Because Music
Because Music is a Paris-headquartered independent music label (founded 2004, part of Because Group) that manages a global artist roster — including Justice, Major Lazer, Parcels, and Oklou — across recorded music, publishing, direct-to-platform distribution, live events, and catalogue acquisitions, serving streaming, physical, sync, and live-music consumers worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Because Music does
Because Music is a privately held independent music company founded in November 2004 in Paris by Emmanuel de Buretel and operating as a subsidiary of the Because Group (co-founded with Eric Bielsa). The company manages end-to-end music rights and commercialization for a roster spanning electronic (Justice, Major Lazer, SebastiAn, Myd), contemporary pop and hyperpop (Parcels, Oklou, Lolo Zouaï, spill tab, Charlotte Gainsbourg), hip-hop and R&B (Shay, Maureen, RnBoi), and heritage acts (Manu Chao, Camille, Eartheater). Its core products are the Because Music record label, artist roster management services, a proprietary direct-to-platform digital distribution system launched in 2018, the Because Editions publishing arm, a direct-to-consumer e-commerce store (shop.because.tv), live event promotion, and shared infrastructure with Because Group festivals (We Love Green, Peacock Society) and venues (La Cigale, La Boule Noire). The company also holds long-duration assets through catalogue acquisitions of London Records, Zagora, parts of Parlophone/Delabel/Virgin, the Cerrone catalogue, and the Daft Punk legacy, with the most recent addition being the 20+ year flagship partnership with Ed Banger Records now consolidated under the 2026 appointment of Pedro Winter as Global Head of Creation.
Because Music serves end consumers — global music listeners and fans of electronic, pop, hip-hop, and heritage repertoire — through streaming platforms, physical/merch purchases, live events, and sync licensing to film, TV, advertising, and media. Revenue is generated across four documented streams: recurring royalties from streaming and digital sales; one-time sales of vinyl, merchandise, and physical products through shop.because.tv; licensing and publishing royalties via Because Editions; and live-event and touring income from label-affiliated festivals, venues, and global concert activity. Distribution is global, anchored by owned offices in Paris (26 Rue Ordener), London (31 Old Nichol Street), and Los Angeles (2300 Wayne Avenue, opened 2019), with reach across Western Europe, Northern Europe, and North America. The company is registered as a Société par actions simplifiée in Paris (RCS 47908856900039) and operates without disclosed external private-equity or institutional ownership.
Because Music firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Because Music
- Legal name
- Because Music
- Website
- https://because.tv
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Because Music is a Paris-headquartered independent music label (founded 2004, part of Because Group) that manages a global artist roster — including Justice, Major Lazer, Parcels, and Oklou — across recorded music, publishing, direct-to-platform distribution, live events, and catalogue acquisitions, serving streaming, physical, sync, and live-music consumers worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Because Music industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recorded Music
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225), Music Publishers (51223), Music Publishers (512230), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)
- SIC
- Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Record Labels (Major & Independent) (MPAIAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Music Aggregators & DIY Distribution Platforms (MPAIAAAD), Publishing Administration (Catalog Admin, Global Subpublishing) (MPAIABAB), Micro-Licensing & Direct Licensing Platforms (UGC, SMB venues, online uses) (MPAIAKAJ), Brand Partnerships & Music Placement Services (Non-Exclusive Brand Deals) (MPAIALAM)
Keywords
Where Because Music is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Because Music business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Music streaming and digital sales: Revenue from digital music distribution through streaming platforms and digital downloads
- Physical merchandise and records: Sale of vinyl records, merchandise and physical products through the company's online store (shop.because.tv)
- Publishing and sync licensing: Because Editions manages publishing rights for artists including Daft Punk, Christine and the Queens, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Cerrone, Ed Banger artists, Stromae, and London Grammar
- Live events and touring: Revenue from live performances through festival bookings and concert events
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Because Music product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Because Music is an independent record label founded in Paris in 2004 that signs, develops, and distributes recorded music from a roster of artists spanning electronic, pop, hip-hop, and heritage genres. Its core operations include artist roster management, direct-to-platform digital distribution (launched 2018), music publishing through the Because Editions sub-brand, and live event promotion. The label manages a catalogue that includes Daft Punk, Justice, Major Lazer, Parcels, Christine and the Queens, and acquired legacy catalogues such as London Records and Zagora.
Product overview
Because Music is a globally recognized independent music company founded in November 2004 in Paris, operating as a platform-plus-services model. The core offering centers on the Because Music Record Label, providing artist roster management, music distribution (via direct-to-platform model launched in 2018), publishing through Because Editions, and live event promotion. The ecosystem includes Ed Banger Records partnership, merchandise e-commerce store (shop.because.tv), curated streaming playlists (Soundsystem, Rewind, HipHop, What's New), festival events (We Love Green, Peacock Society), and venue operations (La Cigale, La Boule Noire). The company manages a diverse artist roster spanning electronic (Justice, Major Lazer), pop (Parcels, Oklou, Lolo Zouaï), hip-hop (Shay), and heritage acts (Manu Chao, Camille), while handling catalogue acquisitions and managing Daft Punk legacy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Because Editions: Publishing arm representing roster including Daft Punk, Christine and the Queens, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Cerrone, Ed Banger artists, Stromae, and London Grammar.
Products and services
- Because Music Record Label Independent record label providing artist development, recorded music releases, and global distribution for a roster including Justice, Major Lazer, Parcels, Oklou, Lolo Zouaï, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Manu Chao.
- Artist Roster Management Comprehensive artist management services including A&R, marketing, promotion, digital strategy, commercial operations, sync licensing, merchandising, and brand partnerships for Because Music signed artists.
- Music Distribution
- Because Music Merchandise Store Online store (shop.because.tv) selling artist vinyl records, clothing, and accessories directly to consumers, operated as joint data controllers with Ochre Music Limited.
- Because Music Live Events Live music event promotion and ticketing for Because Music artists across Europe, the United States, and globally.
- Because Editions Publishing Music publishing division (sub-brand) managing publishing rights and sync licensing for Because Music artists and catalogue acquisitions, including Daft Punk, Christine and the Queens, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Cerrone, Stromae, and London Grammar.
- Ed Banger Records Partnership
- Festival Events (We Love Green, Peacock Society, Yardland)
- Venue Operations (La Cigale, La Boule Noire)
- Because Beaubourg Festival
Companies that use Because Music
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Because Music technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Because Music partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Centre PompidouflagshipCollaborative partnership for Because Beaubourg festival celebrating the 20th anniversary of Because Music and the temporary closure of Centre Pompidou for renovation. Featured 82 artists, 37 concerts, 27 hours of screenings, and attracted 40,000 visitors.
- Ed Banger RecordsflagshipLong-standing strategic and artistic collaboration since 2005 spanning over 20 years. Ed Banger is home to electronic pioneers including Justice, SebastiAn, Breakbot, Mr Oizo, DJ Mehdi, and Myd. The partnership was further strengthened with Pedro Winter's appointment as Global Head of Creation.
- London RecordscoreLabel partner managing catalogue including Bronski Beat, Bananarama, Fine Young Cannibals, Happy Mondays, Orbital, and Goldie
- DeeweecoreElectronic imprint label partner within the Because Group ecosystem
- Alberts & GhotmaancoreThomas Bangalter's imprint partnered with Because Music
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Because Music competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Warp Records: Independent UK label with a comparable roster spanning electronic and experimental music (Aphex Twin, Autechre, Flying Lotus). Both companies are globally distributed indies built around electronic/genre-pushing artist development.
- XL Recordings: UK-based independent label with a similar A&R-led approach to breaking iconoclast acts (Adele, Radiohead, The xx, Jamie xx). Comparable in roster diversity (electronic, pop, hip-hop adjacent) and global touring/festival strategy.
- Domino Recording Company: Independent UK label (Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Animal Collective) operating a comparable artist-led, multi-genre indie model with strong European and US reach.
- Ninja Tune: Independent UK electronic label (Bonobo, Amon Tobin, Coldcut) with a comparable focus on electronic-forward catalog and global touring, plus an in-house publishing arm (Just Isn't Music) similar to Because Editions.
- Ed Banger Records: Paris-based independent electronic label founded by Pedro Winter (Justice, Breakbot, SebastiAn). It is Because Music's flagship partner label and operates inside the Because ecosystem; highly comparable in roster, geography, and Paris-headquartered electronic focus.
- Sub Pop Records: Iconic US-based independent label (Nirvana, Beach House, Father John Misty) with comparable artist-development ethos, catalog depth, and worldwide distribution reach through its own infrastructure.
- Mute Records: UK independent label (Depeche Mode, Nick Cave, Moby, Goldfrapp) with a comparable blend of pioneering electronic / alternative catalog and an artist-friendly indie structure; long-time peer in the global indie label ecosystem.
- Kompakt: German independent electronic label and distributor (Koze, Superpitcher) covering techno, pop and ambient; a close continental-European peer to Because on electronic A&R and direct distribution model.
Broad incumbents
- Beggars Group: UK independent label group (4AD, Matador, Rough Trade, XL) — the closest larger, diversified indie peer to Because Music's multi-label/platform-plus-festival business model.
- Secretly Group: US independent music group (Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, Dead Oceans, Numero Group) covering label, distribution (Secretly Distribution) and publishing; the North-American analog to Because's multi-vertical platform-plus-services indie.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Because Music social profiles
Digital presenceBecause Music financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Because Music leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Because Music funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Because Music M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Because Music
What does Because Music do?
Because Music is an independent record label founded in Paris in 2004 that signs, develops, and distributes recorded music from a roster of artists spanning electronic, pop, hip-hop, and heritage genres. Its core operations include artist roster management, direct-to-platform digital distribution (launched 2018), music publishing through the Because Editions sub-brand, and live event promotion. The label manages a catalogue that includes Daft Punk, Justice, Major Lazer, Parcels, Christine and the Queens, and acquired legacy catalogues such as London Records and Zagora.
Is Because Music a public or private company?
Because Music is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Because Music founded?
Because Music was founded in 2004. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Because Music based?
Because Music is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Because Music make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Music streaming and digital sales are the primary driver. The others are physical merchandise and records, publishing and sync licensing and live events and touring.
Who are Because Music's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Warp Records, XL Recordings, Domino Recording Company, Ninja Tune, Ed Banger Records, Sub Pop Records, Mute Records and Kompakt. Broad incumbents are Beggars Group and Secretly Group.
Does Because Music have an API?
No public API is recorded for Because Music.
What industry is Because Music in?
Because Music's product category is Recorded Music. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAAAA, Record Labels (Major & Independent), with a secondary code of MPAIAAAD, Music Aggregators & DIY Distribution Platforms. Its NAICS code is 51225 and its SIC code is 3652.