Among those who died on Thursday was groundbreaking music executive Dave Shapiro, a pillar of his music scene, and Daniel Williams, a former drummer for the popular Ohio metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada.
Shapiro, 42, was also the US talent representative for some heavy metal Australian bands including Parkway Drive, Amity Affliction and Northlane.
Parkway Drive paid tribute to Shapiro on Instagram, saying the band was "heartbroken" over his death.
"We send all our love and support to Dave's family, friends, and the team at Sound Talent Group during this extremely difficult time," they wrote.
"Our thoughts and condolences are also with the live ones of Daniel Williams and the extended music community."
Also killed in the crash were Kendall Fortner, 24, and Emma Huke, 25, both employees of Shapiro's Sound Talent Group agency; Celina Marie Rose Kenyon, 36, a professional photographer; and Dominic Christopher Damian, 41.
Both Williams and Shapiro served as success stories for their respective rock music scenes — proof that these subcultural sounds had real mainstream appeal.
Williams' band, which had two releases reach the Top 10 of the Billboard 200, was a client of Sound Talent Group which Shapiro co-founded in 2018.
Sound Talent Group's roster focused on bands in and across pop-punk, metalcore, post-hardcore and other popular hard rock subgenres.
The post-hardcore band called Shapiro, 42, an inspiration "who despite achieving success never forgot the scenes and the communities they came from".
"It's hard to put into words how much this man meant to so many of us," Pierce the Veil, which has been performing for nearly two decades including a sold-out concert this week at New York's Madison Square Garden, said in a tribute on X.
The World Alive, a band signed on Shapiro's label, said he was among "the most influential and positive forces in our music scene and beyond. And Dan was one of the most influential and positive forces behind the kit."
Mike Shea, founder of Alternative Press, said Shapiro was "vital" in bringing punk rock subcultures to the masses.
"In this music industry, there are just too many people ripping people off and using people," he said.
"Dave was not like that. He was a beautiful soul, and beautiful person, a guiding force, just someone who would end up being an inspiration for so many people. And he will continue to be an inspiration."
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