Web3 music streaming platform Audius buys digital live shows platform SoundStage.fm

San Francisco-based blockchain-powered music platform Audius has acquired Barcelona-based digital music expertise platform SoundStage.fm.

The transfer brings marks Audius’ growth into the digital live performance house.

Digital dance music-centric SoundStage.fm was based in 2019 by Ara Kevonian.

In accordance with a press launch saying the acquisition, SoundStage.fm’s digital live shows let followers “be a part of through webcam and work together with each the viewers and artist in a lifelike method”.

Launched in late 2019, Audius counts over 4.5 million month-to-month customers. It additionally inked a partnership with TikTok in August 2021, changing into the primary music streaming service to take action.

In September 2021, the agency introduced a $5 million spherical of strategic funding joined by business heavyweights together with Maverick Founder Man Oseary’s Sound Ventures, SESAC‘s John Josephson, and former Sony Music Publishing (then Sony/ATV) boss Martin Bandier.

Audius says that its SoundStage.fm acquisition is a key element of the streaming firm’s growth into the music metaverse.

The corporate’s growth into the digital leisure house follows pattern of music-streaming platforms diversifying their companies through tech acquisitions

France-born music platform Deezer for instance, not too long ago expanded additional into the livestreaming world through UK-born livestream firm Driift, which acquired one other Deezer-backed livestreaming platform known as Dreamstage.

Deezer acquired a minority stake in Driift in October final yr, and made a strategic funding in Dreamspace in Might 2021. The corporate says that it subsequently grew to become a majority shareholder in Dreamstage, previous to its acquisition by Driift.

“In SoundStage.fm, Ara has created a strong new surroundings for artists and followers to work together in.”

Forrest Browning, Audius

“In SoundStage.fm, Ara has created a strong new surroundings for artists and followers to work together in,” mentioned Forrest Browning, co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Audius.

“There’s an formidable product roadmap for SoundStage.fm as we work with Ara to create new digital experiences for music followers.”

“SoundStage.fm has constructed probably the most compelling environments for artists and their followers to satisfy nearly and is a pure extension of what the Audius neighborhood is constructing.”

Roneil Rumburg, Audius

Audius CEO and co-founder, Roneil Rumburg, mentioned: “At Audius, we’re all the time excited to broaden the ways in which artists can work together with their most passionate followers.

“SoundStage.fm has constructed probably the most compelling environments for artists and their followers to satisfy nearly and is a pure extension of what the Audius neighborhood is constructing.

“We’re excited for the artists that love Audius to attach with their followers within the SoundStage.fm metaverse.”

“My intention with SoundStage.fm was to supply the subsequent smartest thing to a bodily live performance. The aim was to ship an expertise that allowed followers and artists to work together as their human selves.”

Ara Kevonian, SoundStage.fm

SoundStage.fm CEO and founder Ara Kevonian, mentioned:  “My intention with SoundStage.fm was to supply the subsequent smartest thing to a bodily live performance. The aim was to ship an expertise that allowed followers and artists to work together as their human selves.

“As we discovered, that human component proved to be key in recreating the joy that was misplaced in present reside stream and digital live performance choices.

“I’m excited to convey SoundStage.fm to Audius and be a part of the Audius ecosystem. Roneil and Forrest share the identical imaginative and prescient of bringing extra distinctive and compelling experiences to followers whereas giving the artist full artistic freedom.”

 Music Enterprise Worldwide