A new cultural hub has emerged in Los Angeles, challenging traditional music industry models with an innovative approach centered on artist support and community building. In The Pink, founded by touring musician Franccesca Tardini, combines a high-end tattoo studio, creative retail space, and genre-specific music venue under one distinctively monochrome-pink roof.
The all-ages venue represents a significant departure from conventional music business practices. Most notably, In The Pink has banned the controversial “pay-to-play” model that requires performers to sell tickets to their own shows. Instead, the venue implements artist-centered profit splits, offering musicians 20% of the door per attendee they bring, and even pays local promoters through its Elite Partner Program.
“ITP is my way of giving back to the culture that shaped me. I built this so underground music could have a home that doesn’t exploit the people who love it the most,” said Franccesca Tardini, Founder of In The Pink.
The space operates with a dual identity—functioning as a tattoo studio and retail space during daylight hours before transforming into a venue for metal, hardcore, punk, and alternative performances at night. Regular themed events like Slam Sundays and Terror Tuesdays have quickly become fixtures in the local heavy music scene.
What sets the Los Angeles creative venue apart is its anti-industry approach to booking. Rather than prioritizing acts based on social media metrics or industry connections, In The Pink allows fans and artists to determine who performs—emphasizing authenticity over follower counts.
The venue has already achieved several milestones, including raising initial capital through a combination of founder investment, community fundraising, and angel partnerships. Tardini has assembled a diverse founding team and secured strategic partnerships with local artists and promoters, positioning the venue for sustainable growth.
Beyond live performances, In The Pink offers tattoo services from rotating featured artists, artist education workshops, and a curated retail space for merchandise and memorabilia. The venue has also developed a digital media platform featuring livestreams, fan subscriptions, and behind-the-scenes content, creating multiple revenue streams while providing additional promotional opportunities for artists.
As the first female-owned heavy music venue in Los Angeles, this innovative cultural hub represents a significant step forward for inclusivity in a genre often criticized for its lack of diversity. The venue’s commitment to subcultural respect and authenticity has already garnered early media attention as a bold new model for sustainable live music spaces.
In The Pink’s emergence comes at a critical time for independent music venues, many of which continue to struggle with post-pandemic recovery and changing consumer habits. By creating a multifaceted business model that serves artists and fans alike, Tardini’s vision offers a potential blueprint for the future of live music—one built on community support rather than corporate interests.