Summary
In this Virtual Sessions episode, Ryan Auhl joins host Darran Bruce from Phoenix to talk about his role as a partner at Relentless Beats and the journey from small-scale events to producing over 500 shows annually. Ryan reflects on how he started working with founder Tom Turner in 2010, growing from freelance design work to co-leading one of the largest independent promoters in the United States. What began as a hobby evolved into a full-fledged company producing massive festivals like Gold Rush, Decadence, and Phoenix Lights.
Ryan shares how Relentless Beats operates in multiple markets, partnering with local teams in Albuquerque, Honolulu, and New York while keeping Arizona as the central hub. He highlights the thousands of people it takes to pull off large-scale shows, describing them as “traveling circuses” that come together for just a few hours but require months of planning. For him, success lies in constant questioning, improving processes, and remembering that the industry is ultimately a people business.
The conversation touches on event safety, which Ryan calls a top priority. He outlines how security, medical staff, fire departments, police, and Relentless’ own Rangers collaborate to ensure fans make it home safe. He also addresses ticket prices, explaining that revenue goes directly into paying the artists, crews, and infrastructure that make these productions possible.
From stories of streakers at Phoenix Lights to the debate over cell phone use at concerts, Ryan reflects on the culture surrounding live events. He shares inspiration from artists like Zedd and business leaders who shaped the U.S. dance music boom, while also expressing excitement for new destinations and food adventures with his wife. For Ryan, the most rewarding part is seeing fans connect with music in safe, unforgettable environments.
Topics
0:20 – Moving Gold Rush back to Rawhide and creating immersive Western town vibes 2:30 – Scaling from 50 to 500 events a year with Relentless Beats 4:48 – Partnering with local teams in Albuquerque, Honolulu, and New York 6:06 – Starting by accident after college and growing into the role 8:17 – Motivation to pursue event production and early milestones 12:30 – Best advice received: always ask questions and keep improving 14:29 – Multi-pronged approach to event safety and planning 18:43 – Five essentials for a dream event: talent, site, production, food, transport 27:38 – Meeting inspirations like Zedd, Lee Anderson, and Paul Morris 35:59 – Wild moments like the streaker at Phoenix Lights 2017
Call to Action
Discover upcoming festivals including Gold Rush and Decadence at relentlessbeats.com. Follow Relentless Beats on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @relentlessbeats.
About Ryan Auhl –
As a partner of the Arizona-based promotion company Relentless Beats, Ryan Auhl has built himself into a seasoned operator and live event producer in just over a decade.
While he started out more organically in dance music, building the Relentless Beats brand into one of the Southwest’s largest independent promoters and operators, Auhl has aspirations to open the brand and himself to new opportunities across the country.
Having produced thousands of live music events, Auhl has cultivated the team at Relentless Beats, which has introduced dance music to the masses, into a company that has brought the Southwest into the conversation with L.A., New York, Chicago, and more.
About Goldrush Music Festival –
Produced by Relentless Beats, one of the Southwest’s most prolific independent promoters, Goldrush Music Festival: the Return to the West is a fully immersive two-day festival taking place at Rawhide Western Town in Chandler, Arizona, September 12 – 13, 2025.
A western-tinged festival concept, Goldrush will welcome electronic dance music prospectors from across the country to discover and experience world-class artists across three stages, including Excision, the global debut of Illenium b2b Zeds Dead, Major Lazer Soundsystem, Crankdat, Disco Lines, Dillon Francis, and over thirty more.
A special pre-show pool party will take place at Gila River Resorts & Casinos on Saturday, September 13, featuring headliner Benny Benassi. Other activations include the 3-channel silent disco at Mission Patio, the Sound Cabin Art Car, the Goldrush 1Up Arcade Stage, and more.
If there is time, Ryan can speak directly to key upcoming events to close out 2025:
Experts Only Festival – https://www.expertsonlyfest.com Body Language – https://bodylanguagefest.com Obsidian – https://relentlessbeats.com/events/obsidian-2025-eastlake-park-110725/ DUSK music festival – https://duskmusicfestival.com Better Together – https://wegobettertogether.com Decadence AZ – https://decadencearizona.com
About The DJ Sessions –
“The DJ Sessions” is a Twitch/Mixcloud “Featured Partner” live streaming/podcast series featuring electronic music DJ’s/Producers via live mixes/interviews and streamed/distributed to a global audience. TheDJSessions.com
The series constantly places in the “Top Ten” on Twitch Music and the “Top Five” in the “Electronic Music”, “DJ”, “Dance Music” categories. TDJS is rated in the Top 0.11% of live streaming shows on Twitch out of millions of live streamers.
“The DJ Sessions” is listed in the Feedspot directory as one of the Top 60 EDM Podcasts.
It has also been recognized by Apple twice as a “New and Noteworthy” podcast and featured three times in the Apple Music Store video podcast section. UStream and Livestream have also listed the series as a “Featured” stream on their platforms since its inception.
The series is also streamed live to multiple other platforms and hosted on several podcast sites. It has a combined live streaming/podcast audience is over 125,000 viewers per week.
With over 2,700 episodes produced over the last 16 years “The DJ Sessions” has featured international artists such as: Matt Staffanina, The Midnight, BT, Plastik Funk, Redman, Youngr, Dr. Fresch, Ferry Corsten, Robert Owens, Darude, Herbert Holler, Meecah, YORK, Martin Jensen, Sevenn, Amber D, Joey Riot, Drove, Martin Trevy, Thomas Datt, Siryuz & Smoky, Simon Shackleton, SurfingDJ’s, Jacob Henry, Rïa Mehta, Vintage & Morrelli, Joachim Garraud, Mizeyesis, Drop Out Orchestra, Dave Lambert, Tom Wax, Kenn Colt, Nathassia aka Goddess is a DJ, Joni Ljungqvist, mAdcAt, Wuki, DiscoKitty, Handshake in Space, Thaylo, Moon Beats, Barnacle Boi, IAMDRAKE, Spag Heddy, Scott Slyter, Simply City, Rob Gee, Micke, Jerry Davila, SpeakerHoney, Sickotoy, Teenage Mutants, DJ Mowgli, Wooli, Somna, Gamuel Sori, Curbi, Alex Whalen, Netsky, Rich DietZ, Stylust, Bexxie, Chuwe, Proff, Muzz, Raphaelle, Boris, MJ Cole, Flipside, Ross Harper, DJ S.K.T., Skeeter, Bissen, 2SOON, Kayzo, Sabat, Katie Chonacas, DJ Fabio, Homemade, Hollaphonic, Lady Waks, Dr. Ushuu, Arty/Alpha 9, Miri Ben-Ari, DJ Ruby, DJ Colette, Nima Gorji, Kaspar Tasane, Queen City Hooligan, Andy Caldwell, Party Shirt, Plastik Funk, ENDO, John Tejada, Hoss, Alejandro, DJ Sash U, Arkley, Bee Bee, Cozmic Cat, Superstar DJ Keoki, Crystal Waters, Swedish Egil, Martin Eyerer, Dezarate, Maddy O’Neal, Sonic Union, Lea Luna, Belle Humble, Marc Marzenit, Ricky Disco, AthenaLuv, Maximillian, Saeed Younan, Inkfish, Kidd Mike, Magitman, Michael Anthony, They Kiss, Downupright, Harry “the Bigdog” Jamison, DJ Tiger, DJ Aleksandra, 22Bullets, Carlo Astuti, Mr Jammer, Kevin Krissen, Amir Sharara,