Assemble Sound
Assemble Sound is a Detroit-based artist development hub operating a free studio residency program, sync licensing catalog, custom composition department, and joint venture record label with Atlantic Records serving independent artists and global brand clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersDetroit, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Assemble Sound does
Assemble Sound is a Detroit-based artist development hub and music company founded in 2015 by a small operating team (1-10 employees) that operates across four interconnected business lines: a free project-based DIY studio residency program where artists retain 100% ownership of their recordings; a sync licensing catalog and music supervision business serving film, TV, advertising, and brand clients; a custom original music composition department with an in-house composer roster; and a joint venture record label with Atlantic Records for global artist distribution. The company also runs Assemble U, a free public music industry education series, and operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront on assemblesound.com selling vinyl records and branded merchandise at price points from $15 to $150.
The core products are artist-facing services (residency access, label deals, Assemble U panels) and rights-holder services (sync licensing, original composition, merchandise/vinyl). The studio was originally housed in a historic 1872 church near Michigan Central Station in Detroit, purchased in March 2015 with $20,000 of founder capital; that property was sold in 2023 after pandemic-related renovation inflation, and the company now operates from a 'Studio 2.0' footprint in Detroit. The technology stack is conventional: standard e-commerce (Squarespace, Stripe, PayPal, Bandcamp), email marketing (Mailchimp), and analytics (Google Analytics, Linkfire, SmartURL), with no proprietary software platform underlying the operation.
Revenue is generated from four sources: sync licensing royalties and supervision fees (which the company identifies as the early revenue anchor), custom composition billed as professional services, shared economics from Atlantic-distributed artist releases, and direct-to-consumer merchandise/vinyl sales. Named sync and brand clients include HBO, YouTube Music, Ford, Rivian, Converse, ESPN, the NBA, Stroh's, Pure Michigan, and Red Bull. Signed and affiliated artists include Willow Avalon, Ally Evenson, Carter Vail, Sam Austins, NASAAN, Siena Liggins, Whiterosemoxie, Tanner Grigoli, and Alessi Rose. The entity is Assemble Sound LLC, governed under Michigan law, founder-owned with no disclosed institutional investment, and serves both a regional (Michigan) and global market through Atlantic Records and international shipping.
Assemble Sound firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Assemble Sound
- Legal name
- Assemble Sound LLC
- Website
- https://assemblesound.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Assemble Sound is a Detroit-based artist development hub operating a free studio residency program, sync licensing catalog, custom composition department, and joint venture record label with Atlantic Records serving independent artists and global brand clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Assemble Sound industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Music Label and Sync Licensing Services
- NAICS
- Sound Recording Studios (51224), Record Production and Distribution (51225), Sound Recording Studios (512240)
- SIC
- Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Music Producers & Production Teams (MPAIAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rehearsal & Pre-Production Studios (Rehearsal Rooms, Backline) (MPAIAHAK), Audio Engineering Services (Tracking, Mixing, Mastering) (MPAIAHAD)
Keywords
Where Assemble Sound is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Detroit
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Assemble Sound business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Sync Licensing & Music Supervision: Commercial licensing of music catalog to Film & TV, brands, auto manufacturers, lifestyle companies, and food & beverage brands. This was the primary revenue source in early days that kept the lights on.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including vinyl records, apparel (hoodies, shirts, hats, beanies, totes), and golf balls through the company's e-commerce storefront.
- Custom Composition Services: Original music composition for brands, storytellers, and commercial projects. Serviced through an in-house composer roster.
- Record Label / Artist Releases: Joint venture releases with Atlantic Records; management of artist rosters and distribution of music.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Willow Avalon - Pink Pocket Pistol vinyl |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ally Evenson - Speed Kills vinyl |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ally Evenson - BLUE SUPER LOVE vinyl |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Carter Vail - 100 Cowboys vinyl |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Carter Vail - Interstellar Tennis Championship Vol. 2 vinyl |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Monotone Long Sleeve Shirt |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Assemble Beanie |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Assemble Sound Golf Balls |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Assemble x Stroh's Mixtape Bundle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dos Jefes x Assemble Recycled Hoodies |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Corner Store Goods x Assemble Collab Shirt |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Assemble Sound product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Assemble Sound is a Detroit-based independent music company that runs a free project-based recording studio residency program, licenses a curated catalog of independent music for placement in film, TV, advertising, and brand content, produces custom original music compositions through an in-house composer roster, and operates a joint-venture record label with Atlantic Records for artist releases. It also sells signed and collaborative vinyl records and branded merchandise through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop and offers music industry education through its Assemble U public panel series.
Product overview
Assemble Sound is a Detroit-based music company offering a multi-faceted platform comprising sync services (music licensing, supervision, and custom composition), a joint venture record label with Atlantic Records, and an ecommerce shop. The company also runs a free project-based studio residency program and produces Assemble U, a free public music industry education series. Their product portfolio includes vinyl records from signed and alumni artists (Willow Avalon, Ally Evenson, Carter Vail, Sam Austins) and branded merchandise (apparel, accessories, and collaborative limited-edition items with partners like Stroh's and Corner Store Goods).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sync Services Music supervision, clearance, and licensing services with a curated catalog of independent music for placement in film, TV, advertising, and digital content. Targeted at music supervisors and content producers at brands and studios.
- Record Label Joint-venture record label with Atlantic Records providing artist development, distribution, and release services for signed and developmental artists including Willow Avalon, Ally Evenson, Carter Vail, and Sam Austins.
- E-commerce Shop Direct-to-consumer online store selling vinyl records from signed artists, branded apparel and accessories, and limited-edition collaborative products with brand partners.
- Studio Residency Free project-based recording studio residency providing Detroit artists, producers, and songwriters with professional studio access to create a body of work, with artists retaining 100% ownership of recordings.
- Assemble U Free public music industry education series delivering panel sessions on publishing, merch, contracts, booking and touring, and streaming, featuring speakers from Spotify, C3 Management, and Warner Music.
- Original Music / Custom Composition Bespoke original music composition services for brands, storytellers, and commercial projects, delivered by an in-house composer roster on a professional services basis.
Quantifiable outcome
- Songs made in church studio closets have racked up millions of streams
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Assemble Sound
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Assemble Sound technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature3 records
Assemble Sound partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Atlantic RecordscoreJoint venture record label with Atlantic Records, enabling artist releases with major label distribution. This partnership represents a significant evolution from the company's early DIY days as a free studio space.
- ESPNcoreCreated ten original custom tracks for sports broadcasting. Later partnered for NBA playoffs licensing deal using NASAAN's Goated song, averaging 4M impressions per playoff game.
- NBAcoreFour-month licensing deal to use NASAAN's Goated song during NBA playoffs through ESPN partnership.
- Red Bull MusicflagshipRed Bull SoundClash Detroit event partnership featuring Babyface Ray vs Larry June. Sold out Russell Industrial Warehouse with over 3,000 fans. Generated over 600K organic press media impressions.
- Pure Michigan / Weber ShandwickflagshipMichigan's First Mixtape partnership to create 'Pure Sounds of Michigan' album using sampled sounds from state parks. Pressed to vinyl, reached #9 on Billboard's New Age album chart, generated 200 earned media placements and 10M impressions.
- VANSminorIndustry panels partnership for Assemble U event series, providing artists free access to music industry knowledge.
- AWALminorIndustry panels partnership for Assemble U event series.
- The Music District (Fort Collins, CO)minor3-day songwriting camp partnership diving deep into collaboration, co-writing, and sync creation. Detroit and Colorado producers/songwriters paired up to create original songs for TV, commercials, and movies.
- Stroh'sflagshipArtist residency mixtape and merchandise collaboration creating the 'Soil to Sky' mixtape (14 artists, 11 tracks) with limited edition vinyl, custom merch line including record crate, slipmat, hoodies, and t-shirts. Release show featured 15+ performers.
- Corner Store GoodsminorLimited edition collab shirt with heavy-weight stonewashed green fabric, black and beige ink. Screenprinted by hand in Detroit. $50 price point.
- Dos JefesminorLimited edition recycled hoodies collaboration using leftover materials, mis-printed or found clothing/blanks, and hand cut elements. All hoodies sewn and designed in Detroit. $150 price point.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Assemble Sound competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Assemble Sound social profiles
Digital presenceAssemble Sound financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Assemble Sound leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Assemble Sound funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Assemble Sound 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 Assemble Sound
What does Assemble Sound do?
Assemble Sound is a Detroit-based independent music company that runs a free project-based recording studio residency program, licenses a curated catalog of independent music for placement in film, TV, advertising, and brand content, produces custom original music compositions through an in-house composer roster, and operates a joint-venture record label with Atlantic Records for artist releases. It also sells signed and collaborative vinyl records and branded merchandise through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop and offers music industry education through its Assemble U public panel series.
Is Assemble Sound a public or private company?
Assemble Sound is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Assemble Sound founded?
Assemble Sound was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Assemble Sound based?
Assemble Sound is headquartered in Detroit, United States, in the North America region.
How does Assemble Sound make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Sync Licensing & Music Supervision is the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales, custom Composition Services and record Label / Artist Releases.
Does Assemble Sound have an API?
No public API is recorded for Assemble Sound.
What industry is Assemble Sound in?
Assemble Sound's product category is Independent Music Label and Sync Licensing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAHAB, Music Producers & Production Teams, with a secondary code of MPAIAHAK, Rehearsal & Pre-Production Studios (Rehearsal Rooms, Backline). Its NAICS code is 51224 and its SIC code is 3652.