coming into the office on weekends, taking on any tasks assigned to me, and learning the details of every position within the company. Becoming a partner signified that all my hard work was for a higher purpose and it confirmed for me that I had chosen the right vocational path.
Present: what do you think that is trending today in music, clubs and festivals?
The music scene is always undergoing change. From the minute a genre becomes popular, it’s only a matter of time before said popularity fades. The EDM bubble is dying a slow but certain death, and underground is becoming the new taste of the moment. But even this seems to be changing as people grow tired of deep house and are looking to more harder styles of tech house and techno (ie: Joseph Capriati, Dubfire, Marco Carola, etc). And then this, too, will eventually start to change.
With respect to events – clubs are starting to see less bottle service sales, which typically means that door and drink costs will need to increase to make up the difference in profit. This could hurt bigger clubs as clubbers opt for smaller venues that don’t have to worry about large overheads and can book more quality and versatile artists at affordable ticket prices. The festival bubble seems to be popping as well, but smaller niche events have the potential to thrive IF done properly (in both concept AND execution).
Future: where is industry heading in the years to come?
The dance music scene is in a delicate place at the moment. Advances in technology and social media have created an exponential increase in fans, music, and events; but this opening of the flood gates has created more quantity than quality. There seems to be a lack of creativity among many of the people within our scene -- artists and promoters are trying to simply replicate what others are currently doing, and clubbers can’t (and likely won’t) keep paying every week to see the same DJs playing the same shows, attending the same festivals with the same line ups, etc. I foresee a recalibration of the market in the not too distant future, and the strong and innovative will survive. There will likely be a push towards more live electronic music, rather than just DJs mixing behind decks. And the nightlife scene will become even more interactive, perhaps incorporating elements of virtual reality within it.
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