Howdy, loyal reader!

The next two weeks are packed, and we want to make sure you don't miss any of it.

PATTERN Mag Vol. 28, The Speed City Issue, created in partnership with Indy Chamber, is finally here. We're proud of this one. Learn how to snag a free copy below.

Yesterday, I hit submit on our READI 2.0 Arts & Culture funding proposal. Our big idea: regional Creative Economy Navigators to build capacity and connect creative sectors statewide. And now we wait.

Next week I'm in South Bend for IDEA Week, where the creative economy is getting its own spotlight at a half-day gathering. The week after, we're back at KSM for the second installment of our Creative Economy Panel Series — this time tackling a bigger question about what creativity actually does for a city's bottom line. The first breakfast drew a nice crowd. I'm looking at the guest list for this one and already seeing familiar names, which is always a good sign. We expect a packed room.

Last weekend I was in Bloomington for AlgoRhythms, a conference exploring the collision of AI and creative industries. My attempt at processing what I heard is this issue's Deeper Read.

And one piece of national news landed today that deserves your attention — it involves Live Nation, a jury verdict, and the future of live music. More in The Signal.

Let's get into it.

— Polina

Last weekend Polina spent two days at Algorhythms in Bloomington, listening to the people building AI music tools, suing each other over them, and trying to figure out what any of it means for artists. The lawsuits and licensing fights got most of the oxygen. But underneath all of it, something quieter kept surfacing — and it's the part Indiana should actually be paying attention to.

The future of music might not be better songs. It might be more people making them together.

April 20 - 24, South Bend will be the place to be for innovation, entrepreneurship, and… the creative economy. IDEA Week 2026 offers the mic to dozens of mavericks and masterminds who have changed the world by challenging industries. And, in the case of Chris Stevens, created brand new ones (like Keurig).

A half-day, Creative Economy Summit is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 1-4:30pm at the Midwest Museum of Art. Think of it as a snackable Creative Economy Summit and join our Polina Osherov along with regional economic development and arts & culture leaders to explore the state of the creative economy in the South Bend - Elkhart regions. The afternoon will feature two dynamic panels followed by facilitated roundtable conversation.

INDY DESIGN WEEK returns April 20–25. This year’s theme, Field Guide, looks less at finished work and more at the process behind it, the iterations, constraints, and decisions that shape outcomes.

At a time when AI and automation are reshaping how work gets done, IDW highlights the parts of creative work that don’t scale easily: judgment, collaboration, and taste.

Editor’s note: On April 23, venture to the Best Airport in North America aka Indianapolis International Airport for Designing Indy’s Next Chapter, an insightful look at local icons who have all undergone recent rebrands. Big change can be risky. What keeps stakeholders steady? And how do branding and identity shape Indianapolis as a creative and cultural hub? Hear from the folks responsible. Our Executive Director, Polina, guides this discussion.

April 27 is National Tell a Story Day — and Indianapolis is marking it with its first-ever Story Summit. Presented by Indy Chamber and Life in Indy, the event brings together residents, creators, media, and community leaders to celebrate the voices and experiences that make Indianapolis what it is. It's free, it's at the Central Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library, and it's part of the INDY: I'm Not Done Yet campaign.

Bonus: Attendees can pick up a free copy of our newest issue of PATTERN Mag Vol. 28 while supplies last.

A Jury Just Called Live Nation an Illegal Monopoly

It finally happened. A federal jury in New York ruled today that Live Nation operates as an illegal monopoly — a decision that could reshape the live music industry nationwide.

The verdict caps a five-week trial brought by California and more than 30 other state attorneys general after the DOJ struck a controversial settlement and exited the case last month. The jury found that Live Nation overcharged consumers and used its control of venues, promotion, and ticketing to shut out competition. What comes next — potential fines, structural remedies, even a possible breakup — will be determined by the judge in a separate proceeding.

For independent venues, artists, and fans, this is a landmark moment. For Indiana's music ecosystem, it's worth watching closely.

Following our March 2 opening panel on adaptive reuse, the next Creative Economy Panel in partnership with KSM asks a bigger question: how do creative assets shape the economic competitiveness of cities?

From Fort Wayne to Madison to Elkhart, Indiana communities are beginning to treat creative assets as infrastructure — not amenities. Join us April 28 for a conversation about moving creativity from the margins to the center of economic strategy. We'll explore the role of policy, partnerships, capital, and measurement.

Tickets, parking, coffee, insights, and breakfast are free.

P.S. Thank you, fellow champions of the creative economy!