Billboard has acquired live entertainment news site Amplify Media. Amplify founder Dave Brooks has joined the Billboard staff as a senior correspondent, along with writer Taylor Mims. Brooks will lead Billboard’s touring and live entertainment coverage.
Long time Billboard live music chief Ray Waddell exited the trade last year to head Pollstar and Venues Today for the Oak View Group.
Amplify will continue publish its subscription based live entertainment industry newsletter The Real.
“I started Amplify because I wanted to tell stories about the live music business in a new and exciting way,” Brooks says. “We built an amazing audience, and now, with this sale, Amplify and Billboard will come together to create the most impactful platform in touring and live entertainment.”
“We are extremely excited to acquire Amplify,” said Billboard’s vice president of content, Ross Scarano. “Dave Brooks is a true entrepreneur who knows the live entertainment world inside out and we are thrilled to be able to provide Billboard’s readers with more in-depth coverage of the touring industry.”
Brooks is also Billboard’s recently rebranded Live Music Summit & Awards, taking place on November 13–14, 2018 at the Montage in Beverly Hills.
Hypebot is a media sponsor of the conference. You can learn more about the conference here.