What Dirtybird does

Dirtybird is an independent electronic music record label founded in 2005, specializing in house and techno. The label has released nearly 400 records across a roster of more than 200 artists including FISHER, Justin Martin, Walker & Royce, VNSSA, Catz 'n Dogz, Black V Neck, and founder Claude VonStroke. It operates three coordinated business lines: a music catalog distributed via music.dirtybird.com and major streaming platforms, a direct-to-consumer Shopify storefront at dirtybirdrecords.com carrying 130+ SKUs of branded apparel, accessories, vinyl, and collectibles (including sub-brands DIRTY BIRDY plush and Dirtydog pet accessories), and a live events portfolio anchored by the Dirtybird Campout festival (revived in partnership with Northern Nights for 2025-2026), Dirtybird CampINN, the traveling BBQ series, and Dirtybird Flight Week: Brasil.

The underlying technology stack is deliberately lightweight: a Shopify e-commerce platform with an integrated loyalty rewards program (1 point per $1 spent), a dedicated music microsite, a Dirtybird Radio podcast series, and an online demo submission portal hosted via Label-Worx for unsigned artist discovery. Community infrastructure includes the Dirtybird Social Club and a creative work submission form for fan-generated art and merchandise concepts. The label was acquired by EMPIRE Distribution LLC (operating as EMPIRE Dance) in 2022, with EMPIRE's San Francisco office at 235 Pine Street serving as the corporate base; the Dirtybird brand and editorial direction remain independently maintained within the EMPIRE portfolio.

The business model blends one-time purchase revenue (vinyl, digital downloads, merchandise) with transaction-based revenue (event tickets via Tixr and Laylo) and licensing/royalty income (streaming, brand co-marketing with partners such as How Weird Street Faire and 415 EMPIRE). Primary customer segments are electronic dance music fans, festival and event attendees, merchandise collectors, and (secondarily) pet owners and emerging music producers seeking label representation. Go-to-market is multi-channel: event-driven community building via flagship festivals and touring parties, grassroots community-led growth through Social Club and demo submissions, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce supported by email, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X.

Name

Dirtybird

Legal name

EMPIRE Distribution LLC

Website

https://dirtybirdrecords.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dirtybird is an independent house and techno record label founded in 2005 with 200+ roster artists, ~400 releases, a Shopify merchandise storefront, and a flagship festival portfolio (Campout, CampINN, BBQ series). It serves EDM fans, festival attendees, and emerging producers, and has been part of EMPIRE Dance since 2022.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Record Label

NAICS

Record Production and Distribution (51225), Music Publishers (512230)

akta.pro primary industry

Party DJ, Music & Audio Services (HSACACAI)

Keywords

• Independent music label
• Electronic dance music
• Vinyl record releases
• Music festival events
• Branded merchandise store

Headquarters

HQ city

Venice

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Music Releases: Revenue from vinyl records, digital releases, and streaming of electronic dance music by label artists including FISHER, Justin Martin, Walker & Royce, VNSSA, and over 200 other artists on the roster
2. Merchandise Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, jackets), accessories, and collectibles through the Shopify e-commerce store. Over 130 products available with pricing from $5-$225.
3. Event Tickets and Festival Passes: Revenue from Dirtybird Campout festival, Dirtybird CampINN, Dirtybird Flight Week, and various touring events and parties. Ticketing through platforms like Tixr and Laylo.
4. Brand Partnerships: Collaborations with brands such as EMPIRE Dance (parent company since 2022 acquisition) and Northern Nights festival partnership for co-branded merchandise and events

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Dirtybird Records is an independent house and techno record label that releases music through digital streaming, distributes vinyl records, and operates a branded merchandise e-commerce store. The company also produces live event experiences including its flagship Dirtybird Campout festival, the traveling Dirtybird BBQ series, and the indoor Dirtybird CampINN event, with nearly 400 releases and over 200 artists on its roster since 2005.

Product overview

Dirtybird is an iconic house and techno record label founded in 2005, now part of EMPIRE Dance since 2022. The company's product portfolio centers on three core offerings: (1) a music label and catalog with nearly 400 releases featuring artists like FISHER, Justin Martin, Walker & Royce, and VNSSA, accessible through streaming and digital download via the Dirtybird Music Catalog and music.dirtybird.com; (2) an e-commerce merchandise store selling branded apparel, accessories, vinyl records, and collectibles through Shopify, featuring sub-brands like DIRTY BIRDY plush toys, Dirtydog pet merchandise, and seasonal collections including 20th Anniversary items and holiday products, with a Store Rewards loyalty program; and (3) event experiences including the flagship Dirtybird Campout festival (partnered with Northern Nights), the Dirtybird BBQ traveling series, and Dirtybird CampINN indoor events. Additional services include Dirtybird Radio (weekly DJ mixes), demo submission portal, and creative work submission platform. The label has been recognized as Mixmag's 'Label of the Decade' (2017) and featured in DJ Mag's North American cover (2020).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dirtybird Social Club: A social club component of the Dirtybird brand, referenced as a distinct section of the business.
• Dirtybird Campout
• Dirtybird Radio

Products and services

• Dirtybird Merchandise Store Direct-to-consumer e-commerce store selling branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, jackets), accessories, vinyl records, and collectibles to electronic dance music fans, operated on Shopify with over 130+ products priced from $5 to $225.
• Dirtybird Music Catalog Digital music catalog of nearly 400 releases from over 200 artists including FISHER, Justin Martin, Walker & Royce, and VNSSA, available for streaming and digital download through the Dirtybird Music site and major streaming platforms.
• Dirtybird Radio Weekly radio show and podcast series featuring DJ mixes and episodes from label artists and guest DJs, available for streaming.
• Dirtybird Campout Festival Flagship multi-day music festival featuring electronic dance music performances combined with summer camp activities, partnering with Northern Nights for the 2025 and 2026 editions.
• Dirtybird BBQ Series Traveling BBQ event series hosting label artists and fan gatherings in various cities, part of the label's event-driven community engagement.
• Dirtybird CampINN Indoor camping-themed event experience hosted by the label, featuring electronic dance music performances.
• DIRTYBIRD Store Rewards Program Loyalty rewards program for the Dirtybird online store where members earn 1 point per $1 spent with bonus point opportunities.
• Dirtybird Vinyl Records Physical vinyl records and picture discs featuring label artist releases and remixes, priced at $15-$35 for singles and up to $200 for box sets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 400 releases on the main label
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and minor.

• Northern NightsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025In 2025, Dirtybird partnered with Northern Nights for the return of their flagship festival Dirtybird Campout. The partnership continues into 2026 with Dirtybird Campout X Northern Nights scheduled for July 17-19, 2026. The collaboration includes co-branded merchandise collections and combined festival programming.
• How Weird Street FaireminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration for co-branded merchandise including How Weird Street Faire T-shirts and baby tees sold through the Dirtybird store.
• 415 EMPIREminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration for 415 Day merchandise including EMPIRE x Dirtybird Party T-shirts and EMPIRE x Dirtybird Dagger T-shirts.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Repopulate Mars: Lee Foss's house and tech-house label with a strong event-led ethos and direct artist-development pipeline. Closely comparable to Dirtybird in genre focus, indie-leaning identity, and festival/community-driven model.
• Toolroom Records: Mark Knight's UK house label running Toolroom events globally, with merchandise, radio, and a roster spanning house/techno — a near-perfect analog to Dirtybird's multi-revenue model in a similar genre lane.
• Drumcode: Adam Beyer's techno imprint and festival brand. Operates a similar artist-centric label plus flagship events (Drumcode Festival, ADC events), making it a direct comparable in scale and operating model.
• Crosstown Rebels: Damian Lazarus's underground house/electronic label with curated events (Rebels). Matches Dirtybird's indie positioning, genre focus, and community-led identity.
• Defected Records: Major house music independent label running global events (Defected Croatia, Ibiza, etc.), merchandise and a deep artist roster. Directly comparable in the house genre and the combination of recorded music + live + merch revenue streams.
• Intec Records: Carl Cox's techno label with event integrations (Carl Cox & Friends, etc.). Comparable to Dirtybird as an indie-tinged techno imprint anchored by a marquee artist-founder and live extensions.
• Anjunabeats / Anjunadeep: Above & Beyond's paired labels spanning trance, progressive and deep house. Similar in operating structure (label + global tour/events + merchandise + radio/podcasts) and adjacent in electronic genre territory.
• Solotoko: Sonny Fodera's house imprint with touring events and a rising artist-development model. Comparable to Dirtybird in niche house positioning and artist-first identity.
• Nervous Records: Long-running NYC house label (founded 1989) with deep back-catalog, events, and remix culture — directly comparable to Dirtybird as an indie house/electronic label with decades of catalog and live presence.

Emerging players

• Higher Ground: Diplo's electronic-leaning imprint with selective signings and event integrations. Comparable in modern, multi-genre electronic positioning though at a smaller scale than Dirtybird.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dirtybird
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCD7UAd18FFkcJ22wxNNwq7A
• Facebookfacebook.com/dirtybirdrecords
• Instagraminstagram.com/dirtybirdrecords

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dirtybird