LiveOne Inc Reports Q1 2026 Earnings: Strategic Partnerships & Financial Resilience

LiveOne Inc reported Q1 2026 earnings with $20 million in cash, eliminated $14 million in short-term liabilities, and reduced staff by 31%. PodcastOne revenue reached $15 million, with a run rate to exceed $60 million annually. The company completed a $10 million equity raise and sold three TV shows for almost $1 million. However, it faced a revenue loss due to changes in the Tesla agreement and struggled to relaunch its live events business post-COVID.

Title: LiveOne Inc. Reports Q1 2026 Earnings: Revenue, Staff Reduction, and Strategic Moves

LiveOne Inc. (Nasdaq: LVO), a creator-first music, entertainment, and technology platform, announced its Q1 2026 earnings on August 13, 2025. The company reported a significant reduction in staff, strategic partnerships, and an equity raise, while also facing revenue challenges.

# Financial Performance

LiveOne reported revenue of $19.2 million in Q1 2026, a decrease of $13.9 million compared to the same period in the prior year. The company attributed this decline to a reduction in Slacker revenues. Operating loss was $4.0 million, an increase of $3.2 million compared to the same period in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was $1.8 million, down from $2.9 million in the prior year.

# Staff Reduction and Strategic Partnerships

LiveOne reduced its workforce by 31%, from 138 to 95 employees. The company also expanded its B2B partnerships, including a $16.5 million deal with Amazon via PodcastOne, a 3-year partnership. Additionally, LiveOne secured a partnership with a Fortune 250 streaming network, generating $26 million in revenue.

# Equity Raise and Web3 Initiatives

LiveOne completed a $10.2 million equity raise to support its Bitcoin yield strategy and Web3 initiatives. The company added three key personnel to its Web3 team to monetize 10,000+ hours of video content through tokens, NFTs, and other digital assets.

# TV Shows and Live Events

LiveOne sold three TV shows—Varnamtown, Vigilante, and Opportunist—to major streaming networks for almost $1 million. The company is planning to launch its biggest live event, a reality Olympics series, building on the success of Social Gloves, which delivered $27 million in revenue and $4.5 million in EBITDA.

# Challenges and Future Outlook

LiveOne faced a revenue loss due to changes in its Tesla agreement and struggled to relaunch its live events business post-COVID. The company continues to review potential merger and acquisition opportunities, including the potential sale of a subsidiary. LiveOne's CEO and Chairman, Robert Ellin, expressed optimism about the company's growth prospects, citing partnerships with Amazon and Fortune 250 companies.

# Conclusion

LiveOne's Q1 2026 results reflect a mix of strategic initiatives and revenue challenges. The company's focus on B2B partnerships, Web3 initiatives, and content sales positions it for potential growth. However, the impact of the Tesla agreement change and the ongoing challenges in relaunching live events remain significant hurdles.

# References

[1] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/liveone-lvo-reports-q1-fiscal-2026-revenue-of-19-2-million-eliminating-14-1-million-in-short-te-ce7c51dbdf8af32d