AXS acquires event tech firm WRSTBND
AEG-owned ticketing firm AXS has acquired a majority stake in event tech firm WRSTBND, a provider of access control, credentialing and point-of-sale solutions for live events and venues.
AXS says the deal highlights its commitment to enhancing the onsite fan experience, “streamlining entry and exit procedures, making payments more frictionless”, as well as creating “personalised experiences for attendees”.
WRSTBND plans to utilise the investment to significantly grow its capabilities and offerings to clients by integrating AXS Mobile ID technology with WRSTBND’s ecosystem.
“WRSTBND has established itself as one of the rising stars within the live event access control and credential management business, solving some of the most high-profile and complicated problems for the Super Bowl, US Open, and the NFL Draft,” says AXS chief strategy officer Marc Ruxin. “Their hardware and software technology combined with the scale of AXS’ premier festivals and live event clients, including Coachella, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest and BST Hyde Park, will create the most seamless and cutting-edge access and payment solutions available anywhere.”
“Together, with the help of their resources and our technology, we will continue to push boundaries”
Conway Solomon, WRSTBND co-founder, and CEO, along with Jonathan Foucheaux, co-founder, and CTO, share their excitement about the partnership’s potential
“From the very beginning, the AXS team shared our vision for how WRSTBND could be integrated and utilised for festivals and events all across the world,” they say. “Together, with the help of their resources and our technology, we will continue to push boundaries to develop and implement unparalleled solutions for our clients and their patrons.”
Earlier this week, AXS also announced a partnership with TikTok on an in-app ticketing feature that enables Certified Artists on TikTok to promote their live dates to new and existing fans globally on the platform.
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AXS installs Marc Ruxin as chief strategy officer
Ticketing company AXS has announced the addition of Marc Ruxin as chief strategy officer.
Ruxin, who will report directly to CEO Bryan Perez, will lead overall strategy and corporate development opportunities globally, working closely with business leaders around the world.
Before joining AXS, experienced entrepreneur and media executive Ruxin held positions as COO and CMO of music streaming service Rdio and chief innovation officer at Universal McCann and McCann Erikson.
“As the live event business continues to experience unprecedented global growth across sports, music, and festivals, AXS, and the AEG family, are perfectly positioned to become the most consumer-friendly and fan-forward business in the world,” says Ruxin.
“AXS is primed for the next growth stage and Marc will be a key player in our success”
“After a career in and around this industry, the opportunity to help AXS become the dominant global ticketing platform is the culmination of everything I have been working towards. What Bryan and the team have been able to build in a short time is an incredible accomplishment. I’m thrilled to be a part of it!”
Ruxin will take over corporate strategy and development responsibilities previously held by Blaine Legere, who transitioned to president – international late last year.
“Marc’s innate ability to successfully evaluate promising companies, his entrepreneurial prowess, and experience as an innovator and advisor in tech and live entertainment make Marc a great fit as we push our business forward,” adds Perez. “AXS is primed for the next growth stage and Marc will be a key player in our success.”
As well as upping Legere from his former role as SVP of corporate strategy & emerging markets, the AEG-owned ticketing company promoted COO Tom Andrus to president, North America at the end of 2023 to help manage its rapid growth.
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C3, Red Light, Another Planet invest in Mixhalo
Mixhalo, an audio tech start-up founded by Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger and his wife, Ann Marie Simpson-Einziger, has raised US$10.7 million to fund its mission to “democratise” concert sound.
Investors in the series-A investment round, led by Foundry Group, include US promoters C3 Presents (Charlie Walker), Superfly (Rick Farman and Rich Goodstone) and Another Planet Entertainment, UK artist management firm Red Light Management, and venture-capital outfits Cowboy Ventures, Sapphire Sport and Defy Partners, reports TechCrunch.
Pharrell Williams was also an early investor in the company, as were WME’s Marc Geiger and mega-producer Rick Rubin, which has raised a total of $15m to date.
Similar to European start-up Peex (which additionally enables listeners to create their own mixes), the Mixhalo app allows fans to listen through headphones to audio direct from the soundboard – ie the mix artists hear in their in-ear monitors – rather than through speakers, for improved sound quality.
“Mixhalo envisions a world where everyone experiences great live audio, regardless of their seat or ticket cost”
The platform also allows artists and concert organisers to offer multiple mixes for a single concert, or feeds from multiple festival stages, allowing users to tailor their concert experience to them.
Mixhalo CEO Marc Ruxin says the company is “definitely solving a problem in music that people don’t realise they have”, comparing it to watching television in the pre-HD age. “Now, sports that’s not in HD looks crappy,” Ruxin explains.
Mixhalo has been deployed at shows by Charlie Puth, Incubus and Metallica, as well as Aerosmith’s current Las Vegas residency, Deuces are Wild.
Ruxin tells TechCrunch he is currently focused on music and sports, but is also open to other working with other sectors, as the technology can also installed in, for example, a theatrical musical with “no technical tweaks.”
“Mixhalo envisions a world where everyone experiences great live audio, regardless of their seat or ticket cost,” comments Ruxin. “We are democratising sound at live events.”
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