Beatport CEO Robb McDaniels

Beatport CEO Robb McDaniels

Photo courtesy of Beatport

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INgrooves Founder Robb McDaniels Named New Beatport CEO

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The announcement is the latest in a series of big moves by entertainment giant LiveStyle
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Oct 18, 2017 - 3:59 pm

Los Angeles-based live events conglomerate LiveStyle has made some big moves this year, the latest being the hiring of Robb McDaniels as the new CEO of its electronic-based music store Beatport.

Following a challenging year in 2016 that saw LiveStyle declare bankruptcy under its previous moniker, SFX Entertainment, the company has reemerged under new leadership and a new name.

After Randy Phillips, former AEG Live CEO, was brought on to take the reins and manage the company's rebranding, Phillips wasted little time in luring producer/DJ/entrepreneur Gary Richards away from his own HARD Events, which sold its controlling interests to LiveNation in 2012. Richards is LifeStyle's current president of North American activities.

One of the company assets in question during SFX's 2016 bankruptcy slump was the digital music distribution outlet and streaming service Beatport, which SFX acquired in 2013. The online music store was briefly considered for auction in early 2016, but ultimately was retained after closing the doors on its streaming service offerings to cut costs.

On Oct. 17 LiveStyle officially announced that McDaniels, founder of the successful independent music distribution service and full-scale marketing outlet INgrooves Music Group, will be taking over as Beatport's new CEO.

Founded in 2002, INgrooves became one of the first independent music distribution companies to partner with iTunes, while also building a retail network of more than 600 services and storefronts.

"I have known Beatport since its birth in 2004 as the preeminent DJ download store in the world," McDaniels said in a statement to Billboard. "Ever since they easily convinced me to sign up INgrooves as a content partner, I have worked closely with many of the talented executives and passionate employees at the company. I know that Beatport, in partnership with its parent company LiveStyle, has the ingredients to dramatically increase the positive impact it can have on the dance and DJ community."

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LiveNation President/CEO Michael Rapino in 2009

Michael Rapino

Photo: Tom Williams/Getty Images

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LiveNation Executive Michael Rapino Renews Contract

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An SEC filing has revealed the complete details of LiveNation president/CEO's new contract renewal
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Dec 18, 2017 - 1:06 pm

Alongside this morning's announcement of a new joint venture with Bowery Ballroom founders to launch the New York-centric promotion and live event booking firm Mercury East Presents, an SEC filing by LiveNation has revealed that President/CEO Michael Rapino has just inked a five-year contract renewal to stay with the company that will see him potentially earning $9 million a year, plus vested stock, through 2022.

Rapino first joined LiveNation in 2005, and around that time the company launched its initial public offering at $10.75, and as of market close last week, LiveNation's stock value sits at $42.63 a share — a four-fold increase under his leadership.

Rapino's renewed contract, which will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2022, promises 289,505 shares of common stock, 700,000 shares of performance equity, and a base salary of $3 million per year with eligibility for a performance-based bonus of $6 million. He will also receive an additional one-time bonus of $1 million for 2017, thanks in part to his securing several high-profile acquisitions including the purchase of the Napa, Calif.-based BottleRock Festival, Israel's Blue Note Entertainment, and today's Mercury East Presents launch.

Should Rapino be terminated by LiveNation "without cause" or if he terminates his own employment "for good reason" at any point during the contract period, he will receive a lump-sum cash payment equal to the sum of his base salary and his most recent performance bonus, multiplied by two, and the immediate acceleration of all unvested equity.

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Gary Richards at Miami Music Week 2018

Gary Richards

Photo: Sergi Alexander/Getty Images

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HARD Events Founder Gary Richards Announces New L.A. Festival

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The HARD Events founder and former LiveNation exec is bringing a new installment of his AMF brand to L.A.
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Apr 11, 2018 - 1:36 pm

Business has been good for Gary Richards in 2018. Since parting ways with LiveNation – as well as his brainchild production company HARD Events, of which LN owns a controlling share – in Sept. 2017 to take over as President of North American events for LiveStyle, he has acted quickly to establish his new flagship events brand "All My Friends." First up: a new summer music festival set to take place in downtown Los Angeles.

Richards has been expertly teasing the rollout for the AMF brand with a series of activations and smaller events, first teeing up the inaugural voyage of Friend Ship cruise festival – which has already sold out almost a year before the event dates – then hosting a marathon day party during Miami Music Week under the "All My Friends" banner that kicked off at 5 a.m. and ran until midafternoon.

The dance festival czar's latest project will continue to expand his LiveStyle footprint with All My Friends Festival Los Angeles, set to take place in the large outdoor venue ROW LA (which L.A. natives might recognize as the home of the Smorgasburg weekly farmer's market).

The two-day event's official lineup is still forthcoming, but the press release announcing the new venture promises three stages packed with futurebass, R&B and top tier hip-hop acts.

All My Friends Festival Los Angeles will take place Aug. 18 – 19. Early-bird presale tickets will go on-sale on Apr. 12 at 9 a.m. Pacific.

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Sofi Tukker, 2017

Sofi Tukker

Photo: Noam Galai/WireImage.com

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Shazam "Next To Know" Spotlights Artists On The Rise: Sofi Tukker, BTS & More

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The music discovery app has picked its first class of 10 artists on the rise
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Dec 20, 2017 - 12:59 pm

Music discovery app Shazam has announced a new monthly initiative to highlight young talent on the rise, aptly titled Shazam Next To Know.

For the opening class, the app's curation team has chosen a group of 10 artists from various genres whom they feel are ready to make major strides in 2018. Moving forward, each month will see four new artists get the spotlight treatment.

The inaugural class of Next To Know artists are GRAMMY-nominated dance/electronic duo Sofi Tukker, singer/songwriter Jessie Reyez, rapper/producer blackbear, Noregian pop singer Sigrid, K-Pop's de facto U.S. ambassadors BTS, alt-pop singer/songwriter Billie Eilis, English performer  Tom Walker, soundcloud rapper Lil Pump, Christian rapper NF, and country singer/songwriter Devin Dawson.

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Strong picks all around, many of the artists in the inaugural class are already making major moves up the Billboard charts, with Lil Pump's "Gucci Gang" charting No. 3 on the Hot 100, BTS' "Mic Drop" nabbing K-Pop's first-ever Top 40 U.S. ranking, and Sofi Tukker's Best Friend" getting a huge placement in a new iPhone X commercial.

Opening up on the decision to move forward with the new initiative, Shazam's global head of content Julian Marshall said, "In previous years, our data has helped highlight household names way ahead of them breaking into the mainstream. However, we've seen a change in how quickly an artist can break and we want to reflect that, too. That's why, every month, we will update 'Next to Know' with four artists who are about to break out."

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Kygo in 2017

Kygo

Photo: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

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Kygo Unveils Full Orchestra "Stargazing" Video, New Concert Film

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Watch the Norwegian producer perform alongside Justin Jesso and a full orchestra
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Dec 6, 2017 - 4:54 pm

Norwegian electronic producer Kygo gives his classical roots the spotlight in a new video for the orchestral version of his hit single "Stargazing" from his upcoming Live At The Hollywood Bowl concert film.

Recorded in collaboration with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and vocalist Justin Jesso (who lent his vocals to the original studio version of the track), the video showcases a stripped-down arrangement of the song that puts the swelling strings and melodic piano lead at the forefront, building to a massive crescendo as the lights rise up to reveal the full cast of musicians sharing the stage.

The stunning video is a preview of the new concert film that chronicles the "Stole The Show" producer's impressive one-night stand at the historic L.A. venue alongside a who's who of special guests, including Conrad Sewell, G-Eazy, James Hersey, Kodaline, Labrinth, Parson James, Seal, and more.

Kygo's Live At The Hollywood Bowl is set for release on Dec. 12.

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