NEW YORK – March 22, 2019 – Bandsintown, the most trusted source for concert discovery, today announced the acquisition of Hypebot.com and MusicThinkTank.com, leading artists centric and technology news outlets founded in 2004 by music industry veteran Bruce Houghton. The acquisition expands upon Bandsintown’s mission to help musicians grow their careers by offering free tools to over 500,000 registered artists while simultaneously providing a platform for fans and artists to connect.
Having worked closely with independent and emerging artists for many years, the expansion of Bandsintown’s artist platform comes at a time when labels, digital distribution platforms, music streaming services, brands, and live music promoters are all eager to identify and align with the next rising artist.
Launched in 2004, Hypebot chronicles with an artist’s centric point of view, the rising new music industry and its intersections with technology. With daily editions, Hypebot covers the music business news that matters and serves as a guide to the technologies changing how music is created, marketed and monetized. Hypebot’s MusicThinkTank is an open forum for musicians and music business professionals, dubbed “where the music industry goes to think”.
Hypebot and MusicThinkTank will continue to be run by Houghton, who will also step into an adviser role for Bandsintown with a specific focus on artist partnerships. The site will continue to operate as an independent voice and source of news and information, publishing daily and free to all. Houghton will also maintain his role in the live touring business in his continuing role as President of booking agency Skyline Artists Agency which books 200+ live dates annually.
A recent study by MIDiA Research titled ‘Recorded Music Market 2018: Stream Engine’ noted that “artists without record labels are changing the shape of the market, growing nearly four times as fast as the total market”.* With 93% of registered artists on Bandsintown having less than 100,000 followers, Bandsintown and Hypebot will cater to this specific dynamic artist segment with custom content, breaking industry news, exclusive interviews, guest columns, newsletters, tutorials, and more.
“Hypebot was created as a guide to understanding the new music industry – not just labels and tech companies; but more importantly, the artists and music that give it life,” said Hypebot founder and editor Bruce Houghton. “Working with a successful artist-centric team like Bandsintown will give Hypebot the resources to expand on our mutual mission of empowering artists. I look forward to contributing to Bandsintown’s ongoing effort to help more artists and managers build a successful and sustainable career in music, with live music at its center.”
“We believe Indie and emerging artists are a transformative and a vibrant component of the music industry,” said Fabrice Sergent, Managing Partner of Bandsintown. “We share the same passion for independent and DIY artists. By welcoming Bruce and Hypebot into the Bandsintown family, we enhance the breadth of our support to the artists and further contribute to artists’ career growth and success.”
Hypebot is also the latest property to join the Bandsintown Amplified advertising platform, which provides over 200 lean-in music properties with unique ad solutions to reach concertgoers, super fans, artists and the industry alike. Hypebot will provide Bandsintown’s endemic advertisers the ability to extend their reach to the DIY artist community and music industry via native advertising that keeps the focus on content and user experience.
Bruce Houghton is Publisher and Editor of Hypebot.com and MusicThinkTank.com, covering the new music industry and how technology is changing the way that music is made, promoted and monetized. He is also the founder and president of Skyline Artists, a nation booking agency representing a diverse roster including Zoe Keating, Poco, Roger McGuinn and Darlingside, Freddie McGregor, The Motels and many others. A sought-after music industry expert and speaker, Houghton has served on the Advisory Boards of SXSW Accelerator, MidemNet, and The New Music Seminar. He has appeared or had his writings featured on NPR, CNN, The Financial Times, Billboard, Forbes, Pollstar and more. He is also the founder and president of Skyline Artists, a national booking agency, which he will continue to run, representing a diverse roster including Zoe Keating, Poco, Roger McGuinn and Darlingside, Freddie McGregor, The Motels and many others.
