Amoeba

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.

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

Headquarters

HQ city

West Hollywood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. New Physical Media Sales: Sale of new vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays through both physical stores and online platform.
2. Used Physical Media Sales: Purchase and resale of used vinyl, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays through buy-sell-trade program.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded apparel, accessories, collectibles, posters, books, vinyl care products, and limited edition items.
4. Gift Certificates: Digital and physical gift certificates for stores and online purchases.
5. Buy-Sell-Trade Services: Store credit and cash purchases of customer vinyl and media collections.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stones Throw RecordscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect-to-consumer sales partnership for vinyl and physical releases. Amoeba serves as a key retail partner for Stones Throw releases.
• Sub Pop RecordscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect-to-consumer sales partnership for vinyl and physical releases. Amoeba carries Sub Pop's catalog including exclusive and limited edition pressings.
• Daptone RecordscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect-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)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlternative 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/amoebamusic
• YouTubeyoutube.com/amoeba
• Facebookfacebook.com/amoeba
• Instagraminstagram.com/amoebahollywood
• TikToktiktok.com/@amoebahollywood

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Amoeba