Kemado Records

What Kemado Records does

Kemado Records is an American independent record label founded in 2002 in Brooklyn, New York by Andrés Santo Domingo and Thomas Clapp. The company released its first record in 2003 and has since operated as a multi-label media platform spanning music releases, reissues, and book publishing. Its portfolio includes the original Kemado Records imprint, the Mexican Summer label (established 2008, now the company's primary identity) for small record editions, Software Recording Co, the Anthology Recordings reissue imprint (relaunched 2015), and Anthology Editions (launched 2016) for book publishing.

In 2014, the company restructured from Kemado Records into the Kemado Group, shifting its strategic focus from label operations to media rights acquisition, management, and distribution across both digital and physical formats. The company distributes content through its own e-commerce storefront (shop.mexicansummer.com), digital streaming and download platforms, and physical wholesale channels serving independent record stores. Its primary customer segment is individual music collectors and enthusiasts seeking limited-edition releases, reissues, and curated niche content, with no enterprise customers or B2B contracts disclosed.

The business is privately held and founder-controlled, with no documented external institutional investment, no disclosed revenue, and no headcount data available. Leadership consists of the two co-founders, with Erik Akhund listed as Chairman. The company has no documented AI/ML capabilities, patents, certifications, or external partnerships in the source data.

Name

Kemado Records

Website

https://kemado.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kemado Records is a Brooklyn-based independent record label founded in 2002, now operating as Kemado Group, with imprints for new music releases (Mexican Summer), reissues (Anthology Recordings), and book publishing (Anthology Editions). It serves music collectors and enthusiasts through physical, digital, and direct-to-consumer distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Music Label

NAICS

Music Publishers (512230), Record Production and Distribution (51225), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Publishing Administration (Catalog Admin, Global Subpublishing) (MPAIABAB)

Keywords

• Independent record label
• Vinyl record releases
• Music media rights
• Reissue music catalog
• Independent book publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Record Sales: Physical and digital record sales through the company's own storefront and distribution channels, including small record editions under the Mexican Summer imprint and reissues via Anthology Recordings.
2. Media Rights Management and Distribution: Acquisition, management, and distribution of media rights across digital and physical formats. The company shifted focus in 2014 to media rights acquisition and distribution as a core business.
3. Book Publishing: Book publishing via Anthology Editions, launched in 2016 as an expansion into publishing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Core offering

Kemado Group is an independent record label and media company that discovers, releases, and distributes music (vinyl records and digital) and books across multiple imprints. Operating brands include Mexican Summer and Kemado Records for new music releases, Software Recording Co., Anthology Recordings for archival reissues, and Anthology Editions for book publishing. The company also handles media rights acquisition, management, and distribution across digital and physical formats.

Product overview

Kemado Group is a multi-label media company operating as a platform-plus-sub-brands architecture. The core company, originally Kemado Records (founded 2002), evolved into Kemado Group in 2014 to focus on media rights acquisition, management, and distribution. The portfolio includes the primary label Mexican Summer (est. 2008) focused on small record editions, the reissue imprint Anthology Recordings (relaunched 2015), book publishing via Anthology Editions (2016), and Software Recording Co. Together these brands distribute a wide range of content in both digital and physical formats across music and publishing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mexican Summer: Imprint focused on small record editions, became the company's primary identity.
• Anthology Recordings
• Anthology Editions

Products and services

• Mexican Summer
• Kemado Records
• Software Recording Co.
• Anthology Recordings
• Anthology Editions

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Merge Records: Independent label founded in 1989 in Durham, NC, known for indie rock catalog and artist-friendly approach. Comparable to Kemado as an established independent label focused on curating and distributing alternative and indie music across physical and digital formats.
• Sub Pop Records: Long-established independent record label based in Seattle, widely regarded as a benchmark indie label. Directly comparable to Kemado/Mexican Summer in serving independent and alternative music communities with physical and digital distribution.
• Drag City Records: Long-running Chicago-based independent label focused on underground, experimental, and collector-oriented releases. Highly comparable to Mexican Summer's niche-discovery positioning and limited-edition physical releases model.
• Sacred Bones Records: Brooklyn-based independent label focused on experimental and indie releases with a strong physical media presence. Comparable to Kemado Group in indie positioning, Brooklyn headquarters, vinyl-forward distribution, and limited-edition catalog approach.
• Thrill Jockey Records: Independent label established 1992 in Chicago, focused on indie, experimental, and catalog releases. Comparable to Kemado's indie-focused positioning and physical/digital distribution mix.
• Captured Tracks: Brooklyn-based independent label and a close geographical and stylistic peer to Mexican Summer, with overlapping indie/alternative releases. Comparable in serving the same Brooklyn/indie music community and operating physical record distribution.
• RVNG Intl. Brooklyn-based independent label focused on experimental and avant-garde music with curated physical editions. Comparable to Anthology Recordings' reissue and limited-edition positioning, serving overlapping collector communities.
• Matador Records: Independent label (founded 1989) with a notable indie/alternative catalog and reissue activity. Comparable to Kemado Group in operating as an indie label with physical releases, catalog depth, and artist development focus.

Emerging players

• Partisan Records: Brooklyn-based independent label with a roster of indie and alternative artists. Comparable to Mexican Summer/Kemado in operating as an indie label with Brooklyn roots, though newer and with a more contemporary release focus than catalog/reissue.

Broad incumbents

• Domino Recording Company: Larger UK-based independent label with a broad catalog across indie, alternative, and electronic genres. Comparable to Kemado as an established indie label with diversified content divisions and global distribution, but operating at meaningfully larger scale and breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

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 Kemado Records