Who was Dave Shapiro? Music agent for Sum 41 among victims in San Diego plane crash

Dave Shapiro, a music agent and co-founder of Sound Talent Group, was killed in a plane crash in San Diego, California, in the early hours of Thursday, May 22, 2025. He was 42 years old.

Federal authorities reported that there were a total of six individuals on board the plane and all are presumed dead. According to a report in the New York Post, former drummer for The Devil Wears Prada, Daniel Williams is also feared to have been involved in the crash.

Eight people were injured on the ground, including one who was hospitalized. The private jet took off from Teterboro, New Jersey, and crashed into a San Diego neighborhood at 3:45 am, as per a report in the BBC.

Shapiro’s clients included rock bands like Sum 41, Story of the Year, and Pierce the Veil. A report in the Associated Press stated that Dave Shapiro cofounded the Sound Talent Group in 2018 with Tim Borror and Matt Andersen.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Shapiro had a pilot’s license and was listed as the owner of the plane that crashed. Here’s what we know so far.

What we know about Dave Shapiro following his death in a plane crash

Dave Shapiro, who was the co-founder of the Sound Talent Group (STG), became a powerhouse in the rock and alternative music scenes. It was founded in the mid-2000s.

According to a report in the Erudition magazine, he started his career by promoting local shows, managing bands, and learning the intricacies of the music business.

Shapiro’s talent agency, STG, soon encompassed a wide range of genres including indie rock, alternative, and electronic music. It became a major force in the music industry and boasted a roster of over 400 artists like Sum 41, Pierce the Veil, I Prevail, Vanessa Carlton, Silverstein, Parkway Drive, Hanson, Eve 6, Set It Off, and Story of the Year, according to the description on News Pollstar.

Upon Dave Shapiro’s passing, his agency, Sound Talent Group released a statement which read:

“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.”

According to a report in the New York Post, the plane which was controlled by Dave Shapiro was a Cessna 550 and had the capacity to carry 10 people easily. He was an avid pilot who had over 10 years of flying experience. He was also the owner of Velocity Aviation.

His website read:

Trending

“From BASE jumping to aerobatic flying, Helicopters to twin engines, flight instructing to furthering his own education, doesn’t matter to Dave as long as he gets to be in the sky."

According to a report in the BBC, Elliot Simpson, an investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said that the plane hit two power lines before crashing into the San Diego neighbourhood, however, the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation by the authorities.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback