Since then, McDaniels has served as a Venture Partner for Dubai-based investment company TechInvest, while in early 2016, he launched Faction Entertainment – an artist management services business with a client list including Thievery Corporation, Bonnie McKee, Slightly Stoopid, Youngblood Hawke, Jamestown Revival, and Phantoms.
Under the exec’s leadership, INgrooves managed North American digital distribution for Universal Music Group, as well as more than 4 million songs for thousands of artists and labels.
As Beatport CEO, McDaniels will continue to serve as Venture Advisor at TechInvest and Executive Chairman at Faction, which will be expanding its presence with the dance & electronic community.
Beatport is owned by LiveStyle – the company which rose from the ashes of SFX Entertainment.
LiveStyle said today that, since quitting music streaming and focusing on specialist downloads in the dance/electronic space, Beatport has returned to profitability in 2017.
LiveStyle President/CEO Randy Phillips commented: “Beatport is in a period of resurgent growth and has recently returned to profitability. We are excited to have Robb take the reins of Beatport during this time and look forward to his innovative leadership to continue Beatport’s upward user trends, including the company’s increased visitors, users, and track sales.”
“We are excited to have Robb take the reins of Beatport during this time and look forward to his innovative leadership to continue Beatport’s upward user trends, including the company’s increased visitors, users, and track sales.”
Randy Phillips, LiveStyle
Chuck Ciongoli, Executive Vice President/CFO of LiveStyle, said: “We are proud to welcome Robb to the LiveStyle family. I’ve known Robb for many years, since a previous investment in INgrooves while at Universal Music Group.
“He is an extremely capable and dynamic senior executive who will help Beatport continue to grow as the DJ destination of the future.”
McDaniels commented, “I have known Beatport since its birth in 2004 as the preeminent DJ download store in the world. 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. We are looking forward to reigniting both innovation and value creation for our partners and customers at Beatport in 2018 and beyond.”
Beatport embarked on a comprehensive genre cleanup this year, recategorizing more than 1.5 million tracks.
This initiative led to the launch of the Leftfield House & Techno category, plus three new bass genres: Trap/Future Bass, Garage/Bassline/Grime, and Leftfield Bass.Music Business Worldwide
