Napster hires Roblox former Global Head of Music, Jon Vlassopulos, as CEO

New music streaming provider Napster has employed previous Roblox Worldwide Head of New music Jon Vlassopulos as its new CEO.

The organization has also declared a new funding spherical with participation from current investors and new backers such as Hivemind, Algorand, SkyBridge Funds, Alumni Ventures, Borderless Money, and G20 Ventures, which will accelerate Napster’s Web3 initiatives.

Brevan Howard Electronic, Arrington Capital, and RSE Ventures are also among the present buyers of the audio brand name.

Napster also announced nowadays (September 26) that it is launching Napster Ventures, which it states “will concentrate on fostering, investing in, and buying the greatest Website3 music startups”.

Algorand, in partnership with Napster, is also launching an artist enhancement fund, which according to a push launch is “designed to support artists navigate and be effective in Website3”.

Napster’s new CEO appointment follows the news of the platform’s acquisition in Might by Hivemind and Alogrand with programs to “revolutionize the new music industry by bringing blockchain and Internet3 to artists and fans”.

Songs business veteran Emmy Lovell was named interim CEO at the time.

Napster was previously acquired, in April 2021, by Uk-based digital actuality new music business MelodyVR.

Vlassopulos joined Roblox as Vice President and Worldwide Head of New music in 2019, exiting the role at the finish of April.

During his tenure, Vlassopulos led Roblox’s audio initiatives and partnerships with report labels, publishers, administration organizations, companies, artists, brands, and tunes startups.

Napster suggests that Vlassopulos is credited with “bringing artists into the metaverse through interactive, immersive, and hyper-social experiences” on the Roblox platform.

“We are fired up for Napster to be a central player in the songs World wide web3 ecosystem,” stated Matt Zhang, Founder and Taking care of Lover of Hivemind.

Matt Zhang, Hivemind

“We are energized for Napster to be a central participant in the tunes World-wide-web3 ecosystem,” said Matt Zhang, Founder and Managing Lover of Hivemind.

“We look forward to rallying all the wonderful innovation that has happened to date so we can all collectively push mainstream adoption of Web3 technologies for the music field.”

“We consider Napster is the fantastic manufacturer and platform to direct the upcoming technology of the songs sector that goes beyond streaming or avatar-pushed digital concerts.”

W. Sean Ford, CEO of Algorand

W. Sean Ford, CEO of Algorand, said: “In our early conversations with Jon, we immediately recognized his vision of setting up a clean, new, and social online music assistance centered about connecting artists and enthusiasts in new means, and leveraging Website3 engineering, aligns flawlessly with the place we see Napster heading.

“We think Napster is the fantastic brand name and system to direct the up coming technology of the songs sector that goes beyond streaming or avatar-driven virtual live shows.

“Jon’s solid connectivity with the music industry and huge practical experience will give us the important leadership to make this a fact.”

“It’s an honor to consider on this position and I am thrilled to lead a company with this kind of a abundant background in the new music field.”

Jon Vlassopulos, Napster

Jon Vlassopulos, CEO of Napster, additional: “It’s an honor to take on this job and I am thrilled to lead a enterprise with such a prosperous heritage in the audio market.

“With the advent of World wide web3 technology, we now have an unparalleled opportunity to hook up artists and fans in new, progressive techniques though also building the supporter practical experience more fun and social and making new revenue streams for artists.

“I have put in the last three many years working tricky to build new, imaginative, and professional prospects for artists in the metaverse and I am wanting forward to operating along with the remarkable Napster crew, our present and foreseeable future partners, labels, artists, publishers, models, and startups to carry mainstream enthusiasts to Net3.”

Vlassopulos has labored in the music, gaming, and enjoyment house for the previous three many years.

Right after commencing his vocation as a DJ, he then worked for BMG and Bertelsmann in Hong Kong, Tokyo, and New York in the late 90s where he worked on lots of of the company’s early electronic initiatives.

He also labored at companies such as AT&T Wireless, Endemol, and cell enjoyment promoting and advertising company Skyrockit.New music Enterprise Worldwide