In the post-pandemic world, the costs associated with producing and attending music festivals and events have risen dramatically. The need for both artists and venues to save time and money has never been more apparent.
Enter Andrea “Dre” Wallace, the visionary CEO of OPNR, a groundbreaking platform that connects artists and venues to opportunities. The platform, currently supporting over 10,000 artists, 700 venues, and 16,000 fans nationwide, was born out of Andrea’s unique dual expertise in music and technology.
As a longtime DJ in West Michigan, known by her alias DJ SuperDre, she was deeply immersed in the local music scene while balancing a full-time career in software development. Her breakthrough moment as a DJ came when she secured a gig to open for Bassnectar, a Billboard charting producer and DJ, on part of his 116 concert run that year. This opportunity tour had Dre writing code by day and performing by night.
“I was working remotely on the tour bus,” Andrea recalls. “During the day, there’s nothing to do, so I did my regular work. By the time we got to the next destination, it was time to get ready for the show. It was a repetitive cycle of work and performance.”
Andrea’s dual expertise provided her with deeper insight into the challenges faced by emerging artists when dealing with fans and venues. This inspired her to create a solution. She launched Fourtifeye, a platform that used data aggregation and data visualization to help artists identify the most effective channels for fan engagement. Initially a personal tool, it quickly garnered interest from other artists, leading Andrea to open it up for broader use.
“The live side of the industry has seen virtually no innovation for 60 years,” Andrea notes. “Seeing all the moving parts and problems during tours made me realize the need for a better solution.”
The first iteration of OPNR focused solely on live entertainment. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 put significant strain on this industry. In 2021, Andrea took the helm as CEO of OPNR, integrating her software from Fourtifeye to enhance the booking process for artists and venues alike. With this integration, artists were now able to link their social media accounts to OPNR, providing venues with a clearer picture of their value.
Under Andrea’s leadership, OPNR quickly gained traction, empowering artists to focus on their craft while ensuring venues had access to a diverse pool of talent. Her innovative approach and commitment to solving real-world problems not only enhanced the booking process but also fostered a more vibrant and dynamic music scene.
OPNR’s real-world impact has caught the attention of major industry players. The platform was selected for Techstars Detroit’s inaugural cohort in 2022, as well as the Spartan Innovations Conquer Accelerator Program. Andrea Wallace is currently a semi-finalist for Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition prize.
