reverb

About reverb

Reverb.com is an online marketplace designed for musicians to buy, sell, and trade new, used, and vintage music gear. Founded in 2013 by David Kalt, the platform was born out of his frustration with the existing options for buying and selling instruments online after he acquired the iconic Chicago Music Exchange. Kalt, a serial entrepreneur with a background in technology and finance, previously co-founded the online brokerage firm OptionsXpress, which was sold to Charles Schwab. His experience in building scalable tech platforms, combined with his passion for music and guitars, led him to create a specialized marketplace for the music community. The company's business model is based on a peer-to-peer framework that connects individual musicians, collectors, dealers, and manufacturers. Reverb generates revenue primarily by charging sellers a commission fee of 5% on the final sale price, plus a payment processing fee. This model, which features lower fees than general marketplaces like eBay, is designed to be more appealing to the music community. The platform allows sellers to create listings for free and provides tools to support the sales process, including a price guide with real-time transactional data, shipping assistance, and seller protection. Since its launch, Reverb has experienced significant growth, expanding its presence internationally with dedicated support in several countries. The company secured funding from notable investors, including musicians like Brad Paisley and Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, as well as venture capital firms. In August 2019, Etsy, the global marketplace for handmade and vintage goods, acquired Reverb for $275 million. The company continued to operate as a standalone business, leveraging Etsy's expertise to scale its operations. In 2025, it was announced that Reverb was sold by Etsy to Creator Partners and Servco, returning it to independent ownership.