Dave Shapiro, a prominent music agent and co-founder of Sound Talent Group, was among the victims of a fatal plane crash in a San Diego neighborhood early Thursday morning.
The crash, involving a small Cessna 550, occurred at approximately 3:47 a.m. when the plane crashed into the Murphy Canyon area, setting several cars and homes on fire and injuring eight people on the ground.
The 42-year-old, who held a pilot's license, was identified as the owner of the plane involved in the crash, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Sound Talent Group, which Shapiro co-founded in 2018, confirmed his death, along with that of two employees.
The agency issued a statement expressing deep sorrow, saying: “We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends, Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today’s tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time.”
Shapiro co-founded Sound Talent Group with Tim Borror and Matt Andersen, an agency focused on alternative music, including pop-punk, metalcore, and post-hardcore.
The agency represented major acts like Pierce The Veil, Parkway Drive, Sum 41, and Vanessa Carlton.
Shapiro was also a key advocate for independent musicians, co-founding the National Independent Talent Organization.
Industry insiders credit him with helping independent agencies flourish and giving alternative bands a platform to reach mainstream audiences.
Shapiro’s love for aviation began at the age of 22. In 2019, he earned his airline transport pilot rating, the highest certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.
He went on to own Velocity Aviation, a flight school, as well as a record label, Velocity Records. Along with his wife, Julia Pawlik Shapiro, he also offered flight services in San Diego and Homer, Alaska, where they owned a home.
In the wake of his death, tributes poured in from musicians and industry professionals who remembered the music executive fondly.
Dayna Ghiraldi-Travers, founder of Big Picture Media, described him as someone who “would listen to any band you put in front of him to give them a chance,” adding that she had worked with him for over 15 years.
Nate Blasdell, former lead guitarist of I Set My Friends on Fire, expressed his heartbreak, calling Shapiro “the best in the game and one of the most respected people in the industry.”
Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley credited Shapiro with helping the band during a “low point” in their career, describing him as a trusted advisor. Whibley shared a memory of their last conversation, when Shapiro had flown out to attend Sum 41's induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in March.
“He said, ‘Me and my wife, we’re going to fly to you, we’re going to pick you up and we’re going to go somewhere crazy for lunch’,” he wrote.
Daniel Williams, the former drummer for the metal band The Devil Wears Prada, was also identified by his family as one of the victims.
There were six people on board the aircraft, and while the names of the others have not yet been released, they are all presumed dead.
