45 RIOTS

What 45 RIOTS does

45 Riots Inc. is a New York City-based boutique live music entertainment company and independent record label, founded in 2011 by bassist, musical director, and producer Adam Mason. The company curates hand-crafted live ensembles — full horn-powered bands, jazz quartets/trios/duos, and Latin ensembles — for high-end weddings, private parties, and corporate galas. Service delivery relies on a 51–100 person in-house W-2 workforce of first-call NYC session musicians, a structure that differentiates 45 Riots from competitors operating on informal 1099 arrangements and is positioned as a compliance and reliability advantage with corporate event buyers. The company produces up to 150 private events annually, with pricing fully customized per engagement (ensemble configuration, scope, and budget) and no published rate cards.

The primary revenue stream is project-based private event fees. A secondary revenue stream is the in-house independent record label, which produces original recordings and remixes across R&B, jazz, world, and club music, generating streaming royalties, licensing income, and physical/digital sales. Label releases have achieved chart validation including "Automatic" (#30 Billboard Adult R&B, 2020) and "Horny" remixes (#4 and #9 UK Music Week Club Charts, 2022). Supporting content assets include the Riots TV video platform and named session series (Raw Sessions, Jazz Sessions, COVID Sessions), alongside the "Black Music Rocks!" branded concert series.

Go-to-market is sales-led and inquiry-based, with no self-serve booking channel. Distribution runs through the company website ([email protected]) and third-party wedding marketplaces The Knot and WeddingWire, supplemented by earned editorial press. There is no disclosed outside capital, no M&A activity, no geographic expansion beyond the NYC metro, and no senior leadership additions beyond founder Adam Mason, who continues to serve as CEO and Musical Director.

Name

45 RIOTS

Legal name

45 Riots Inc

Website

https://45riots.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

45 Riots is a New York City-based boutique live music entertainment company and independent record label, founded in 2011, providing hand-crafted ensembles for high-end weddings, private parties, and corporate galas. It employs 51–100 W-2 musicians serving affluent clients in the NYC metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Entertainment Services

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Musical Groups and Artists (711130)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

VIP, Hospitality & Premium Experiences (MPAGAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Music Festival Organizers & Promoters (MPAGAAAB)

Keywords

• Live music entertainment
• Wedding band services
• Corporate event music
• Independent record label
• Private party bands

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Event Live Music Services: 45 Riots generates the majority of its revenue from performing live music at private events including weddings, private parties, and corporate galas. Ensembles range from large bands with horns and multiple vocalists to smaller jazz, pop, or rock configurations, with pricing customized to event scope, musical vision, and budget. This is a project-based, service revenue stream.
2. Independent Record Label — Original Recordings & Licensing: 45 Riots operates an in-house independent record label producing original recordings across R&B, jazz, world music, and other genres. Releases such as 'Automatic' (featuring Day Kornegay) have received national radio airplay, Billboard Adult R&B chart placement (#30 in 2020), and UK Music Week chart recognition. The label also remixes and commissions tracks (e.g., 'Horny' remixes reached #4 on UK Music Week Club Charts in 2022; 'Automatic' remix reached #9 in 2022), generating revenue through streaming royalties, licensing, and physical/digital sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

45 Riots is a boutique live music entertainment company based in New York City that provides hand-crafted live ensembles (from soloists to large horn-powered bands) for high-end weddings, private parties, and gala corporate events, delivering an energized concert experience with a genre-blending, DJ-style flow. The company also operates an in-house independent record label producing original recordings, remixes, and licensing tracks that have charted on Billboard and UK Music Week, and presents a branded concert series called Black Music Rocks! celebrating Black musicians' contributions to rock 'n roll.

Product overview

45 Riots is a boutique live music entertainment company operating as a single unified offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core product is live music entertainment services for weddings and events, supported by an in-house independent record label producing original music recordings. The company also maintains media sub-brands including Riots TV (event performance videos), COVID Sessions, Raw Sessions, Jazz Sessions, Black Music Rocks! concert series, and Record Label Media creative releases. All products and services are centered around the collective of NYC-based professional musicians who perform at private events and produce recorded content under the 45 Riots brand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Music Entertainment Services Boutique live music entertainment providing hand-crafted live ensembles for high-end weddings, private parties, and gala corporate events. Ensemble sizes range from large bands with horn sections and multiple vocalists to jazz quartets, trios, duos, soloists, and Latin music ensembles, with custom arrangements, medleys, and DJ-style flow, and full production available à la carte.
• In-House Independent Record Label Independent record label producing original recordings, remixes, and licensed tracks featuring 45 Riots musicians across R&B, jazz, world music, and other genres. Releases have received national and international radio airplay, charted on Billboard and MusicWeek, and appeared on MTV, BET, and Music Choice, generating revenue through streaming royalties, licensing, and physical/digital sales.
• Black Music Rocks! Concert Series

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 150 private events annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• The Bash: The Bash (formerly GigMasters) is an online marketplace for booking live entertainment including wedding and corporate bands. Comparable to The Knot/WeddingWire as a distribution channel that connects premium live music services with prospective event clients.
• GigSalad: GigSalad is an online marketplace for booking live entertainment and event services. Comparable to The Knot/WeddingWire as a discovery and booking channel for live music vendors targeting weddings, corporate events, and private parties.

Direct peers

• Hank Lane Music & Productions: Hank Lane is one of NYC's longest-running premium wedding and corporate event bands with 50+ years of history. Directly comparable to 45 Riots in target market (high-end NYC weddings and corporate galas), ensemble offerings, and full-service live entertainment model.
• EastCoast Entertainment: EastCoast Entertainment is a live entertainment booking agency representing multiple premium event bands across the eastern US. Comparable to 45 Riots as a competitor in the premium live event band market, though it operates as a multi-band agency rather than a single performing collective.
• Element Music: Element Music is a premier NYC-based live music entertainment company providing premium bands for weddings, private parties, and corporate events. Directly comparable to 45 Riots in offering, target market, geographic focus, and pricing tier, making it the closest head-to-head competitor in the upscale NYC event band space.

Broad incumbents

• Live Nation Entertainment: Live Nation is the largest global live entertainment company, primarily focused on concerts and festivals. Adjacent to 45 Riots as a broader live entertainment player with significant music-industry relationships, though operating at vastly larger scale and in different event formats.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/45riots
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/45-riots

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 45 RIOTS