PITTSBURGH, PA (CelebrityAccess) — Recently formed audio tech incubator Media Creek announced that they’ve acquired Internet radio and broadcasting services pioneer Live365, as well as the audio-focused content delivery network EmpireStreaming.
As part of the acquisitions, Media Creek has expanded their executive suite with digital audio vets Rockie Thomas and Sean Lozensky, both formerly with digital advertising company AdsWizz. Both Mssrs. Thomas and Lozensky will join Jon Stephenson as partners, and co-founders at the new venture.
Also joining the team as Media Creek’s General Manager overseeing the company’s corporate infrastructure and leading royalty compliance is industry vet Johnie Floater.
Jason Stoddard has been tapped as Media Creek’s Vice President of Broadcasting and will oversee a reboot of Live365, focusing on publisher platform development for the service.
As well, Dragos Pana has joined the firm as Head of Demand, tasked with optimizing total publisher yield and overseeing ad operation services.
“Our goal is to assemble the most talented and innovative team in Digital Audio. Thomas and Lozensky are known in the industry as the ‘Dream Team’ for their 20 plus years of digital audio business, technology innovation, and experience with literally every angle of our industry”, said Stephenson, Media Creek Inc.’s CEO.
“Floater’s musical licensing experience spans to before collection societies even had licenses for streaming; he will be instrumental in ensuring Media Creek’s companies continue to provide legal pathways for royalty compliance for webcasters. Stoddard was with Live365 during the early, mid, and late years. Bringing him back from eBay will provide the bridge of large historical Live365 knowledge with future Live365 innovation. Pana, also a former AdsWizz staffer, brings an immense background in audio ad tech and recently lead development of a native ad SSP for a large gaming platform” said Stephenson, Media Creek Inc.’s CEO.
“When you add this new leadership to our already strong staff of full blown digital audiophiles, expect some pretty incredible innovation from Media Creek companies”, Stephenson continued.
