Barbershop Harmony Society

Name

Barbershop Harmony Society

Legal name

The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Incorporated

Website

https://barbershop.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Revenue from membership subscriptions that provide access to the Member Center, chapter resources, contest eligibility, and The Harmonizer magazine.
2. BHS First Look YouTube Subscription: Monthly subscription at $7.99 providing early access to contest releases and archival video content, billed monthly by YouTube/Google.
3. Sheet Music and Merchandise Sales: Revenue from selling sheet music, arrangements, learning tracks, and merchandise through the shop.barbershop.org e-commerce platform.
4. Convention and Event Fees: Registration and participation fees for International Conventions, Midwinter Conventions, and Harmony University educational programs.
5. Donations and Philanthropy: Through Harmony Foundation International, the organization receives charitable donations and manages the Ring True Sponsors program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Barbershop Harmony Society is a membership-based nonprofit that preserves and promotes barbershop a cappella harmony music through member subscriptions, chapter-based singing communities, sheet music and arrangement sales, annual International Conventions and Contests, Harmony University educational programs, and digital media such as the BHS First Look YouTube subscription. Members gain access to the Member Center portal, learning tracks, free sheet music and tags, The Harmonizer magazine, and contest eligibility.

Product overview

The Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) operates a unified member organization platform serving barbershop singers through interconnected digital and in-person products. The core offering combines the Member Center portal with the Watch & Listen music streaming platform, sheet music marketplace, and annual International Convention. Educational initiatives including Harmony University and Free Classes support skill development, while Next Generation Barbershop and Senior Singers Resources extend the program to specific demographics. The portfolio also includes publications (The Harmonizer Magazine, LiveWire Newsletter), contest programs, and outreach services like Music Medics. The BHS First Look premium YouTube subscription provides early access to video content, creating a tiered digital experience alongside free resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Watch & Listen (Online Music Streaming) Online portal providing access to barbershop music through YouTube channels, podcasts, and radio stations, featuring curated playlists, contest recordings, and archival content for members and the general public.
• BHS First Look (YouTube Subscription) Premium YouTube subscription offering early access to contest releases, classic performances from the vaults, and exclusive long-form content. Priced at $7.99 per month with over two hours of videos released monthly ahead of public channels.
• Sheet Music & Arrangements Digital and physical sheet music store offering arrangements, learning tracks, and free music downloads for barbershop repertoire in various voice configurations (TTBB, SSAA, SATB).
• Order a Singing Telegram Custom singing telegram service where barbershop quartets perform personalized songs for special occasions delivered as a unique gift experience.
• Member Center Online member portal providing chapter finder, quartet finder, member directory access, documentation, and organizational resources for society members.
• Harmony University Annual intensive educational program offering barbershop training, music education, directing techniques, and professional development for singers and chorus directors.
• International Convention & Contests Annual flagship event featuring quartet and chorus competitions, performances, and celebrations of barbershop music culture at locations including St. Louis (2026), Virginia Beach (2027), and Pasadena (2026 Midwinter).
• Contest & Judging Program Structured competitive program featuring district and international contests for quartets and choruses with formal judging criteria and championship recognition across multiple categories.
• Music Medics Program Outreach program training barbershop singers to bring therapeutic music performances to healthcare settings and individuals in need of emotional support.

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, minor and moderate.

• Harmony Foundation InternationalcoreOthersHarmony Foundation International is a subsidiary and related entity of the Barbershop Harmony Society. It is involved in philanthropy and charitable operations, handling donations and the Ring True Sponsors program for the organization.
• Sanders Carter DevelopmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanders Carter Development, a development arm of Pinnacle Construction Partners, has entered into a purchase agreement for the BHS headquarters property at 110 7th Avenue North in downtown Nashville. The developer plans to convert the property into a hotel, marking their strategic expansion into hospitality development.
• Acaville RadiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerAcaville Radio hosts BHS-produced podcasts including Barbershop 7th Hour and Shop Talk, providing distribution for barbershop content to the a cappella community.
• National Association for Music Education (NAfME)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHS participates in NAfME Hill Day, with Director of Music & Education Bill Stauffer representing the organization to advocate for federal legislation and programs advancing high-quality music education.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sweet Adelines International: Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sweet Adelines International is the women's counterpart to BHS in barbershop harmony singing. It runs parallel quartet and chorus competitions, education programs, and an annual international convention — making it the most directly comparable peer in mission, structure, and revenue model.
• Harmony, Inc. Harmony, Inc. is another women's barbershop singing organization with a similar membership-fee structure, regional chapters, quartet and chorus competitions, and educational events. It competes with BHS for female barbershop singers in overlapping geographies.

Regional players

• British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS): BABS is the UK's national barbershop singing association for men, operating on a parallel membership and contest-based model but focused on the British market. Highly comparable in mission and activities; competes for attention from international barbershop enthusiasts.
• Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers (LABBS): LABBS is the UK counterpart for women's barbershop singing, paralleling Sweet Adelines and Harmony, Inc. in structure. Comparable business model with regional (UK) focus and shared event and contest cadence.

Emerging players

• Contemporary A Cappella Society (CASA): CASA promotes contemporary a cappella music through education, events (including the ICCA competition), and resources. Overlaps with BHS in serving recreational a cappella singers but with a contemporary/popular-music focus rather than traditional barbershop style.

Broad incumbents

• American Choral Directors Association (ACDA): ACDA is the largest US professional organization for choral music, serving conductors, educators, and singers across all choral genres. Broader in scope than BHS but addresses overlapping audiences and competes for music-education mindshare and educator attention.

Others

• Chorus America: Chorus America is the advocacy, research, and leadership-development organization for the choral field. While not a direct competitor, it represents the broader ecosystem in which BHS operates and provides industry-level support, benchmarking, and grant funding.
• National Association for Music Education (NAfME): NAfME is the largest US organization for music educators and an active BHS partner — BHS participates in NAfME Hill Day for music-education advocacy. Overlap is in music education and the educator customer segment rather than direct service competition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/barbershopharmony38
• Facebookfacebook.com/barbershopharmonysociety
• Xx.com/barbershopnews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/barbershop-harmony-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Barbershop Harmony Society