Dean Budnick is an American writer, filmmaker, college professor, podcast creator and radio host who focuses on music, film and popular culture.

It is the first book to chronicle the origins, development and ongoing strategies of companies such as Ticketron, Ticketmaster, Live Nation and StubHub, the efforts of numerous independent competitors and bands such as the Grateful Dead,[5] The String Cheese Incident[6] and Phish.

[7] The Wall Street Journal reviewer Ken Kurson wrote, "A clear, comprehensive look at a murky business, the book is also an encyclopedia of information about the rise, decline and rebirth of the live music industry.

Variety added that the season "will offer a deep dive into the history of Phish as well as its impact on music culture, the industry and beyond," through over 75 interviews, including those with the band members and management.

"[47] Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig selected it as one of his current "cultural highlights" in a piece for The Guardian, noting "I’ve been loving this podcast about the band Phish.

In December 2015, Billboard published an exclusive cover reveal for Suck and Blow: And Other Stories I'm Not Supposed To Tell, the autobiography of longtime Blues Traveler frontman John Popper, which Budnick co-authored.

"[55] On August 2, 2022 Hachette released The Music Never Stops: What Putting on 10,000 Shows Has Taught Me About Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Magic, by Peter Shapiro co-authored by Budnick.

Variety reported that “based on 50 pivotal shows which helped define Shapiro’s life and guide his businesses, the book chronicles a career lived at maximum volume.”[56] Spin added, “Shapiro talks eloquently and honestly about what he’s learned along the way, peppering the text with one amazing anecdote after another.” [57] The Music Never Stops “covers a good amount of ground; through industry consolidation and disruptive changes that occurred in advances, venue operations, ticketing and touring.

It also provides invaluable insight for those looking to enter into the live music and event business…what sets this apart is Shapiro’s willingness to admit where he didn’t hit the note or when he wasn’t as sure of his ability as people might have thought.

[68][69] His other related articles include interviews with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter[70][71] and pieces that have focused on Brent Mydland[72] and the missing soundboard tapes recorded by Betty-Cantor Jackson,[73] His conversation with Deadhead Bill Walton[74] appeared in Relix Conversation video series, while previous installments with Warren Haynes & John Scofield[75] and Luther Dickinson & Anders Osborne[76] all touched on their time performing in Phil Lesh and Friends.

In 2004 his interest in film as well as an ongoing focus on live music led Budnick to begin work on the feature-length documentary Wetlands Preserved: The Story of An Activist Rock Club.

[84] Budnick directed the film, which utilized archival footage, soundboard recordings and the efforts of a dozen digital animators to relate the story of Tribeca nightclub Wetlands Preserve.

[85][86] The documentary also includes music and interviews with Dave Matthews, Bob Weir, Questlove and Warren Haynes as well as members of Phish, moe., Agnostic Front, 311, the Disco Biscuits and many others.

[93] Wetlands Preserved was later acquired for television by the Sundance Channel[94] While still a graduate student, Budnick wrote two books, The Phishing Manual (Hyperion, 1996)[95] and Jam Bands (ECW Press, 1998).

[104] Over successive years the Jammys would move to the Roseland Ballroom[105][106] and then to the Theater at Madison Square Garden,[107] where, in its final installment in 2008, Phish received the Lifetime Achievement Award on the eve of the band's announcement that it would return to the stage after a four-year hiatus.

Budnick has also collaborated with Relix publisher and The Music Never Stops co-author Peter Shapiro on cover stories devoted to Questlove,[145] Lukas Nelson[146] and Joe Russo's Almost Dead.

Back in October 2008 Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart reunited to perform at the Change Rocks event for then-candidate Barack Obama.

[158] Twice a month the show hosted a one-hour electric performance from musical acts, with appearances by such groups as Derek Trucks Band, STS9, Galactic, Keller Williams and Umphrey's McGee (for whom Waful would eventually become lighting director).