New World Records
New World Records is a non-profit record label founded in 1975 that documents and preserves underrepresented American music through a catalog of over 1,200 titles spanning jazz, classical, folk, and electronic compositions from approximately 700 American composers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersAlbany, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What New World Records does
New World Records (legally Anthology of Recorded Music, Inc.) is a tax-exempt non-profit record label founded in 1975 as a Bicentennial project of the Rockefeller Foundation. The label specializes in documenting and preserving American music that commercial recording companies largely ignore, including concert music, opera, jazz, folk, electronic, ethnic, and early American music from underrepresented composers. The company maintains a catalog of over 600 original titles representing approximately 700 American composers, expanded to over 1,200 titles after the 2007 acquisition of CRI (Composers Recordings, Inc.).
The product surface includes physical CDs at $15.99 each with tiered bulk discounts (down to $12 per disc at 10+ units), digital downloads in multiple formats (MP3/320 at $9.99, FLAC, WAV, WAV-HD, FLAC-HD), and the wholly-owned DRAM streaming subscription service that aggregates over 4,000 hours of American music across 34 partner labels. New World Records also publishes Sound American, a free quarterly online digest presenting experimental music in accessible formats, and offers a licensing service for film, television, and commercial media use. The technology stack is standard: a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront at newworldrecords.org handles direct-to-consumer sales, with no public APIs, AI features, or proprietary technical infrastructure beyond standard e-commerce and digital content delivery.
The business model combines four revenue streams: one-time physical CD and digital download sales, recurring institutional subscriptions for libraries and educational institutions at $12 per disc delivered in four annual shipments of 8-10 releases, licensing fees for media usage, and grants/donations as a non-profit. Distribution operates through direct website sales, five regional international distributors (Austria, France, Japan, Netherlands, UK), Amazon, ArkivMusic, and Downtown Music Gallery in New York. Following the end of Rockefeller Foundation support at the end of 2021, the organization shifted to an industry-standard model requiring commissioning partners to fully subsidize post-production expenses. The label has earned 3 Grammy Awards across 19-20 nominations and continues to release 8-10 new titles per year, with recent releases in 2026 including Robert Morris: Carnatic String Quartet and the remastered Julius Hemphill: Dogon A.D.
New World Records firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- New World Records
- Legal name
- Anthology of Recorded Music, Inc.
- Website
- https://newworldrecords.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- New World Records is a non-profit record label founded in 1975 that documents and preserves underrepresented American music through a catalog of over 1,200 titles spanning jazz, classical, folk, and electronic compositions from approximately 700 American composers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
New World Records industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recorded Music / Independent Record Label
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225), Music Publishers (512230)
- SIC
- Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652), Magnetic & Optical Recording Media (3695)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Music Rights Administration & Royalty Processing (Admin, Accounting, Statements) (MPAIAKAD)
Keywords
Where New World Records is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Albany
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
New World Records business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Physical CD Sales: Sale of physical CDs at $15.99 per disc. Primary revenue stream with special bulk pricing offers.
- Digital Downloads: MP3/320, FLAC, WAV-HD, and FLAC-HD digital formats available at varying price points.
- Library/Educational Subscriptions: Standing purchase orders for libraries receiving four shipments per year containing 8-10 new releases at $12 per disc. First year includes one free disc per shipment.
- Licensing: Licensing fees for use of recordings in films, television shows, commercials, and other media projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard CD pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Digital download formats |
| Subscription | Annual | Library/Institutional Subscription |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bulk CD Discount - 4 for 3 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bulk CD Discount - 8 for 6 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bulk CD Discount - 10+ discs |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
New World Records product offering
Product offeringCore offering
New World Records is a non-profit record label that produces, markets, and distributes physical CDs and digital downloads of American music by under-represented composers across jazz, classical, folk, electronic, opera, Native American, and musical theater traditions. Revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales at $15.99 per CD and varied digital price points, a recurring library/educational subscription program delivering four shipments per year, media-licensing fees for film/TV/commercial use, and the DRAM on-demand streaming subscription for academic institutions.
Product overview
New World Records is a non-profit record label (founded 1975 by the Rockefeller Foundation) offering a diverse portfolio of music recordings and related services. The core offerings are physical CDs and digital album downloads of American music spanning jazz, classical, folk, early American music, electronic, opera, and more—catalog exceeds 1,200 titles. The portfolio includes the acquired CRI label catalog (NWCR/NWCRL imprint), the DRAM streaming subscription service for academic institutions, and the Sound American online publication. The company also offers licensing services, library subscription programs, and periodic special offers. Recent releases include Robert Morris: Carnatic String Quartet (2026), Lukas Ligeti: Notebook (2026), and Julius Hemphill: Dogon A.D. (2026).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- New World Records Physical CD Catalog Physical CDs of American music recordings spanning concert music, opera, jazz, traditional, folk, Native American, electronic, and musical theater by underrepresented American composers. Sold at $15.99 per disc, with bulk discount codes (4for3, 8for6, 10for12). Catalog contains over 1,200 titles including the NWCR/NWCRL imprint acquired from CRI.
- Digital Album Downloads Digital downloads of New World Records catalog releases in MP3/320, FLAC, WAV, WAV-HD, and FLAC-HD formats. MP3/320 priced at $9.99, with higher-resolution formats at elevated price points.
- DRAM (Database of Recorded American Music) Streaming Subscription Digital subscription service providing scholars, students, and educational communities unlimited on-demand streaming access to the New World Records and NWCR/NWCRL catalog alongside music from 34 partner labels and archives. Offers over 4,000 hours of streaming content.
- Library and Educational Institution Subscription
Companies that use New World Records
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
New World Records technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
New World Records partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CRI (Composers Recordings, Inc.)coreAcquired historically significant label CRI including 344 CD titles and 347 out-of-print LP releases. All CRI albums digitized and made available on-demand under NWCR/NWCRL imprint.
- DRAM (Database of Recorded American Music)coreDigital subscription service providing scholars unlimited on-demand access to New World Records catalog plus 34 partner labels/archives. Offers over 4,000 hours of streaming content.
- Sound AmericanminorQuarterly online digest presenting experimental music material from DRAM in accessible context. Free-to-access publication designed to reach average listeners.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
New World Records competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mode Records: Independent label specializing in contemporary and experimental classical music, including American composers. Comparable catalog focus and small-scale operations serving a niche academic and enthusiast market.
- New Amsterdam Records: NYC-based independent label focused on contemporary American composers and experimental music. Comparable focus on new American works and similar reliance on sync licensing and institutional partnerships.
- Bridge Records: Independent classical label producing recordings of American and international contemporary music. Comparable catalog depth in modern American concert music and overlap with New World's commissioning and licensing model.
- Cantaloupe Music: Contemporary classical label affiliated with Bang on a Can, focused on living composers including Americans. Comparable model producing recordings of underrepresented contemporary works with licensing for film/TV.
- Cedille Records: Chicago-based nonprofit classical label producing recordings of works by American composers and performers. Comparable nonprofit mission, small-team structure, and dedication to underrepresented American concert music.
- Albany Records: Albany, NY-based independent classical label with a similarly diverse American concert music catalog. Most direct geographic and mission peer, focused on recording American and international classical, jazz, and educational repertoire.
Broad incumbents
- Naxos Records: Major budget classical label with one of the largest catalogs of recorded classical music including American composers. Operates as a much larger commercial incumbent, contrasting New World's small nonprofit scale.
- Nonesuch Records: Established major-label imprint with a long history of American concert, jazz, folk, and experimental recordings. Comparable in genre breadth but operates with significantly greater resources and commercial reach.
- Smithsonian Folkways Recordings: Nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution, with a large catalog of American folk, jazz, and traditional music. Comparable nonprofit structure and archival mission, but with substantially larger institutional backing and scope.
Others
- Folkways Records: Historic nonprofit label (now part of Smithsonian Folkways) that pioneered documentation of American folk and experimental music. Mission and archival ethos closely parallel New World's, though now operates within a much larger institutional framework.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses2 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
New World Records social profiles
Digital presenceNew World Records financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
New World Records leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
New World Records subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
New World Records funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
New World 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 New World Records
What does New World Records do?
New World Records is a non-profit record label that produces, markets, and distributes physical CDs and digital downloads of American music by under-represented composers across jazz, classical, folk, electronic, opera, Native American, and musical theater traditions. Revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales at $15.99 per CD and varied digital price points, a recurring library/educational subscription program delivering four shipments per year, media-licensing fees for film/TV/commercial use, and the DRAM on-demand streaming subscription for academic institutions.
Is New World Records a public or private company?
New World Records is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was New World Records founded?
New World Records was founded in 1975. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is New World Records based?
New World Records is headquartered in Albany, United States, in the North America region.
How does New World Records make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Physical CD Sales are the primary driver. The others are digital Downloads, library/Educational Subscriptions and licensing.
Who are New World Records's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mode Records, New Amsterdam Records, Bridge Records, Cantaloupe Music, Cedille Records and Albany Records. Broad incumbents are Naxos Records, Nonesuch Records and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Folkways Records is listed as an others.
Does New World Records have an API?
No public API is recorded for New World Records.
What industry is New World Records in?
New World Records's product category is Recorded Music / Independent Record Label. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAKAD, Music Rights Administration & Royalty Processing (Admin, Accounting, Statements). Its NAICS code is 51225 and its SIC code is 3652.