crossfade partners
Culture Meets Tech Meets Brand
fuel your growth
Innovation | Strategy | Revenue | Marketing | Partnerships | New Business
What We Do
Demand Generation, Marketing, New Business Partnerships, Sales, Content Licensing, Paid Media Optimization,
Global Business & Partner Development
Strategy + Activation
Revenue Growth, Marketing, Strategic Partnerships
We have unique access to top decision makers in media, tech, brand, venture capitol, and beyond. That said, it's never enough to just have access. Our team's experience and expertise helps shortcut the process via smart discovery and by crafting the right go to market approach towards closing more high quality deals.
New Business Development
We have access. We have expertise.
We've negotiated software, content, talent deals, partnerships, sponsorships, and licenses with the world's biggest & best known companies in music, media, culture, streaming entertainment and beyond.
Strategy + Innovation + Activation
Everyone is looking to grow their business ....but often companies feel stuck and uncertain how to pivot. We help you find your muse and get your mojo workin'. We excel at creative brainstorms within a business growth framework.
We adjust our process to fit the team we are working with in order to help you assess your strengths, identify the white space for growth, setup a framework for positive innovation, and then help you take it successfully to market.
Why Crossfade?
Authentic connectivity with expertise, experience, empathy, execution
We live up to our promises and make a positive impact on your business.
Our happy clients tend to be in one of these three categories:
Technology Startups
We function like the C-suite for hire that you can't yet afford (and our job is to help you fire us as soon as possible)
We quickly help you craft the best approach towards securing new business partnerships. Data-driven insights lead to actionable strategy and positive execution.
Creators
You want to optimize your output and make more money with your content and overall digital strategy.
We see tons of deal flow from innovative entrepreneurs. We are connected to big media, big brand, and big agency.
We've been on all sides of the negotiating table from major labels to indies, startups to global enterprise. Brands and agencies of all sizes.
Brands & Media Companies
Nothing engages your audience more than new technologies and pop culture experiences. The challenge is that navigating talent, tech, content, and rights issues is often a nasty gnarly headache.
We're obsessed with curating great talent, content, and the right tech to support the activation that lights up your audience
Newsflash!
GrooveGuild, Sonic Lens, & Crossfade Form Sonic Branding Collective
Crossfade, GrooveGuild, and Sonic Lens Agency have formed a collective to deliver value to brands & agency partners using advanced music intelligence to deliver our unique identity and branding system. More information here at https://www.grooveguildsonicbranding.com/
".... a founder's best friend. His ability to add value to any startup is matched only by his generosity of spirit. Aside from being a talented connector/advisor/domain expert, Jon is a remarkable human being. If he is willing to join your team, don't think about it. Just turn to whatever god you believe in and thank him for sending Jon your way. "
Nathan Heber founder and CEO of Boatyard.com (acquired by Marine Max)
Jon was a critical advisor/investor to CrowdAlbum and to me as CEO including:
- crafting overall business strategy
- building empathy for our core clients (artists and their teams)
- building our user (artists, etc.)
- corporate development strategy and deals (fundraising, M&A, etc.)
I really enjoyed working with JV and think any company that can get him involved is extremely lucky."
Tracy Chan Chief Content Officer Soundcloud (then founder and CEO of CrowdAlbum (acquired by Spotify)
"JV makes everyone around him even better!"
Former head of Universal Music Group's largest record label business unit,
The Crossfade Crew
Crossfade Partners is an exceptional grouping of entrepreneurs, company builders, team builders, mentors, and connectors with real access and true expertise. We’re committed to driving value to our partners first.
We believe that data-driven insights lead to killer strategy, and smart strategy enables remarkable, executable, sustainable growth plans when you go to market.
We understand the value in both sizzle and steak, the show & the business. In balance and target focus.
Here are a few of the partners we've done deals with:
Google | You Tube | Samsung | Apple | Spotify | Amazon | Verizon | Twitter | Facebook | AT&T | Adobe | Pandora | Universal Music | Sony Music | Warner Music | Kobalt Music | Pepsi Co | Mastercard | Lionsgate | R/GA | Sprite | Absolut | ABInbev | LiveNation | AEG | RocNation | CBSi | Hearst | CondeNast | General Motors | Mastercard | R/GA | McCann | Frukt | Cadillac | Emmis | Marine Max |
Many others
Jon Vanhala - CXO/Founder
JV is a tenacious, creative coalition builder & strategist who seeks and finds the best ways to get to market, light up your targets, and close more deals. A natural connector, coach/player, leader/wingman. He's equal parts data driven and creativity driven. Jon's been head of digital for the largest record label on the planet, and has helped the earliest of early stage startups. He grew up a performing musician, spending 20k+ hours practicing, rehearsing and drilling on improvisation within a framework. He sits on the Board of Affinio & Boatyard.com, the Board Of Trustees at Museum Of Pop Culture, advisor and angel to multiple startups including Boatyard.com, Strobelabs (Acquired by Ticketmaster) and Crowdalbum (acquired by Spotify), indie.ninja, and many others
Currently focused on quality music (always), consumer insights, segmentation, marketing automation, content management & metadata, more.
Partners & Advisors
Bill Campbell: Global Business Development, Licensing, Negotiations (NYC) (Universal Music, Sony Music, too many startups to list)
Erin Yasgar: Digital Media Buying and Planning, Brand Strategy (Los Angeles)
Al Risi & Paul Riggio at Groove Guild: Elite expertise in Music Creative for Brands: Music Supervision, Original Music, and Sync Licensing for Brands and Agencies
Marco Vitalli Sonic Lens Agency: Building build brand love
through music and sound. Elite expertise in Sonic Branding
Why Crossfade ?
evolution | change | innovation
A Crossfader is a transition tool used in film, tv, and music production. Used as a verb (used with object), cross-faded, cross-fading.
1. to fade out (an image or sound) while simultaneously fading in a different image or sound.
2. a transition from today's status quo to a better new and better tomorrow.
At Crossfade Partners, we love disruptors and disrupting, yet understand that positive change at a large scale is often more about tenacious evolution than instant revolution.
Client & Partner Highlights:
impact + uplift = #clienthappiness
We connect our clients to the biggest industry names on the planet
Stealth
Multiple clients In Stealth Mode - we help them with go-to-market strategy, licensing, fundraising, team building, more. (and they remain the hero!)
Prescient
Predictive Analytics and Decision Science
Fanbase
Feature Rich Social Media App that enables users to make money day one. No Suppression, No shadow banning,
Berklee Music & Health Institute
Interdisciplinary collaboration among experts in academia, healthcare, technology, music, and public policy in music and health.
Groove Guild
One of the world's premier music composition and supervision companies for advertising music
Silver Lake Digital
Extreme expertise in efficient media buying in the modern age. Additional services include brand development, creative, and more
RCRDSHP
Digital collectibles and NFTS on the FLOW Blockchain
Boatyard.com
JV was among first investors in, Board Director and proactive advisor to CEO. Acquired by Marine Max Feb 2020
Artistory
Data-driven Music Gaming
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Universal Music Group
One of UMG's labels needed to refresh their digital strategy and we helped with best practices across streaming, programmatic, content, social, more
cliiipi
delivering a new asset class for the creator economy and the clipaverse
Affinio
Advanced audience segmentation based on consumer passions and interests. JV is on the board and helps with business development & partnwerships
Starchive
crossfade partners has worked with this client from the very beginning - and we’re happy to be their partner throughout their journey. Together, we have achieved outstanding results, and it has been a pleasure to watch their business grow.
Songclip
Music, TV, Film Clips for The Clipaverse
CultureSonar
Media play targeting music passionate adults
Strobelabs
audience analytics for music venue operators. Acquired by Ticketmaster
Indie.Ninja
Early-stage startup matchmaking independent contractor resources to the music industry
Signal Fox
Advanced Data Scientists and business operators with cutting edge product, performance marketing analytics, simulations
Digital ReLab
A command center for today’s content producers. Manage, maximize, and make your content work for you with Starchive. 1/20th the cost of the closest competition.
Where Hip Hop Lives
We helped Emmis with strategic partnerships and digital strategy
Paint.one
Digital Art Battles for today's digital artists
Emmis Communications
We helped Emmis with strategic partnerships and digital strategy
Crowdalbum
After many years in the industry, Tinto asked us to consult them on how to transition their business into a new market. Check Tinto out online to see our success!
Museum Of Pop Culture
MoPOP was founded as Experience Music Project by the late MS CoFounder Paul Allen. JV has been on Board Of Trustees since 2016
Shift Energy
Unique cloud-based algorithmic energy efficiencies for venue operators, building managers, more
Inception VR
Israeli VR platform developing unique content and channels
Angama
An impact investment and hospitality provider luxury eco-travel. We help the team connect with investors of substance to execute big plans for future growth
spotful
interactive videos help brands and venues tell more compelling stories and generate uplift in critical KPIs and revenue
Sony Music
Multiple partnerships struck with SME and rising technology partners
RocNation
Music, Sports, Apparel Transmedia Company
LISNR
Sonic Data Transfer
Warner Music
Multiple deals created for emerging technology companies. A great partner to work with
Klink
The sound of coming together, Klink created a POS b2b platform for alcohol retail and a B2C facing app for drinks delivery. Acquired by Delivery.com
East Valley
Crossfade supported multiple EC portfolio companies for marketing, sales, partnerships
Verve Records
We helped craft digital marketing strategy for one of the world's most iconic record label groups
Atlantic
A great partner to work with for especially emerging tech with tangible value
Def Jam Recordings
This is your Client Description. Use this space to introduce this client or customer or to detail the work you provided for them.
Hot 97 (Where Hip Hop Lives)
crossfade partners has consulted Odea from the very beginning — and we’re happy to be partners for many years to come! We’re never one and done, and always keep tabs with our clients.
Thesis Ventures
Hera approached us for consultation on how to transition from a small, local business to a regional business. Learn more about Hera and how they’re making huge strides in the industry.
Music Startup Academy
After many years in the industry, Pereo asked us to consult them on how to transition their business into a new market. Check Pereo out online to see our success!
Collector's Cafe
After many years in the industry, Hera asked us to consult them on how to transition their business into a new market. Check Hera out online to see our success!
Music Biz Association
crossfade partners has consulted Dapco from the very beginning — and we’re happy to be partners for many years to come! We’re never one and done, and always keep tabs with our clients.
Adobe
World Leader in Creator Tools and Marketing Technologies
Contact Us!
Our home base is New York, NY and partners located in Los Angeles, London, Miami. Nashville
