mandolin

Livestream concert start-up Mandolin shut down on Monday after its business struggled to survive following the resumption of in-person concerts.

Mandolin launched in the spring of 2020, alongside over two dozen similar platforms, when widespread COVID-19 lockdowns forced in-person experiences online. In 2021, the company raised $12 million from venture capital firms including Mark Benioff’s TIME Ventures to hire more staff to support its mobile version Mandolin Live+ and it to fund the acquisition of competitor NoonChorus.

Mandolin’s chief executive Mary Kay Huse, a former Salesforce executive, aimed for Mandolin Live+ to become a companion app to live concerts, allowing fans who couldn’t make it in person to watch the event live at home — just as fans of a sports team might, but with more interactive features. However, on Monday, the company said it was closing its doors and gave little context.

“We are sad to announce that after 3 incredible years of connecting artists and fans more authentically through digital experiences, we are officially closing down our product and business operations,” a statement on Mandolin’s website reads.

“We’d like to sincerely thank our clients and partners for their belief in our mission and the time spent helping us develop a platform that truly empowered artists to own their fan relationships. Though we can no longer lead the charge, we firmly believe market power will continue to shift toward better supporting artists in this endeavor and we are all so appreciative of the feedback, faith and validation you’ve provided over the years to get us this far.”