Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Bruno.
Hi Lauren, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
2nd grade, Choir solo, in front of 500 people is the moment I knew I wanted to do music the rest of my life. I remember it clearly, that feeling of giving and receiving energy, it was so powerful and even at that age I knew I wanted to do music forever. I have that on VHS tape so I watch it from time to time to remind myself the power of music and community.
I’ve been an artist my entire life, but my journey has also always intersected with advocacy. When I was 11, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. That diagnosis pulled me into the nonprofit and pharmaceutical world at a young age. I performed at medical conferences, spoke to newly diagnosed kids, and started to see both the power of community support and the corruption in massive nonprofits and pharmaceutical companies.
At 16, I witnessed how one voice could create systemic change. My friend Ally Bain passed the Restroom Access Act, or Ally’s Law, now adopted in 19 states, and I had the chance to speak in Boston and Washington, DC about it. That was my first real taste of political advocacy, and I saw that change was possible even as a teenager.
Around that same time, I met Mike McCready, the lead guitarist of Pearl Jam, who also has Crohn’s disease. I gave him a CD of my music, and soon after, his team invited me to perform one of my songs at a benefit concert in Portland with Mike Mccready. That led to recording the track with him in Nirvana’s secret Seattle studio and shooting a music video backed by a pharmaceutical sponsor. It was an incredible experience, but it ended with my first experience with an entertainment contract that would have given away ownership of my masters. At 16 years old, I realized two life-changing truths: contracts matter, and as an artist, I have a choice. I didn’t want my music used to sell a pharmaceutical drugs, so I said no. That decision planted the seed for my lifelong fight for artist ownership, protection, and sovereignty.
I went on to study songwriting and music business at Berklee College of Music, then moved to Austin with my band. Once here, I founded a nonprofit called $3 Shows, connecting the arts community with social justice movements. Over nearly a decade, we supported more than 37 local organizations and built bridges between musicians, small businesses, and causes. At the same time, I worked inside the music tech world, spending four years at Solstice Live, a startup that connected artists to venues. I saw the potential of technology to benefit artists, and also how quickly companies pivot away from supporting creators when profits come first.
I was also deeply involved in the Austin Music commission and pushing for the hotel tax to be used for grants for the artistic community. I started an initiative called Inspire ATX just to get artists attending those meetings because there were never artists every there. 7 years later we now have 3 grants and that is thanks to a lot of passionate and dedicated groups of creative leaders in Austin.
I also was so fortunate to work with PBS and the show Arts in Context. They followed me around for 3 years and filmed a documentary on so much of these experiences! During all of this time, 2009- to the present, I’ve also been a musician, filmmaker, manager, mother, and I have seen at the ground level what the industry has become and how each person and community has been effected. Always watching, listening, and learning.
Then came COVID. I dove deep into researching data ownership and how platforms like Spotify and SXSW exploit artists’ work and data. The numbers were devastating: 61% of American musicians live below the poverty line, and I was seeing friends give up on music, or their lives, because sustainability felt impossible. That was the breaking point for me. Enough was enough.
Four months ago, Prosper XO was born. It’s a technology platform, community movement, and policy initiative designed to shift power back to creators. We’re building tools for data ownership, sustainable income streams, and authentic and deep community connections. We’ve already connected with hundreds of artists hungry for change.
At every step, my lived experience has taught me the same lesson: artists deserve ownership, choice, and sustainability. Prosper XO is how I’m turning that belief into a blueprint for the future.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, and honestly, I don’t think the artist’s path ever is. From the beginning, I was navigating health challenges with Crohn’s disease, which meant I had to grow up quickly and learn how to advocate for myself. That same experience showed me how powerful community and policy could be, but it also exposed me to corruption in nonprofits and the pharmaceutical world, systems that put profit over people.
As an artist, the struggles were just as real. I learned at 16 that contracts could make or break your future, and that ownership wasn’t guaranteed to the person who created the work. Later, I watched peers burn out from exploitative systems; streaming platforms that pay fractions of a cent per play, festivals that generate millions but don’t pay musicians fairly, and an industry that constantly tells artists to be grateful for “exposure” instead of sustainability.
Becoming a single mother added another layer to that journey. It gave me perspective on how little real infrastructure exists to support working artists and parents. It showed me how deeply we need systems that are human-centered, that recognize artists not just as performers, but as people with families, responsibilities, and futures to build. It sharpened my commitment to making sure Prosper XO isn’t just about career sustainability, but life sustainability.
Even in my own path, there were times I felt like giving up. Running a nonprofit taught me how hard it is to balance creativity, advocacy, and survival. Working inside a music tech startup showed me how quickly companies pivot away from artists when investors push for profit over mission. And in the pandemic, I saw the toll it took on friends and peers, many leaving the industry entirely, some tragically losing their lives.
Those struggles, though, shaped Prosper XO and me as a human. They taught me that transparency, equity, and sustainability aren’t just nice ideas; they’re survival tools. Every challenge reinforced the urgency of building something better. The road has been rough, but it gave me the clarity, resilience, and conviction to create a life, platform and movement rooted in real solutions for artists and most importantly love and joy.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve spent my life working at the intersection of art, community, and innovation. As a musician, filmmaker, and storyteller, I’ve always believed in the power of creativity not just to inspire, but to transform culture. Over the years, that’s meant everything from performing and touring, to directing large-scale community activations, to leading a nonprofit that connected Austin’s arts community with social justice movements.
Today, I’m the CEO and co-founder of Prosper XO, an artist-first ethical technology platform and cultural initiative. What we’re building is both ambitious and deeply personal: a system where artists own their data, control their income streams, and connect directly with fans and brands in transparent, ethical, and sustainable ways. We’re not just creating another app — we’re creating cultural infrastructure: technology, education, and policy all woven together to shift power back to artists.
I specialize in building bridges, between artists and community, between art and activism, between creativity and sustainable business. What I’m most proud of is the community we’ve already built in just a few months: packed monthly Town Halls, hundreds of artists joining our network, and conversations that are sparking real systematic change.
What sets me apart is perspective. I’ve been on every side of this industry, as an artist, a manager, a nonprofit director, and someone who’s worked inside a music tech startup. I’ve navigated chronic illness, political advocacy, and single motherhood alongside my creative work, which gives me a deep understanding of both the struggles and resilience of artists. I know what it feels like to put your soul into your art and still fight to survive, and I know what it looks like to build something better.
At the end of the day, my work is about one belief: when artists prosper, culture thrives. That’s the heartbeat of Prosper XO, and the legacy I want to leave.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My biggest advice is: protect yourself and your art from the very beginning. At 16, I was handed my first contract after recording a song with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, and I almost signed away the rights to my masters without realizing the long-term impact. That experience taught me two things I wish every artist knew: contracts matter, and ownership matters. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, get advice, and advocate for yourself, even if you’re just starting out.
I’d also say: treat your art like both a passion and a business. Open a separate bank account, track your expenses, and understand taxes early. It may not feel “creative,” but it gives you freedom in the long run.
Finally, don’t underestimate the power of community. So many of us are told to compete, but I’ve learned again and again that collaboration, support, and building together is where real sustainability comes from. Some of the most transformative things in my life, from policy advocacy to launching Prosper XO, happened because I leaned into community instead of trying to carry everything alone.
If you’re just starting out: protect your work, treat your art like a business, and surround yourself with people who believe in you. And above all, remember this: you have a choice. Don’t let anyone else define your path, your worth, or your future.
Contact Info:
- Email: lauren@prosperxo.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/lesrav1111
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-bruno-32658213a/
- Other: https://vimeo.com/221813173
