Stones Throw Records
Stones Throw Records is a privately held, Los Angeles-based independent record label founded in 1996, selling vinyl, cassettes, digital downloads, and merchandise directly to collectors through its own e-commerce store while serving a roster of 40-plus underground hip-hop, soul, jazz, and experimental artists including J Dilla, Madlib, and Grammy-winning NxWorries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Stones Throw Records does
Stones Throw Records is an independent record label founded in 1996 by Chris Manak (DJ Peanut Butter Wolf) and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The label operates as a direct-to-consumer music business, selling vinyl records, cassettes, CDs, digital downloads, and branded merchandise through its owned e-commerce storefront (stonesthrow.com/store) with international USPS shipping, supplemented by distribution through select international record shops and digital streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube). Stones Throw serves two primary constituencies: vinyl collectors and music enthusiasts who value physical formats, limited editions, and underground/experimental music, and independent artists in hip-hop, soul, jazz, and experimental genres seeking label representation, distribution, and marketing support.
The company's product surface is anchored by a catalog of over 40 active artists including J Dilla, Madlib, MF DOOM, Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge (NxWorries), Sudan Archives, John Carroll Kirby, Mndsgn, and Benny Sings. Core releases include landmark albums such as Madvillainy, Donuts, and Champion Sound, with a deliberate strategy of premium physical releases — audiophile 180g vinyl pressings cut at Bernie Grundman and manufactured at Fidelity Record Pressing, colored and limited editions (e.g., lavender eco-mix, clear 2LP), and cassette variants. The label operates two wholly-owned subsidiaries: Now Again, focused on unearthing lost soul classics, and the newly launched Listening Position imprint for curated archival reissues. Additional revenue is generated through merchandise (t-shirts, accessories, skate decks) and a co-branded Roland SP-404MKII Stones Throw Limited Edition sampler.
The revenue model is unit-pricing on physical music sales and merchandise (standard vinyl $25-$40, audiophile/limited editions higher, cassettes and digital at lower price points), with transaction-based revenue from streaming. Distribution is split between the owned DTC storefront (primary), international record shop wholesale (regional), and streaming marketplaces (global). Marketing relies on owned digital properties — website, newsletter (2-4 emails per month), and an active Discord community — supplemented by earned media through music press and live events. The company achieved a major milestone in 2025 with NxWorries' Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album (Why Lawd?), its first Grammy win, and is leveraging a 30th anniversary festival in October 2026 to consolidate catalog, community, and live-event monetization.
Stones Throw Records firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stones Throw Records
- Legal name
- Stones Throw Records LLC
- Website
- https://stonesthrow.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Stones Throw Records is a privately held, Los Angeles-based independent record label founded in 1996, selling vinyl, cassettes, digital downloads, and merchandise directly to collectors through its own e-commerce store while serving a roster of 40-plus underground hip-hop, soul, jazz, and experimental artists including J Dilla, Madlib, and Grammy-winning NxWorries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stones Throw Records industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Record Label
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225), Music Publishers (512230)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Record Labels (Major & Independent) (MPAIAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Publishing Administration (Catalog Admin, Global Subpublishing) (MPAIABAB), Songwriting & Composition (Topliners, Co-writers, Camps) (MPAIABAA)
Keywords
Where Stones Throw Records is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Stones Throw Records business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Physical Music Sales: The primary revenue stream is the sale of vinyl records, cassettes, and CDs directly through the Stones Throw online store. Products include new releases, reissues, and limited edition pressings from their roster of artists.
- Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, hats, accessories, and limited edition items tied to artists and releases.
- Digital Sales and Streaming: Digital album downloads and streaming revenue through platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Donuts (20th Anniversary Audiophile Edition) - $40.00 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sofie's SOS Tape - $32.99 vinyl / $10 digital |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Store accepts major credit cards and PayPal |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Stones Throw Records product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stones Throw Records is an independent music label that produces, distributes, and sells physical and digital music releases from its roster of artists. Core offerings include vinyl records (standard, colored, limited edition, and audiophile pressings), digital album downloads, cassettes, and CDs, alongside branded merchandise such as T-shirts, accessories, and limited collaborations. The label also operates sub-imprints Now Again (reissues of lost soul classics) and Listening Position (special releases).
Product overview
Stones Throw Records is an independent record label based in Los Angeles that operates primarily as a direct-to-consumer music retailer. The company offers a diverse catalog of music releases across multiple formats including vinyl records (standard, colored, limited edition, and audiophile editions), digital albums, cassettes, and CDs. The label's portfolio includes releases from a roster of artists spanning hip-hop, soul, jazz, R&B, electronic, and experimental genres. Key artists include J Dilla, Madlib, MF DOOM, Anderson .Paak, Knxwledge, Sudan Archives, Eddie Chacon, John Carroll Kirby, Mndsgn, Benny Sings, and many others. The company also sells branded merchandise including T-shirts, accessories, and limited collaborations like the Roland SP-404MKII Stones Throw Limited Edition sampler. The label operates sub-brands including Listening Position for special releases, and maintains partnerships with Leaving Records. Recent offerings include anniversary audiophile editions of classic albums, limited colored vinyl releases, and new releases from established and emerging artists.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Now Again: Subsidiary label focused on unearthing and reissuing lost soul classics.
- Listening Position
Products and services
- Vinyl Records Physical vinyl records in various formats including standard black, colored vinyl, limited editions, and audiophile editions. Includes releases from artists like J Dilla, Madlib, NxWorries, Mndsgn, Sudan Archives, and many more. Targeted at vinyl collectors and music enthusiasts who value physical music formats.
- Digital Album Downloads Digital album downloads available for purchase alongside vinyl releases, enabling fans to access music in digital format. Sold at lower price points than physical formats through the Stones Throw online store.
- Cassette Tapes Cassette tape releases including special editions such as NxWorries 'Why Lawd?' Rhymezlikedimez Edition Cassette, offering an alternative physical format for music fans.
- Compact Discs (CDs) Compact disc releases available for artists on the Stones Throw label, sold through the online store.
- Branded Merchandise and Apparel Branded merchandise including T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and accessories featuring artist and label branding such as NxWorries 'Why Lawd?' T-shirts, Madvillain Cartoon T-Shirts, and Listening Position hats.
- Music Accessories and Limited Edition Items Various accessories including the Roland SP-404MKII Stones Throw Limited Edition sampler, canvas tote bags, skate decks, and Listening Position stickers. Limited edition collaborative products tied to artist releases.
- Listening Position Imprint Releases A new imprint from Stones Throw Records focused on special reissue releases, debuting with Kelan Phil Cohran's 'African Skies' audiophile Limited Edition 180g vinyl.
- World Premiere App Mobile app created in partnership with AiAiAi for a rap competition, allowing MCs to record verses over the beat to 'My World Premiere' and upload for a chance to have their track pressed on vinyl.
Quantifiable outcome
- First GRAMMY win for the label with NxWorries' 'Why Lawd?'
Companies that use Stones Throw Records
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Stones Throw Records technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Stones Throw Records partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- ODESZAminorSudan Archives collaborated with ODESZA (Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight) on a remix of 'Selfish Soul' from her album Natural Brown Prom Queen. The remix premiered at Coachella's DoLab stage. This marked ODESZA's first remix involvement in eight years, released through Ninja Tune & Foreign Family Collective in partnership with Stones Throw.
- Leaving RecordsminorLeaving Records, a Los Angeles-based label founded by Matthew 'Matthewdavid' McQueen, partnered with Stones Throw for the 2021 reissue of Bauhaus's 'The Bela Session.' Stones Throw distributed the release which included red+black vinyl and a 20x28-inch show poster. This was the first official reissue of 'Bela Lugosi's Dead' on vinyl in over thirty years.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Stones Throw Records competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Stones Throw Records social profiles
Digital presenceStones Throw Records financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stones Throw Records leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Stones Throw Records subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Stones Throw Records funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stones Throw 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 Stones Throw Records
What does Stones Throw Records do?
Stones Throw Records is an independent music label that produces, distributes, and sells physical and digital music releases from its roster of artists. Core offerings include vinyl records (standard, colored, limited edition, and audiophile pressings), digital album downloads, cassettes, and CDs, alongside branded merchandise such as T-shirts, accessories, and limited collaborations. The label also operates sub-imprints Now Again (reissues of lost soul classics) and Listening Position (special releases).
Is Stones Throw Records a public or private company?
Stones Throw Records is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Stones Throw Records founded?
Stones Throw Records was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Stones Throw Records based?
Stones Throw Records is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Stones Throw Records make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Physical Music Sales are the primary driver. The others are merchandise and digital Sales and Streaming.
Does Stones Throw Records have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stones Throw Records.
What industry is Stones Throw Records in?
Stones Throw Records's product category is Independent Record Label. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAAAA, Record Labels (Major & Independent), with a secondary code of MPAIABAB, Publishing Administration (Catalog Admin, Global Subpublishing). Its NAICS code is 51225.