Episode 26: Can Portland be both a sports city and a music city?

Portland’s indie heartbeat is loud—but can it keep tempo as the city leans harder into big-league sports? Host Jamie Dunphy sits down with two insiders who live at that intersection: DJ OG One (official DJ of the Portland Trail Blazers) and Jami Duffy (Executive Director, Youth on Record; Co‑Manager, Underground Music Showcase; Denver Cultural Affairs Commissioner). Together they unpack how arena culture, public policy, and grassroots scenes collide— from the WNBA’s return to Rip City to Denver’s stadium districts and community benefit agreements.
OG One shares how he’s turned the Moda Center into a platform for local artists—slotting indie tracks into game ops, building halftime/concourse showcases, and creating a pipeline that trains young DJs for pro teams. Duffy offers a playbook from a championship sports town: treating music and sports as one entertainment ecosystem, getting artists at the table early, and safeguarding independent venues when shiny new stadiums add concerts to their calendars.

In this episode:

Sports investment vs. arts investment—and where policy actually moves the needle

Practical ways teams can platform local musicians (and why intention matters)

Stadium districts, noise, and CBAs: protecting neighbors and nightlife

How music and sports fans can learn from each other to build a more inclusive scene

A candid, actionable conversation about identity, equity, and the future of Portland’s culture. Press play and join the huddle.