Katie Nystrom’s life revolves around live music. Growing up, she always found a way to get to concerts, including joining street teams and interning at venues. Once she learned she could study music business and build a career touring the world, she never looked back.
Tour management demands calm despite constant change and Nystrom has spent 14 years learning how to keep shows moving when plans go awry. As tour manager for the Backstreet Boys, she oversees operations for crews of more than 100 people, from travel and production schedules to backstage coordination across nearly every continent. Her work at the Sphere, supporting U2 and the Backstreet Boys, required tight coordination across technical teams in one of the world’s most advanced venues.
Nystrom also mentors women entering the music industry and helps crew members access mental health and substance abuse resources.