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Single's Tommy Stalknecht Talks Travis Scott and Underoath
And he explains how Anthony Bourdain shaped his approach to life and business
Tommy is a music industry veteran focused on helping artists own their audience, data and dollars—both digitally and physically. As founder and CEO of Single, Tommy has helped drive over 25 million album sales worldwide and contributed to more than 60 No.1 records. His work has powered fan engagement for artists including Harry Styles, Travis Scott, Tate McRae, The Weeknd, Bruno Mars and Chappell Roan.
We spent two minutes with Tommy to learn more about his background, his creative inspirations and recent work he’s admired.
Tommy, tell us …
Where you grew up, and where you live now.
I grew up in Alexandria, Va.—in Mount Vernon. My neighborhood was close to the historic forest around the George Washington estate, so my childhood days were spent in those woods and sneaking onto the property. I moved to Murfreesboro, Tenn., in 2006 to attend MTSU’s music business program, and to Nashville in the summer of 2010.
Your earliest musical memory.
Listening to Third Eye Blind’s first record on a cassette I stole from my older sister while flying over the mountains in Alaska during a trip with my dad. The other tape I remember from that trip was the Batman Forever soundtrack—”Kiss from a Rose” was my jam.
Your favorite bands/musicians today.
I float around a lot of eras like crooner tunes one day to ’60s, ’70s, ’80s hits another and yacht rock (especially if I’m on a boat), plus finding new artists. Some current music: The Marias, Cautious Clay, Sam Fender and Solomon Fox.
One of your favorite projects you’ve ever worked on.
The Underoath Observatory Series. It wasn’t just a stream; it was this immersive, multi-night story. Underoath took a simple concept and turned it into a high-production, meticulously designed event. It showcased that DIY spirit—being super creative and connecting directly with the audience. Another huge project, and a successful challenge, was the Travis Scott concert in Rome. Our team had three days to secure the infrastructure and handle massive global demand.
A recent project you’re proud of.
We’ve been working on ways to help artists identify fans who are attending their concerts and figure out what they are buying at the merch table. It’s a surprising black hole of data given that it makes up such a large portion of an artist’s income. One way we’ve done this is by partnering with atVenu to offer fans special promotions at checkout like discounts, gift with purchases, etc. This way, you are rewarding fans with a better experience while also getting context on who’s supporting you. Our early tests with artists like Brandon Lake, Good Kid and Flatland Cavalry have shown increases in per-head revenue and mailing list growth.
One thing about how the music world is evolving that you’re excited about.
I have been promoting a direct-to-fan approach to building a music career since day one in the industry. I’m encouraged by the increased focus D2C is getting—from indies to majors.
Someone else’s work, in music or beyond, that you admired lately.
My biggest non-work inspiration has been the late Anthony Bourdain. I was a huge fan of his shows and writing. What hooked me wasn’t just the amazing places and food, but his genuine humanity. The guy had this endless, real curiosity and treated everyone, whether a street vendor or a fancy chef, with serious respect. His stories were never just about the dish. They were about the life, culture and history behind the food. He was all about getting an authentic understanding without being a snob. Bourdain showed me that travel is about empathy and learning, and that you can find profound truths by sharing a simple meal.
A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.
Project Hail Mary audiobook by Andy Weir. The way he nails the scientific details is incredible. It feels totally real but doesn’t get bogged down or confusing. Plus, the book’s genuinely funny. Which makes the internal thoughts and conversations super entertaining.
An artist you admire outside the world of music.
I’m really into Jeff Soto’s paintings. It’s this awesome mix of nature, graffiti and fantasy.
Your favorite fictional character.
I’ve been a huge fan of Indiana Jones since I was a little kid. What’s not to like? He was a treasure hunting archaeologist who got to punch Nazis.
Someone worth following on social media.
Scott Galloway. I disagree with him on a few things. But overall his message of working hard, being a good human (and father) and taking financial responsibility resonates with me.
Your main strength as a marketer/creative.
I have a good sense of how puzzle pieces fit and how things build on each other. Our goal at Single is to build the most powerful Swiss Army knife for artists to run their business with fans as directly as possible and keep more of their earnings. To do this, we need to think through as many different scenarios and combinations as possible to give artists the freedom to get creative.
Your biggest weakness.
Stubbornness, it runs in the family.
What you’d be doing if you weren’t in the music business.
I have always been fascinated with set design (theatrical and amusement parks). Being able to construct a real-world environment that makes you feel like you are in an entirely different place that couldn’t or doesn’t exist fascinates me.
2 Minutes With is our regular interview series where we chat with creatives about their backgrounds, creative inspirations, work they admire and more. For more about 2 Minutes With, or to be considered for the series, please get in touch.
