Six Degrees Records
Six Degrees Records is an independent San Francisco record label founded in 1996 that produces and markets records exploring global music traditions, electronic music, and overlooked pop gems.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Six Degrees Records does
Six Degrees Records is an independent record label founded in 1996 and headquartered in San Francisco, United States. According to its firmographic description, the company produces and markets records that explore music traditions, electronic music, and overlooked pop gems — positioning it as a curator of niche and cross-cultural catalog rather than a mainstream commercial label.
The company's product is its recorded music catalog, distributed and sold through standard record-label channels. No proprietary technology platform, digital product surface, or technology stack is disclosed in the available data, indicating a traditional label operating model centered on physical and/or digital record releases rather than a technology-driven music business. The employee count band of 11-50 is consistent with a small-to-mid-sized independent label.
Business model mechanics (pricing, distribution contracts, streaming licensing terms, royalty structures) are not disclosed in the input data. As an independent label, revenue is most likely generated through record sales, streaming royalties, and licensing of its catalog. Customer segments, go-to-market motion, and revenue mix are not documented in the available source material, and the company website returned only a security verification page during data collection, limiting further insight.
Six Degrees Records firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Six Degrees Records
- Website
- https://sixdegreesrecords.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Six Degrees Records is an independent San Francisco record label founded in 1996 that produces and markets records exploring global music traditions, electronic music, and overlooked pop gems.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Six Degrees Records industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Record Label
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225)
- SIC
- Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Record Labels (Major & Independent) (MPAIAAAA)
Keywords
Where Six Degrees Records is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Six Degrees Records business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Six Degrees Records product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Six Degrees Records is an independent record label that produces and markets recorded music exploring music traditions, electronic music, and overlooked pop gems. It operates as a label, releasing and distributing albums and singles through its own imprint, supported by artist curation and catalog development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Six Degrees Records
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles2 records
Six Degrees Records technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Six Degrees Records competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Merge Records: Merge Records is a long-running US independent with a reputation for artist-friendly deal structures and eclectic taste, comparable in longevity and curatorial independence to Six Degrees. Both labels occupy the small-but-enduring independent tier.
- Sub Pop Records: Sub Pop is a larger independent label with an indie and eclectic-leaning roster, comparable to Six Degrees in the curatorial independent space though with mainstream rock credibility. As an established indie brand it serves as a benchmark for genre-led independent-label scale and economics.
Direct peers
- Smithsonian Folkways Recordings: Smithsonian Folkways catalogs folk and traditional music from around the world, directly comparable to Six Degrees' 'music traditions' pillar. Both treat genre exploration and cultural preservation as core editorial missions.
- Ninja Tune: Ninja Tune is an independent UK label spanning electronic, hip-hop, and experimental music, mirroring Six Degrees' electronic focus with a curatorial edge. Both maintain artist-friendly infrastructure and genre-spanning release slates.
- !K7 Records: !K7 is a Berlin-based independent known for electronic and experimental releases including the DJ-Kicks series, a strong overlap with Six Degrees' electronic music interest. Both operate as tastemaker indies with international artist rosters.
- City Slang: City Slang is a Berlin-based independent label with a roster spanning indie, electronic, and folk traditions — a near cousin of Six Degrees' genre-bridging A&R philosophy. Both serve as discovery platforms for non-mainstream international artists.
- Luaka Bop: Luaka Bop (David Byrne's label) curates world music and unconventional pop with an editor's sensibility, very close to Six Degrees' 'overlooked pop gems' positioning. Both labels combine discovery-of-the-foreign with idiosyncratic Western pop selections.
- Real World Records: Real World Records is Peter Gabriel's specialist world-music label, focused on traditional and fusion recordings from global cultures — a precise match to Six Degrees' 'music traditions' framing. Both operate as boutique curators with deep genre identity.
- Thrill Jockey Records: Thrill Jockey is a Chicago independent known for experimental, electronic, and post-rock artists, overlapping with Six Degrees' electronic and exploratory pop focus. Both run lean operations built on curatorial credibility rather than mass marketing.
- Putumayo World Music: Putumayo compiles and distributes world music recordings, directly overlapping Six Degrees Records' 'music traditions' emphasis. Both are small, curator-led labels built around non-mainstream international and traditional catalogs with cross-genre appeal to lifestyle and adult listeners.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Six Degrees Records social profiles
Digital presenceSix Degrees Records financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Six Degrees Records leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Six Degrees Records funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Six Degrees 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 Six Degrees Records
What does Six Degrees Records do?
Six Degrees Records is an independent record label that produces and markets recorded music exploring music traditions, electronic music, and overlooked pop gems. It operates as a label, releasing and distributing albums and singles through its own imprint, supported by artist curation and catalog development.
When was Six Degrees Records founded?
Six Degrees Records was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Six Degrees Records based?
Six Degrees Records is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Six Degrees Records's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Merge Records and Sub Pop Records. Direct peers are Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, Ninja Tune, !K7 Records, City Slang, Luaka Bop, Real World Records, Thrill Jockey Records and Putumayo World Music.
Does Six Degrees Records have an API?
No public API is recorded for Six Degrees Records.
What industry is Six Degrees Records in?
Six Degrees 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 and its SIC code is 3652.