Jump to content

LiveOne

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from PodcastOne)
LiveOne
Type of businessPublic
Traded asNASDAQ: LVO
Founded2009; 16 years ago (2009)
Country of originUnited States
Founder(s)Rob Ellin
Key peopleRob Ellin (Chairman & CEO)
Industry
  • Audio streaming
  • Video streaming
  • Livestreaming
  • Podcasting
URLliveone.com
RegistrationOptional

LiveOne (formerly known as LiveXLive) is a Los Angeles-based streaming platform that provides livestreams of concerts and festivals, curated radio stations, podcasts, and original artist video and audio content.

History

[edit]

LiveXLive

[edit]

LiveXLive was founded by Rob Ellin[1] in 2015. It acquired Wantickets in February 2016, allowing the business to enter the music ticketing sector.[2] It lost $14.2 million in fiscal year 2016, on revenue of $225,000. In 2017, the company began signing content partnerships with internet personalities, including Amanda Cerny, King Bach, and Jake Paul,[3][4] with Cerny later named head of its talent division.[5] In August 2017, its parent company, Loton Corp, became LiveXLive Media.[6]

In September 2017, LiveXLive acquired Slacker Radio for $50 million.[7][8] When the deal closed in January 2018, Slacker had 1.5 million monthly active and 400,00 paid subscribers,[9][10] and was rebranded as LiveXLive in April 2019.[11] By the end of June 2020, it had 877,000 subscribers.[12] LiveXLive launched its IPO at the end of 2017, becoming a public company.[13][14]

In May 2018, LiveXLive signed a five-year deal with Sziget Festival to be its official livestreaming and content partner.[15] The company also introduced Live Zone, its on-site coverage experience, featuring pre- and post-show reporting.[16] By January 2019, the company had a roster of over 27 festivals, including EDC, Life Is Beautiful, HARD Summer, Rock In Rio, and Rolling Loud.[17]

Beginning in 2020, LiveXLive announced several acquisitions and new offerings as part of its effort to expand throughout the music industry. In February, the company announced the acquisition of EDM promoter React Presents for $2 million.[18] It bought PodcastOne for $18.1 million in May.[19][20] At the time, its library of 300 podcasts generated over 2.1 billion downloads per year.[21] It also launched a pay-per-view live stream offering for performances and events.[22] In June, the company launched its LiveXLive streaming app for smart TVs.[23]

As a publicly traded company, LiveXLive drew criticism when it received nearly $2 million in PPP loans from the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic. Acquiring PodcastOne after receiving the loan also put the company in danger of an audit, though LiveXLive remained committed to keeping the money.[24][25]

The company announced a content and revenue sharing partnership with Pitbull in July 2020. The deal included PPV live performances starting that fall and the launch of a video podcast on PodcastOne.[26] In October, it announced the acquisition of Addison, IL-based merch business, Custom Personalization Solutions.[27] In November, LiveXLive launched a music publishing division[28] as well as a 24/7 music channel on the free tier of Sling TV.[12]

LiveXLive acquired Modern Drummer in May 2021[29] and brand development company Gramophone Media, Inc. in June.[30] Also in June, the company produced and distributed the controversial Social Gloves: Battle of the Platforms pay-per-view event that pit YouTube and TikTok influencers against one another.[31] LiveXLive quickly followed up with an all-female event called Self Made KO.[32]

LiveOne

[edit]

In September 2021, the company announced its rebrand from LiveXLive to LiveOne.[33] React Presents was rebranded as ReactOne and Slacker Radio became SlackerOne. The company's pay-per-view business was spun out as a separate public company, PPVOne.[34] At this time, the company had streamed 1,800 artists since January 2020, and boasted a library of nearly 30 million songs, 500 curated radio stations, and hundreds of pay-per-view channels.[35]

In June 2022, US performance rights organization SoundExchange sued Slacker, Inc. and LiveOne over unpaid royalties. The lawsuit claimed that Slacker had stopped paying statutory royalties to creators in 2017, after the acquisition by LiveOne (then LiveXLive).[36] On October 13, the United States District Court for the Central District of California ordered Slacker and LiveOne to pay $9.7 million in unpaid royalties.[37]

In May 2023, a press release announced a proposed plan for the company to acquire certain IP assets from the Kast Media, podcasting network.[38] However, it was later revealed that Kast was not paying its creators when multiple podcasters spoke out against the company. A report from The Verge detailed that the deal would have involved Kast paying a portion of the ad revenue owed if the creators agreed to a deal to join PodcastOne's network.[39]

Starting in 2022, LiveOne planned to spin off PodcastOne and Slacker Radio as separate companies.[40] In September 2023, PodcastOne was officially spun out,[41] but it's stock price quickly tumbled following the Kast Media allegations.[39] Plans for Slacker to be merged with a special-purpose acquisition company were scrapped in October.[42][43]

For years, the company's streaming app was included in Tesla's Premium Connectivity subscription. However, this changed starting in December 2024. As a result of the company losing a significant revenue stream, LiveOne's stock price fell by 23% when the change was announced in October.[44] But the company rolled out discounted premium options and a free tier for Tesla users,[45][46] and by the end of the year, LiveOne had 450,000 listeners, claiming that user engagement actually increased.[47] By April 2025, the company had 1.5 million subscribers.[48]

Following the sale of Napster for $207 million, LiveOne announced in April 2025 that it would explore strategic options for the company that could include selling itself or its podcasting and streaming divisions.[49]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Robert Ellin Is The Founder of LiveXLive Media, Inc. (NASDAQ:LIVX) And Just Spent US$85k On Shares". Yahoo Finance. November 25, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  2. ^ "LiveXLive snaps up dance music specialist Wantickets". TheTicketingBusiness News. February 1, 2016. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  3. ^ Horgan, Richard (2017-06-05). "King Bach Partners With Live Music Hub LiveXLive". Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  4. ^ Petski, Denise (2017-07-24). "Jake Paul Sets New Gig Post-'Bizaardvark'". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  5. ^ Spangler, Todd (2017-08-03). "Amanda Cerny Named Head of LiveXLive's New Digital Talent Division (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  6. ^ "Loton Changes Name to LiveXLive Media and Reincorporates as a Delaware Corporation". www.prnewswire.com. August 7, 2017. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  7. ^ Sorrentino, Mike. "Slacker Radio is acquired by LiveXLive Media for $50M". CNET. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  8. ^ Singleton, Micah (2017-09-15). "LiveXLive acquires Slacker Radio for $50 million". The Verge. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  9. ^ "LiveXLive have completed their acquisition of Slacker Radio". RouteNote Blog. 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  10. ^ Roettgers, Janko (2017-09-15). "As Revenues and Subscribers Fall, Slacker Radio Acquired by LiveXLive for $50 Million". Variety. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  11. ^ Scrivens, Scott (2019-04-25). "Slacker Radio rebranded as LiveXLive, focusing on streaming live performances [APK Download]". Android Police. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  12. ^ a b Frankel, Daniel (2020-11-05). "LiveXLive Launches Channel on Sling TV". Next TV. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  13. ^ "LiveXLive Media Launches Public Offering". ir.livexlive.com. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  14. ^ "LiveXLive Media Announces Pricing Of Public Offering". www.prnewswire.com. December 22, 2017. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  15. ^ "Sziget Festival And LiveXLive Sign Livestream And Content Distribution Partnership". Benzinga. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  16. ^ "LiveXLive To Launch LiveZone Experience At Rolling Loud Festival". ir.livexlive.com. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  17. ^ Mitchell, Julian. "LiveXLive Looks To Mirror MTV And ESPN As The First Global Network For Live Music Events". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  18. ^ Grace, Anna (2020-02-07). "LiveXLive acquires EDM promoter React Presents". IQ Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  19. ^ Spangler, Todd (2020-05-08). "LiveXLive to Acquire PodcastOne in $18 Million Stock Deal". Variety. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  20. ^ Wang, Samantha (2020-04-15). "The Week the Music Stopped". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  21. ^ "LiveXLive Completes Acquisition of 'PodcastOne'". www.prnewswire.com. July 1, 2020. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  22. ^ Stassen, Murray (2020-05-14). "LiveXLive to launch pay-per-view live stream music events 'to drive new revenue-share model for artists'". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  23. ^ Newman, Tom (2020-06-05). "LiveXLive launch their new audio, video, podcast and live streaming app to smart TVs". RouteNote Blog. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  24. ^ Brooks, Dave (2020-06-20). "As Lawsuits Mount, LiveXLive Says It Will Ask for $2M PPP Loan to Be Forgiven". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  25. ^ Chiang, Nina (2020-05-19). "LiveXLive Comes Under Govt Scrutiny Over PPP Loan". EDMTunes. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  26. ^ "LiveXLive Joins Forces With Pitbull". RAMP - Radio and Music Pros. 2020-07-14. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  27. ^ Stassen, Murray (2020-10-29). "Livestream firm LiveXLive to acquire merch company Custom Personalization Solutions". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  28. ^ Christman, Ed (2020-11-17). "LiveXLive Launches Music Publishing Division". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  29. ^ "LiveXLive To Acquire Modern Drummer Publications". www.prnewswire.com. May 4, 2021. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  30. ^ Stassen, Murray (2021-06-01). "Eshy Gazit, manager of K-Pop stars Monsta X, to sell artist development firm Gramophone Media to LiveXLive". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  31. ^ Haasch, Palmer. "TikTok stars are fighting YouTubers in a 'Battle of the Platforms' as the influencer-boxing boom continues". Business Insider. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  32. ^ Donnelly, Matt (2021-06-25). "LiveXLive to Launch 'Self Made KO' Competition Series, Starting With Boxing Social Media Stars". Variety. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  33. ^ "LiveXLive Media Completes Its Name Change To LiveOne". Insideradio.com. 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  34. ^ "LiveXLive Media Completes Corporate Name Change To LiveOne". www.prnewswire.com. October 6, 2021. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  35. ^ King, Ashley (2021-09-15). "LiveXLive Rebranding to LiveOne – Spinning Out PPV Business". Digital Music News. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  36. ^ Stassen, Murray (2022-06-29). "SoundExchange sues Slacker and parent company LiveOne over unpaid royalties to creators". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  37. ^ "SoundExchange wins $9.7m royalties lawsuit against Slacker and parent company LiveOne". Music Business Worldwide. 2022-10-19. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  38. ^ "LiveOne to Acquire Certain Assets of Kast Media". GlobeNewswire News Room. 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  39. ^ a b Khalid, Amrita (2023-09-14). "Why everyone in the podcast world is mad at Kast Media's Colin Thomson". The Verge. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  40. ^ "As PodcastOne Spin-Off Moves Forward, LiveOne Says It May Spin Off Slacker, Too". Insideradio.com. 2022-12-30. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  41. ^ "PodcastOne Makes Its Long-Awaited Nasdaq Debut". Inside Radio. 2023-09-08. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  42. ^ Peoples, Glenn (2023-11-01). "Why LiveOne Called Off Slacker's SPAC Merger: 'It's a Tough Market to Come Out In'". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  43. ^ Peoples, Glenn (2023-11-01). "Why LiveOne Called Off Slacker's SPAC Merger: 'It's a Tough Market to Come Out In'". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  44. ^ Peoples, Glenn (2024-10-01). "Tesla to End LiveOne Streaming Subsidies for Customers, Sending LiveOne Stock Down 23%". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  45. ^ Klender, Joey (2024-10-01). "Tesla reshapes LiveOne availability as amended agreement takes place". TESLARATI. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  46. ^ Singh, Karan (2024-10-31). "LiveOne Announces Tesla Subscription Pricing". Not a Tesla App. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  47. ^ Wilson, Matt (2024-12-30). "LiveOne Sees 450K Tesla Users After Premium Connectivity Changes Take Effect". Drive Tesla. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  48. ^ "LiveOne announces total subscribers exceeds 1.5M". TipRanks Financial. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  49. ^ "LiveOne Hangs 'For Sale' Sign, Renewing Push To Sell PodcastOne And Slacker Radio". Insideradio.com. 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LiveOne&oldid=1292640860#PodcastOne"