Glassnote Records
Glassnote Records is an independent record label founded in 2007 by Daniel Glass, headquartered in New York with offices in Los Angeles, London, and Toronto. It signs, develops, and monetizes a roster of indie, alternative, folk, electronic, and pop artists through streaming, sync/licensing, and direct-to-consumer merchandise channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Glassnote Records does
Glassnote Records is an independent music record label founded in 2007 by Daniel Glass and headquartered in New York, with additional operational offices in Los Angeles, London, and Toronto. The label signs, develops, releases, and promotes a roster of indie, alternative, folk, electronic, R&B, and pop artists — including Childish Gambino, Mumford & Sons, Phoenix, CHVRCHES, Daughter, Half Moon Run, The Temper Trap, Baio, Foy Vance, and Silvana Estrada — and has earned two Grammy Awards, a Latin Grammy, Billboard "#1 Independent Label," Rolling Stone "Best Indie Label," and A21M "Label of the Year" recognitions.
The business is anchored by four product and service modules: (1) the Glassnote Records Label and its underlying artist roster and catalog; (2) six staff-curated playlists (Glassnote Hits, Noteworthy, Staff Picks, Chill Out, Dance Party Hits, Workout Vibes) mirrored across Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and SoundCloud; (3) a direct-to-consumer merchandise and physical-product storefront at shop.glassnotemusic.com; and (4) a dedicated Sync & Licensing function placing catalog music in films, TV shows, commercials, and video games (e.g., Netflix, Fox Searchlight, T-Mobile, Expedia). Glassnote monetizes through streaming royalties on a usage basis, sync and licensing fees on a licensing/royalty basis, merchandise and physical sales on a transaction basis, and co-label/sub-licensing arrangements (e.g., Foy Vance releases via Ed Sheeran's Gingerbread Man Records / Atlantic).
The go-to-market combines traditional record-label A&R — accepting demo submissions via [email protected], conducting long-term artist development, and supporting tour and festival promotion (Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, Coachella, Bonnaroo, Fuji Rock) — with multi-platform streaming distribution, dedicated sync sales, and DTC commerce. The label operates with approximately 10 named team members under a founder-led, privately held structure with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or capital raises.
Glassnote Records firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Glassnote Records
- Legal name
- Glassnote Records
- Website
- https://glassnotemusic.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Glassnote Records is an independent record label founded in 2007 by Daniel Glass, headquartered in New York with offices in Los Angeles, London, and Toronto. It signs, develops, and monetizes a roster of indie, alternative, folk, electronic, and pop artists through streaming, sync/licensing, and direct-to-consumer merchandise channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Glassnote Records industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Record Label
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Record Labels (Major & Independent) (MPAIAAAA)
Keywords
Where Glassnote Records is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Glassnote Records business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Streaming Royalties: Revenue earned from plays of the label's catalog across Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and SoundCloud. Royalty share arrangements with artists.
- Sync & Licensing Fees: Licensing of master recordings and compositions for placement in films, TV shows, commercials, video games, and trailers. Operated through a dedicated Head of Sync & Licensing role.
- Merchandise & Physical Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of merchandise, vinyl, and physical music products through shop.glassnotemusic.com; managed by Head of Production & E-Commerce.
- Sub-Licensing / Co-Label Distribution: Co-release and distribution deals with partner labels (e.g., Foy Vance releases via Ed Sheeran's Gingerbread Man Records, a division of Atlantic Records).
Go-to-market motion4 records
Glassnote Records product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Glassnote Records is an independent record label founded in 2007 that signs, develops, releases and promotes music from a roster of indie, alternative, folk, electronic and pop artists. Its operations span four offices (New York, Los Angeles, London, Toronto) and encompass artist signing, long-term artist development, curated cross-platform playlists, direct-to-consumer merchandise/physical sales through shop.glassnotemusic.com, and a dedicated sync and licensing business placing catalog music in films, TV shows, commercials and video games.
Product overview
Glassnote Records operates as an independent music record label rather than a traditional software product. Its core offering is the Glassnote Records Label, anchored by an artist roster and catalog spanning indie, alternative, folk, electronic, R&B and pop genres. The label is supported by four major product/service modules: (1) the Glassnote Playlists module, a curated editorial surface that distributes staff-curated playlists across Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Apple Music and SoundCloud; (2) the Glassnote Shop, an e-commerce storefront for artist merchandise and physical music releases; (3) the Sync & Licensing service, which places catalog music in commercials, TV, film, and video games; and (4) the Artist Roster / Catalog, the underlying portfolio of signed artists that feeds all other modules. Together these form a unified label platform with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London and Toronto.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Glassnote Records Label Independent music record label founded in 2007 by Daniel Glass, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London and Toronto. The label signs, develops, releases and promotes music from a roster of indie, alternative, folk, electronic and pop artists including Childish Gambino, Phoenix, Mumford & Sons, CHVRCHES, Daughter, The Temper Trap, Baio and many others.
- Glassnote Playlists Curated playlists produced by the Glassnote staff for various moods and occasions, including Glassnote Hits, Noteworthy, Staff Picks, Chill Out, Dance Party Hits and Workout Vibes. Distributed and accessible across Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.
- Glassnote Shop E-commerce storefront enabling direct-to-consumer merchandise and physical music sales for Glassnote Records artists and the label.
- Sync & Licensing Music synchronization and licensing service placing Glassnote catalog music in commercials, television shows, films, and video games (e.g., Oberhofer's placements in T-Mobile and Expedia ads, Vampire Diaries, Broad City, Teen Wolf, and Netflix's BoJack Horseman).
Companies that use Glassnote Records
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles3 records
Glassnote Records technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature2 records
Glassnote Records partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Glassnote Records competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Domino Recording Company: UK-headquartered independent label with strong US presence (Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Animal Collective). Closely parallels Glassnote's transatlantic operational model and indie/alternative roster orientation.
- Sub Pop Records: Iconic independent record label founded in 1986 and now partially owned by Warner Music Group. Comparable to Glassnote as a long-tenured indie label with Grammy-winning catalog artists (Nirvana, Beach House, Fleet Foxes), focused on alternative and indie rock with curated A&R approach.
- Secretly Group: Independent umbrella for Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, and Dead Oceans (Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers, Khruangbin). Comparable to Glassnote in indie/alternative focus, multi-label structure, and recent Grammy and industry recognition.
- Merge Records: Independent US label co-founded by members of Arcade Fire with deep indie/alternative catalog (Arcade Fire, Neutral Milk Hotel, Superchunk). Comparable scale and artist-development ethos to Glassnote.
- Big Machine Label Group: Nashville-based independent label behind Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line, and The Band Perry. Comparable as a high-profile independent label with catalog of multi-platinum artists, though country-focused rather than Glassnote's indie/alternative orientation.
- XL Recordings: Beggars Group-owned independent label behind Adele, Radiohead, The White Stripes, M.I.A., and Tyler the Creator. Directly comparable to Glassnote as a critically acclaimed indie label with global reach, strong sync presence, and history of developing artists who later win major Grammys.
- ATO Records: Independent label founded by Dave Matthews Band's manager Coran Capshaw. Similar mid-size indie positioning to Glassnote with roster spanning rock, folk, and Americana, plus similar multi-revenue-stream approach including sync placements.
- Partisan Records: Brooklyn-based independent label with alternative and indie roster (IDLES, Cigarettes After Sex, Fontaines D.C.). Comparable to Glassnote as a contemporary indie label with strong A&R reputation and growing catalog value.
Broad incumbents
- BMG: Major-independent hybrid label/distributor owned by Bertelsmann with broad recorded music and publishing portfolio. Comparable to Glassnote as a co-label distribution partner (Half Moon Run releases) and as a broader independent competitor in sync/licensing markets.
- Concord Music Group: Large independent music company spanning recorded music, publishing, and theatrical licensing with Rounder, Fantasy, Loma Vista, and other imprints. Comparable as a scaled independent competitor that has used acquisitions to consolidate indie catalogs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Glassnote Records social profiles
Digital presenceGlassnote Records financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Glassnote Records leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Glassnote Records funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Glassnote Records 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 Glassnote Records
What does Glassnote Records do?
Glassnote Records is an independent record label founded in 2007 that signs, develops, releases and promotes music from a roster of indie, alternative, folk, electronic and pop artists. Its operations span four offices (New York, Los Angeles, London, Toronto) and encompass artist signing, long-term artist development, curated cross-platform playlists, direct-to-consumer merchandise/physical sales through shop.glassnotemusic.com, and a dedicated sync and licensing business placing catalog music in films, TV shows, commercials and video games.
Is Glassnote Records a public or private company?
Glassnote Records is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Glassnote Records founded?
Glassnote Records was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Glassnote Records based?
Glassnote Records is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Glassnote Records make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Streaming Royalties are the primary driver. The others are sync & Licensing Fees, merchandise & Physical Sales and sub-Licensing / Co-Label Distribution.
Who are Glassnote Records's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Domino Recording Company, Sub Pop Records, Secretly Group, Merge Records, Big Machine Label Group, XL Recordings, ATO Records and Partisan Records. Broad incumbents are BMG and Concord Music Group.
Does Glassnote Records have an API?
No public API is recorded for Glassnote Records.
What industry is Glassnote Records in?
Glassnote Records's product category is Independent Record Label. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAAAA, Record Labels (Major & Independent). Its NAICS code is 51225.