Kartel Music
Kartel Music is a privately-held, Los Angeles-based music label associated with Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel, releasing albums through TJ Records and its own Vybz Kartel Muzik imprint with global distribution via Zojack Worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Kartel Music does
Kartel Music is a privately-held music label founded in 2019 and headquartered in Los Angeles, structured as the music venture associated with Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel (Adidja Palmer). The label issues recorded music through its own Vybz Kartel Muzik imprint and a co-releasing partnership with TJ Records, with Zojack Worldwide serving as its global distribution partner. The label has secured two consecutive Grammy nominations and operates with a small team of 11-50 employees; institutional funding, management, and revenue are not publicly disclosed.
The core product is recorded music (albums and singles) marketed to global dancehall, reggaeton, and crossover pop consumers. The June 2026 release of the 'God & Time' album, featuring Farruko, Shenseea, and Skillibeng, signals a deliberate cross-genre strategy bridging Jamaican dancehall with Latin and mainstream audiences. Revenue mechanics are not disclosed but are consistent with a standard recorded-music model (streaming royalties, physical/digital sales, licensing). The company's operations were materially constrained from 2011-2024 during Vybz Kartel's incarceration, with major release activity resuming after his August 2024 release.
The label carries meaningful operational risk signals beyond the music itself: the kartelmusic.com corporate domain is currently expired, no management team is publicly listed, no technology stack is disclosed, and the firmographic description as a 'Mexican' label is contradicted by the deep body of evidence describing a Jamaican dancehall operation. These inconsistencies, combined with the absence of disclosed financials or institutional capital, constrain the investability profile even though the underlying artist brand and catalog retain significant commercial value.
Kartel Music firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kartel Music
- Website
- https://kartelmusic.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kartel Music is a privately-held, Los Angeles-based music label associated with Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel, releasing albums through TJ Records and its own Vybz Kartel Muzik imprint with global distribution via Zojack Worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kartel Music industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recorded Music / Record Label
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (512250)
- SIC
- Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Recorded Music Retail & D2C Merch Bundles (MPAIAAAF)
Keywords
Where Kartel Music is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Kartel Music business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Kartel Music product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kartel Music is a Mexican-rooted dancehall and reggae record label that produces, markets, and distributes recorded music under its own Vybz Kartel Muzik imprint and in partnership with TJ Records. It sells music albums and singles to consumers worldwide via global distribution partner Zojack Worldwide, with releases such as the 'God & Time' album (June 5, 2026) featuring guest appearances from Farruko, Shenseea, and Skillibeng. The label has produced two consecutive Grammy-nominated projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- God & Time (album) Full-length dancehall/reggae album released under Kartel Music's Vybz Kartel Muzik imprint in partnership with TJ Records; sold globally via Zojack Worldwide distribution to individual music listeners and dancehall fans.
- Vybz Kartel Muzik (record label imprint) Owned music label imprint through which Kartel Music issues its recorded music releases, including albums such as 'God & Time' and the catalog of Grammy-nominated projects.
- First major post-prison album release (2025) Major album release issued by Kartel Music in 2025, the first significant release following Vybz Kartel's release from prison and the label's return to active release operations.
Companies that use Kartel Music
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Kartel Music technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Kartel Music partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Zojack WorldwidecoreZojack Worldwide is the distribution partner handling the global distribution of Vybz Kartel's music releases. The partnership encompasses album distribution for releases through TJ Records and Vybz Kartel Muzik, including the 'God & Time' album released on June 5, 2026.
- TJ RecordscoreTJ Records is a label partner co-releasing Vybz Kartel's music projects. The label has released two consecutive Grammy-nominated projects and continues to partner on new releases following Kartel's return to music.
- Vybz Kartel MuzikcoreVybz Kartel Muzik is a music label venture associated with the artist Vybz Kartel, releasing music including the 'God & Time' album. The label operates in partnership with TJ Records for distribution.
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Kartel Music competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Empire Distribution: Independent label, distribution, and publishing services company serving hip-hop, R&B, and Caribbean artists. Comparable as an alternative independent distribution and label-services partner competing for the same roster of artists.
- Def Jam Recordings: Major urban/hip-hop label with history of dancehall signings (e.g., Sean Paul). Comparable as a competing landing spot for dancehall artists and a benchmark for what a major-label deal pathway looks like for Kartel Music's roster.
- Create Music Group: Independent music company providing distribution, label services, and rights administration. Comparable as an alternative label-services partner and as a competing acquirer of independent catalogs in similar genre verticals.
- RCA Records: Major label group with active dancehall/Latin crossover roster. Comparable as a potential distribution partner, acquirer, or competing destination for high-profile Caribbean artists.
- Island Records: Major label with deep reggae catalog and current dancehall/reggae roster. Comparable as a buyer and competitor for dancehall talent, with significantly broader scale and global label-services infrastructure.
- Atlantic Records: Major label with active Caribbean and crossover roster. Comparable as a competing label for high-profile dancehall signings and as a benchmark for major-label distribution economics.
Direct peers
- Sean Paul's Dutty Rock Productions: Dancehall artist-led label and production company built around a single flagship Jamaican star. Closely comparable business model — artist-led imprint, third-party distribution, dancehall genre focus.
- Tuff Gong International: Bob Marley-founded Jamaican reggae label and recording facility. Directly comparable as a heritage Jamaican-rooted label operating globally with a flagship artist-centric catalog and own imprint structure.
- VP Records: Long-standing Jamaican dancehall and reggae independent label and distributor. Highly comparable as a genre-specialist label competing for the same artist roster, distribution channels, and Caribbean/U.S. dancehall audience.
Emerging players
- Coppershot Music: Independent dancehall label releasing contemporary Jamaican artists. Comparable as a peer-level independent competing for similar roster talent and Caribbean-market streaming share.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Kartel Music social profiles
Digital presenceKartel Music financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kartel Music leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Kartel Music funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kartel Music 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 Kartel Music
What does Kartel Music do?
Kartel Music is a Mexican-rooted dancehall and reggae record label that produces, markets, and distributes recorded music under its own Vybz Kartel Muzik imprint and in partnership with TJ Records. It sells music albums and singles to consumers worldwide via global distribution partner Zojack Worldwide, with releases such as the 'God & Time' album (June 5, 2026) featuring guest appearances from Farruko, Shenseea, and Skillibeng. The label has produced two consecutive Grammy-nominated projects.
Is Kartel Music a public or private company?
Kartel Music is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kartel Music founded?
Kartel Music was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kartel Music based?
Kartel Music is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Kartel Music's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Empire Distribution, Def Jam Recordings, Create Music Group, RCA Records, Island Records and Atlantic Records. Direct peers are Sean Paul's Dutty Rock Productions, Tuff Gong International and VP Records. Coppershot Music is listed as an emerging player.
Does Kartel Music have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kartel Music.
What industry is Kartel Music in?
Kartel Music's product category is Recorded Music / Record Label. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAAAF, Recorded Music Retail & D2C Merch Bundles. Its NAICS code is 512250 and its SIC code is 3652.