Deezer buys minority stake in livestream company Driift – Music Business Worldwide

France-born music streaming company Deezer has acquired a minority stake in UK-headquartered Driift, a producer and promoter of live streamed music events.

Driift says that the new funding will help it accelerate its growth, while Deezer plans to leverage its technology and expertise to support the livestreaming platform’s future growth, including the roll-out of new products and offerings.

This announcement follows Deezer’s investment in DREAMSTAGE, a US-based live music streaming startup.

Driift was launched in August 2020 and has sold more than 600,000 tickets for live streamed gigs with artists like Nick Cave, Niall Horan, Kylie Minogue, Biffy Clyro, Andrea Bocelli, Laura Marling, Dermot Kennedy, Courtney Barnett and Sheryl Crow.

Driift’s partners included the UK’s Glastonbury Festival where the company conceptualised, created and produced the ‘Live At Worthy Farm’ event.

The streamed event featured artists like Coldplay, HAIM, Jorja Smith, IDLES, Wolf Alice, Michael Kiwanuka, Damon Albarn and The Smile.

Driift was co-founded by Ric Salmon and Brian Message.

The company is majority owned by co-founders ATC Management, with Beggars Group a minority shareholder.

Driift’s executive team also includes Chief Operating Officer Claire Mas and Head of Production Sasha Duncan.

The company is headquartered in the UK, with additional operations in New York and Perth in Australia.

“Live streaming is a rapidly growing industry that is redefining how fans engage with their favourite music.”

Jeronimo Folgueira, Deezer

Deezer’s CEO, Jeronimo Folgueira, said: “Live streaming is a rapidly growing industry that is redefining how fans engage with their favourite music.

“Companies like Driift help artists reach people all over the world to generate new revenue streams. Deezer has been a music industry innovator since the very beginning.

“Our investment in Driift is the next step in our expansion in this exciting and fast growing space. It also follows our strategic investment in the live streaming platform Dreamstage in May this year. I look forward to working with Ric and Driift’s management team.”

“The investment highlights the value of Driift’s offering and confirms that live streaming will be a major new component of the music industry going forwards.”

Ric Salmon, Driift

Ric Salmon, CEO of Driift, said: “We are delighted to have received investment from a global player such as Deezer.

“The investment highlights the value of Driift’s offering and confirms that live streaming will be a major new component of the music industry going forwards.”

Added Salmon: “What Driift has achieved artistically and commercially under lockdown conditions has really only scratched the surface.

“I believe that with Deezer, alongside our existing shareholders Beggars Group and ATC, we have the perfect partners to help us capitalise on new opportunities as the long-term potential of live streaming becomes more and more apparent.”

 Music Business Worldwide