LiveOne

LiveXLive was founded by Rob Ellin{{Cite web |date=November 25, 2020 |title=Robert Ellin Is The Founder of LiveXLive Media, Inc. (NASDAQ:LIVX) And Just Spent US$85k On Shares |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/robert-ellin-founder-livexlive-media-062446611.html |access-date=May 24, 2025 |website=Yahoo Finance}} in 2015. It acquired Wantickets in February 2016, allowing the business to enter the music ticketing sector.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=February 1, 2016 |title=LiveXLive snaps up dance music specialist Wantickets |url=https://www.theticketingbusiness.com/2016/02/livexlive-snaps-up-dance-music-specialist-wantickets/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=TheTicketingBusiness News |language=en-GB}} 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,{{Cite web |last=Horgan |first=Richard |date=2017-06-05 |title=King Bach Partners With Live Music Hub LiveXLive |url=https://www.adweek.com/convergent-tv/livexlive-amanda-cerny-king-bach/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=2017-07-24 |title=Jake Paul Sets New Gig Post-‘Bizaardvark’ |url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/jake-paul-new-gig-post-bizvaardvark-livexlive-studios-1202134892/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} with Cerny later named head of its talent division.{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2017-08-03 |title=Amanda Cerny Named Head of LiveXLive’s New Digital Talent Division (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/amanda-cerny-livexlives-digital-talent-division-1202514695/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} In August 2017, its parent company, Loton Corp, became LiveXLive Media.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 7, 2017 |title=Loton Changes Name to LiveXLive Media and Reincorporates as a Delaware Corporation |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/loton-changes-name-to-livexlive-media-and-reincorporates-as-a-delaware-corporation-300500411.html |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}

In September 2017, LiveXLive acquired Slacker Radio for $50 million.{{Cite web |last=Sorrentino |first=Mike |title=Slacker Radio is acquired by LiveXLive Media for $50M |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/slacker-radio-gets-acquired-by-livexlive-media/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=CNET |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Singleton |first=Micah |date=2017-09-15 |title=LiveXLive acquires Slacker Radio for $50 million |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/15/16310314/livexlive-slacker-radio-aquires-50-million |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}} When the deal closed in January 2018, Slacker had 1.5 million monthly active and 400,00 paid subscribers,{{Cite web |date=2018-01-11 |title=LiveXLive have completed their acquisition of Slacker Radio |url=https://routenote.com/blog/spotifys-new-minty-home-edm-breaking-electronic-artists/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=RouteNote Blog |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Roettgers |first=Janko |date=2017-09-15 |title=As Revenues and Subscribers Fall, Slacker Radio Acquired by LiveXLive for $50 Million |url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/slacker-radio-sold-livexlive-falling-revenue-1202560175/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} and was rebranded as LiveXLive in April 2019.{{Cite web |last=Scrivens |first=Scott |date=2019-04-25 |title=Slacker Radio rebranded as LiveXLive, focusing on streaming live performances [APK Download] |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/04/25/slacker-radio-rebranded-as-livexlive-focusing-on-streaming-live-performances-apk-download/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Android Police |language=en}} By the end of June 2020, it had 877,000 subscribers.{{Cite web |last=Frankel |first=Daniel |date=2020-11-05 |title=LiveXLive Launches Channel on Sling TV |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/livexlive-launches-channel-on-sling-tv |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Next TV |language=en}} LiveXLive launched its IPO at the end of 2017, becoming a public company.{{Cite web |title=LiveXLive Media Launches Public Offering |url=https://ir.livexlive.com/news/news-details/2017/LiveXLive-Media-Launches-Public-Offering/default.aspx |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=ir.livexlive.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=December 22, 2017 |title=LiveXLive Media Announces Pricing Of Public Offering |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/livexlive-media-announces-pricing-of-public-offering-300574978.html |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}

In May 2018, LiveXLive signed a five-year deal with Sziget Festival to be its official livestreaming and content partner.{{Cite web |title=Sziget Festival And LiveXLive Sign Livestream And Content Distribution Partnership |url=https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/18/05/r11804230/sziget-festival-and-livexlive-sign-livestream-and-content-distribution |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Benzinga |language=English}} The company also introduced Live Zone, its on-site coverage experience, featuring pre- and post-show reporting.{{Cite web |title=LiveXLive To Launch LiveZone Experience At Rolling Loud Festival |url=https://ir.livexlive.com/news/news-details/2018/LiveXLive-To-Launch-LiveZone-Experience-At-Rolling-Loud-Festival/default.aspx |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=ir.livexlive.com |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Julian |title=LiveXLive Looks To Mirror MTV And ESPN As The First Global Network For Live Music Events |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/julianmitchell/2019/01/07/livexlive-looks-to-mirror-mtv-and-espn-as-the-first-global-music-network-for-live-concerts/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Grace |first=Anna |date=2020-02-07 |title=LiveXLive acquires EDM promoter React Presents |url=https://www.iqmagazine.com/2020/02/livexlive-acquires-edm-promoter-react-presents/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=IQ Magazine |language=en-GB}} It bought PodcastOne for $18.1 million in May.{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2020-05-08 |title=LiveXLive to Acquire PodcastOne in $18 Million Stock Deal |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/livexlive-acquisition-podcastone-1234601721/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Wang |first=Samantha |date=2020-04-15 |title=The Week the Music Stopped |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/music-crisis-concerts-tours-980968/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} At the time, its library of 300 podcasts generated over 2.1 billion downloads per year.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=July 1, 2020 |title=LiveXLive Completes Acquisition of 'PodcastOne' |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/livexlive-completes-acquisition-of-podcastone-301086733.html |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}} It also launched a pay-per-view live stream offering for performances and events.{{Cite web |last=Stassen |first=Murray |date=2020-05-14 |title=LiveXLive to launch pay-per-view live stream music events ‘to drive new revenue-share model for artists’ |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/livexlive-to-launch-pay-per-view-live-stream-music-events-to-drive-new-revenue-share-model-for-artists/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}} In June, the company launched its LiveXLive streaming app for smart TVs.{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Tom |date=2020-06-05 |title=LiveXLive launch their new audio, video, podcast and live streaming app to smart TVs |url=https://routenote.com/blog/livexlive-launch-their-new-audio-video-podcast-and-live-streaming-app-to-smart-tvs/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=RouteNote Blog |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Dave |date=2020-06-20 |title=As Lawsuits Mount, LiveXLive Says It Will Ask for $2M PPP Loan to Be Forgiven |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/livexlive-2m-ppp-loan-forgiven-9406162/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Chiang |first=Nina |date=2020-05-19 |title=LiveXLive Comes Under Govt Scrutiny Over PPP Loan |url=https://www.edmtunes.com/2020/05/livexlive-scrutiny-ppp-loan/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=EDMTunes |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web |last= |date=2020-07-14 |title=LiveXLive Joins Forces With Pitbull |url=https://ramp247.com/concerts/livexlive-joins-forces-with-pitbull/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=RAMP - Radio and Music Pros |language=en-US}} In October, it announced the acquisition of Addison, IL-based merch business, Custom Personalization Solutions.{{Cite web |last=Stassen |first=Murray |date=2020-10-29 |title=Livestream firm LiveXLive to acquire merch company Custom Personalization Solutions |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/livestream-firm-livexlive-to-acquire-merch-company-custom-personalization-solutions/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}} In November, LiveXLive launched a music publishing division{{Cite web |last=Christman |first=Ed |date=2020-11-17 |title=LiveXLive Launches Music Publishing Division |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/livexlive-launches-music-publishing-arm-david-schulhof/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}} as well as a 24/7 music channel on the free tier of Sling TV.

LiveXLive acquired Modern Drummer in May 2021{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=May 4, 2021 |title=LiveXLive To Acquire Modern Drummer Publications |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/livexlive-to-acquire-modern-drummer-publications-301283046.html |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}} and brand development company Gramophone Media, Inc. in June.{{Cite web |last=Stassen |first=Murray |date=2021-06-01 |title=Eshy Gazit, manager of K-Pop stars Monsta X, to sell artist development firm Gramophone Media to LiveXLive |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/eshy-gazit-manager-of-k-pop-stars-monsta-x-to-sell-artist-development-firm-gramophone-media-to-livexlive/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Haasch |first=Palmer |title=TikTok stars are fighting YouTubers in a 'Battle of the Platforms' as the influencer-boxing boom continues |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-vs-tiktok-boxing-fight-bryce-hall-austin-mcbroom-2021-3 |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Asarch |first=Steven |last2=Dodgson |first2=Lindsay |title=Austin McBroom's lawyer said there's no way they'll see profits from the influencer boxing match that some fighters said left them unpaid |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/austin-mcbroom-lawsuit-fight-boxing-social-gloves-attorney-influencer-legal-2021-7 |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} LiveXLive quickly followed up with an all-female event called Self Made KO.{{Cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Matt |date=2021-06-25 |title=LiveXLive to Launch ‘Self Made KO’ Competition Series, Starting With Boxing Social Media Stars |url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/livexlive-self-made-ko-1235005141/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

In September 2021, the company announced its rebrand from LiveXLive to LiveOne.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-06 |title=LiveXLive Media Completes Its Name Change To LiveOne. |url=https://www.insideradio.com/podcastnewsdaily/livexlive-media-completes-its-name-change-to-liveone/article_44723364-26c5-11ec-b13c-83b52b7ace56.html |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=Insideradio.com |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 6, 2021 |title=LiveXLive Media Completes Corporate Name Change To LiveOne |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/livexlive-media-completes-corporate-name-change-to-liveone-301393852.html |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=King |first=Ashley |date=2021-09-15 |title=LiveXLive Rebranding to LiveOne – Spinning Out PPV Business |url=https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2021/09/15/livexlive-rebranding-liveone/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Digital Music News |language=en-US}}

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).{{Cite web |last=Stassen |first=Murray |date=2022-06-29 |title=SoundExchange sues Slacker and parent company LiveOne over unpaid royalties to creators |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/soundexchange-sues-slacker-and-parent-company-liveone-over-unpaid-royalties-to-creators/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-19 |title=SoundExchange wins $9.7m royalties lawsuit against Slacker and parent company LiveOne |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/soundexchange-wins-9-7m-royalties-lawsuit-against-slacker-and-parent-company-liveone/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}}

In May 2023, a press release announced a proposed plan for the company to acquire certain IP assets from the Kast Media, podcasting network.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-05-23 |title=LiveOne to Acquire Certain Assets of Kast Media |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/05/23/2674347/0/en/LiveOne-to-Acquire-Certain-Assets-of-Kast-Media.html |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |language=en-us}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Khalid |first=Amrita |date=2023-09-14 |title=Why everyone in the podcast world is mad at Kast Media’s Colin Thomson |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/14/23874141/podcast-kast-media-colin-thomson-whitney-cummings-theo-von-one |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}

Starting in 2022, LiveOne planned to spin off PodcastOne and Slacker Radio as separate companies.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-30 |title=As PodcastOne Spin-Off Moves Forward, LiveOne Says It May Spin Off Slacker, Too. |url=https://www.insideradio.com/free/as-podcastone-spin-off-moves-forward-liveone-says-it-may-spin-off-slacker-too/article_22cf4420-8814-11ed-b998-b7313292f202.html |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Insideradio.com |language=en}} In September 2023, PodcastOne was officially spun out,{{Cite web |date=2023-09-08 |title=PodcastOne Makes Its Long-Awaited Nasdaq Debut. |url=https://www.podcastnewsdaily.com/news/podcastone-makes-its-long-awaited-nasdaq-debut/article_537e41f0-4e68-11ee-b437-179d2d671d99.html |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Inside Radio |language=en}} but it's stock price quickly tumbled following the Kast Media allegations. Plans for Slacker to be merged with a special-purpose acquisition company were scrapped in October.{{Cite web |last=Peoples |first=Glenn |date=2023-11-01 |title=Why LiveOne Called Off Slacker’s SPAC Merger: ‘It’s a Tough Market to Come Out In’ |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/liveone-cancels-off-slacker-spac-merger/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Peoples |first=Glenn |date=2023-11-01 |title=Why LiveOne Called Off Slacker’s SPAC Merger: ‘It’s a Tough Market to Come Out In’ |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/liveone-cancels-off-slacker-spac-merger/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Peoples |first=Glenn |date=2024-10-01 |title=Tesla to End LiveOne Streaming Subsidies for Customers, Sending LiveOne Stock Down 23% |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/tesla-end-liveone-streaming-subsidies-customers/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}} But the company rolled out discounted premium options and a free tier for Tesla users,{{Cite web |last=Klender |first=Joey |date=2024-10-01 |title=Tesla reshapes LiveOne availability as amended agreement takes place |url=https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-reshapes-liveone-availability-amended-agreement-premium-connectivity/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=TESLARATI |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Karan |date=2024-10-31 |title=LiveOne Announces Tesla Subscription Pricing |url=https://www.notateslaapp.com/news/2350/liveone-announces-tesla-subscription-pricing |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Not a Tesla App |language=en}} and by the end of the year, LiveOne had 450,000 listeners, claiming that user engagement actually increased.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Matt |date=2024-12-30 |title=LiveOne Sees 450K Tesla Users After Premium Connectivity Changes Take Effect |url=https://driveteslacanada.ca/news/liveone-sees-450k-tesla-users-after-premium-connectivity-changes-take-effect/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Drive Tesla |language=en-US}} By April 2025, the company had 1.5 million subscribers.{{Cite web |last= |title=LiveOne announces total subscribers exceeds 1.5M |url=https://www.tipranks.com/news/the-fly/liveone-announces-total-subscribers-exceeds-1-5m?utm_source=finance.yahoo.com |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=TipRanks Financial |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-30 |title=LiveOne Hangs ‘For Sale’ Sign, Renewing Push To Sell PodcastOne And Slacker Radio. |url=https://www.insideradio.com/free/liveone-hangs-for-sale-sign-renewing-push-to-sell-podcastone-and-slacker-radio/article_cb71e88f-efe0-48ad-ad13-0d411339a334.html |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Insideradio.com |language=en}}

{{reflist|33em}}

• {{Official website|https://www.liveone.com}}

{{Music digital distribution platforms}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:LiveOne}}

Category:Internet properties established in 2009

Category:2017 mergers and acquisitions

Category:2020 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Internet radio in the United States

Category:American music websites

Category:Companies based in Los Angeles