Songkick Closing Up Ticketing Shop

The CEO and founder of Songkick sent out a statement to artists and managers Oct. 12 stating that the company will cease operations on Oct. 31.

– Songkick

In the letter obtained by Pollstar, Songkick chief Matt Jones thanks artists, agents, managers, promoters, venues, partners, and “now nearly all former employees of CrowdSurge and Songkick.”

“I’m sad to write that on October 31, Songkick will bow to pressure from Live Nation and Ticketmaster and complete the shutdown of all ticketing operations (including the design and maintenance of artist webpages) we began earlier this year when Ticketmaster and Live Nation effectively blocked our U.S. ticketing business.”

Jones goes on to promise that all outstanding amounts owed from tickets sold to upcoming shows will be paid in full. He also says that the antitrust suit with Live Nation and Ticketmaster will continue, with trial scheduled to start Nov. 14.

In its suit against Ticketmaster, Songkick claims that Stephen Mead, the former director of Ticketmaster artist-services unit, and prior to that a former Songkick exec, hacked Songkick’s computers and used trade secrets to revamp TM’s own services. Songkick also accuses Zeeshan Zaidi, the Senior VP/GM of its concert and touring division OnTour, of acting improperly in its lawsuit.

A representative from Ticketmaster confirmed to Pollstar that Mead and Zaidi are no longer with the company.

A previous Live Nation statement on the suit called it “baseless” and said it “failed to show virtually any likelihood of success on the merits.”

Zaidi and Mead couldn’t be reached for comment at press time.

The news of Songkick’s shuttering also comes on the heels of an acquisition of Songkick’s concert-discovery app, website and naming rights, by Warner Music Group. The deal gave WMG access to Songkick’s 15 million subscribers and a platfrom to connect fans directly to shows from their favorite artists. That app will continue functioning “uninterrupted under the WMG umbrella,” according to the letter.

The acquisition by WMG did not touch Songkick’s ticketing business, which, at the time was said would operate under a new name with guidance from Matt Jones.

A source familiar with Songkick’s situation said the company is gaining ground in its legal battle against Ticketmaster and Live Nation, referring to an Oct. 10 decision by Judge Dale Fischer to deny an application to seal numerous documents produced by Live Nation that contained statements that could be considered “damaging – or at least embarrassing.” 

Live Nation had no comment at press time.