Amoeba
Amoeba Music Inc. is a privately held independent physical-media retailer operating three flagship stores in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Hollywood alongside the amoeba.com e-commerce site, selling new and used vinyl, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and branded merchandise to music enthusiasts and physical-media collectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersWest Hollywood, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Amoeba does
Amoeba Music Inc. is an independently owned and operated specialty physical-media retailer headquartered in West Hollywood, California. The company sells new and used vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, 4K UHD titles, and VHS/Laserdisc media across three flagship retail locations — Hollywood (Los Angeles), San Francisco, and Berkeley — and through its e-commerce platform amoeba.com. Amoeba also offers a buy-sell-trade program for used collections, branded merchandise and apparel, and physical and digital gift certificates, with free US shipping on music and movie orders and no minimum purchase requirement. The company self-describes as the 'World's Largest Independent Record Store' and reports carrying catalogs from over 329 record labels.
The business is consumer-direct (B2C) with no disclosed enterprise contracts, and revenue is generated almost entirely through transactional unit pricing across media formats and price tiers (vinyl LPs typically $27.98 to $49.98; special editions up to $275.98; CDs $13.98 to $36.98; DVDs/Blu-rays $3.99 to $125.98). Customer segments span dedicated music enthusiasts and physical-media collectors — primary — alongside general consumers and tourists purchasing gifts. Amoeba's go-to-market pairs physical retail with event-driven engagement (in-store artist signings, listening parties, Green Room performances, and pop-ups at venues such as the Hollywood Bowl) and digital channels including email, social media across X/Facebook/Instagram/YouTube/TikTok, SEO, and the long-running 'What's In My Bag?' video and podcast series.
Operationally, Amoeba leverages staff curation as its primary differentiator: the recurring 'Music We Like' and 'Movies We Like' editorial programs surface recommendations across all three stores, and partnerships with labels such as Sub Pop, Stones Throw, and Daptone Records position the chain as a key independent retail outlet for limited and exclusive vinyl pressings. The company is privately held under the legal entity Amoeba Music Inc. with reported headcount of 501-1000 employees; the firm holds a registered trademark on the Amoeba and Amoeba Music mark and logo.
Amoeba firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Amoeba
- Legal name
- Amoeba Music Inc.
- Website
- https://amoeba.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Amoeba Music Inc. is a privately held independent physical-media retailer operating three flagship stores in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Hollywood alongside the amoeba.com e-commerce site, selling new and used vinyl, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and branded merchandise to music enthusiasts and physical-media collectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Amoeba is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Hollywood
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Amoeba business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- New Physical Media Sales: Sale of new vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays through both physical stores and online platform.
- Used Physical Media Sales: Purchase and resale of used vinyl, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays through buy-sell-trade program.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded apparel, accessories, collectibles, posters, books, vinyl care products, and limited edition items.
- Gift Certificates: Digital and physical gift certificates for stores and online purchases.
- Buy-Sell-Trade Services: Store credit and cash purchases of customer vinyl and media collections.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Vinyl Records |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Compact Discs (CDs) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | DVDs and Blu-rays |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Amoeba product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Amoeba Music operates three flagship physical record stores in Hollywood, San Francisco, and Berkeley, California, together with the amoeba.com e-commerce site, selling new and used vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, branded merchandise, and gift certificates. The company also operates a buy-sell-trade service for used physical media, hosts in-store live performances and artist signings under the "Live at Amoeba" programming, produces the "What's In My Bag?" podcast, and publishes staff-curated editorial recommendations through the "Music We Like" and "Movies We Like" programs.
Product overview
Amoeba Music operates as the world's largest independent record store with both e-commerce and physical retail presence across Berkeley, San Francisco, and Hollywood. The core product offering centers on physical media: music (vinyl records, CDs) and movies (DVDs, Blu-rays, 4K UHD), supplemented by branded merchandise and apparel. Key digital features include Music We Like and Movies We Like (staff-curated recommendations), New Releases and Top Sellers catalogs, Record Labels browsing, and Buy/Sell/Trade services. Live at Amoeba provides in-store performances and signings, while the What's In My Bag? podcast extends the discovery experience online. The company offers free U.S. shipping on music and movies with no minimum purchase.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Music & Vinyl Records
Companies that use Amoeba
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Amoeba technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature2 records
Amoeba partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Stones Throw RecordscoreDirect-to-consumer sales partnership for vinyl and physical releases. Amoeba serves as a key retail partner for Stones Throw releases.
- Sub Pop RecordscoreDirect-to-consumer sales partnership for vinyl and physical releases. Amoeba carries Sub Pop's catalog including exclusive and limited edition pressings.
- Daptone RecordscoreDirect-to-consumer sales partnership for vinyl and physical releases. Amoeba features Daptone's catalog including Sharon Jones and other label artists.
- Midheaven Mailorder (Revolver USA)minorAlternative vinyl retail channel mentioned alongside Amoeba in vinyl buying guides as option for purchasing records online.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Amoeba competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rough Trade: Iconic independent record store chain with flagship locations in Brooklyn (NY) and London. Direct peer to Amoeba as a similarly large-format indie retailer combining physical stores, in-store live events, and label partnerships in the physical music retail space.
- Waterloo Records: Long-running independent record store in Austin, TX known for in-store events, label partnerships, and a deep vinyl/CD selection. Direct peer to Amoeba in operating a destination independent record store with event-driven community engagement.
- Reckless Records: Independent record store chain in Chicago with multiple locations, strong used vinyl inventory, and a buy-sell-trade model. Direct peer to Amoeba in operating multi-location indie record retail with a used/new mix.
- Newbury Comics: New England-based specialty retailer with multiple stores selling vinyl, CDs, movies, and pop culture merchandise. Direct peer to Amoeba as a multi-store independent music/media chain with branded merchandise and event programming.
- Bull Moose Music: New England-based independent music chain with brick-and-mortar stores plus a robust e-commerce operation selling vinyl, CDs, and movies. Direct peer to Amoeba in combining physical retail with a developed online store serving customers beyond store geography.
- Permanent Records: Chicago-based independent record store and label combining physical retail with curated artist curation. Direct peer to Amoeba in operating an indie record store that emphasizes curated community engagement.
- Vintage Vinyl: Long-established independent record store in St. Louis, MO with a large selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, and in-store events. Direct peer to Amoeba as a destination independent record store serving a regional collector community.
- Electric Fetus: Iconic independent record store in Minneapolis, MN, operating since 1968, selling music, movies, and related merchandise. Direct peer to Amoeba as a long-tenured, large-format independent music retailer with cultural significance.
Broad incumbents
- HMV: Large established entertainment retailer primarily in the UK and Ireland selling music, movies, and merchandise across a broad portfolio. Broad incumbent comparable to Amoeba in operating physical entertainment retail at scale, though not independent or specialty-focused.
- Barnes & Noble: National bookstore chain carrying a meaningful vinyl, CD, and Blu-ray selection alongside books and gifts. Broad incumbent comparable to Amoeba as a large physical retailer that competes for similar discretionary consumer spend on physical media and branded merchandise.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Amoeba social profiles
Digital presenceAmoeba financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Amoeba leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Amoeba funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Amoeba M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Amoeba
What does Amoeba do?
Amoeba Music operates three flagship physical record stores in Hollywood, San Francisco, and Berkeley, California, together with the amoeba.com e-commerce site, selling new and used vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, branded merchandise, and gift certificates. The company also operates a buy-sell-trade service for used physical media, hosts in-store live performances and artist signings under the "Live at Amoeba" programming, produces the "What's In My Bag?" podcast, and publishes staff-curated editorial recommendations through the "Music We Like" and "Movies We Like" programs.
Is Amoeba a public or private company?
Amoeba is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Amoeba founded?
Amoeba was founded in 1990. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Amoeba based?
Amoeba is headquartered in West Hollywood, United States, in the North America region.
How does Amoeba make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. New Physical Media Sales are the primary driver. The others are used Physical Media Sales, merchandise Sales, gift Certificates and buy-Sell-Trade Services.
Who are Amoeba's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rough Trade, Waterloo Records, Reckless Records, Newbury Comics, Bull Moose Music, Permanent Records, Vintage Vinyl and Electric Fetus. Broad incumbents are HMV and Barnes & Noble.
Does Amoeba have an API?
No public API is recorded for Amoeba.