Super Soul Bros

What Super Soul Bros does

Super Soul Bros is an independent video game music cover band formed in 2012 by keyboardist Robbie Benson and based in San Jose, California. The five-member core ensemble — Benson on keyboards, Alex Popoff on saxophone, Chris Haman on drums, Christian Manzana on trombone, and Bill Smolik on trumpet — performs funk and jazz arrangements of classic video game soundtracks (titles from Mario Kart, Sonic, Zelda, Pokemon, EarthBound, and others), distinguished by real-time improvisation and on-the-fly audience requests. Individual members hold substantial professional credits outside the band, including sideman or concert work with Aretha Franklin, Santana, Tower of Power, and Frank Zappa alumni.

The band's product mix spans recorded music and live-branded merchandise. Recorded catalog includes the full-length EarthBound tribute 'Motherlode' (16 tracks, 76 minutes), live album 'Stritch's Brew' recorded at Cafe Stritch, the studio EP 'Fireball!,' and live album 'Live @ Poor House,' distributed digitally via Bandcamp and physically through the band's own online store. A premium bundle — the 'Super Soul Bros Super Drive' ($63) — packages the full discography plus video extras on an 8GB flash drive housed in an SNES-style cartridge, targeting the gaming-collector buyer. Merchandise includes t-shirts, Fangamer-produced enamel pins, and face coverings, with pricing from $7.50 for individual CDs up to $63 for the premium bundle.

The business operates on three revenue streams: (1) live performance fees booked at gaming conventions and festivals (MAGFest, TwitchCon, Silicon Valley Comic-Con, PAX Prime, FanimeCon), reached via event-driven GTM and direct email/phone booking; (2) one-time sales of digital and physical albums through Bandcamp and the band's own e-commerce storefront; and (3) hardware/merchandise sales to consumer fans of the band. Audience segmentation is hybrid: video game enthusiasts seeking nostalgic live reinterpretations of familiar soundtracks, alongside jazz and funk enthusiasts who appreciate high-level musicianship independent of gaming affinity. The band leverages organic social media (YouTube, Twitch, Discord, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) and earned press coverage as marketing channels, and operates with no disclosed external funding.

Name

Super Soul Bros

Legal name

Super Soul Bros

Website

https://supersoulbros.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Super Soul Bros is an independent, San Jose–based video game music cover band performing funk and jazz arrangements of classic game soundtracks at gaming conventions, with revenue from live performance fees, recorded albums sold via Bandcamp and its own online store, and branded merchandise including a premium SNES-cartridge-format flash drive bundle.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

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, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Album and Music Sales: The band sells digital albums via Bandcamp and physical CDs/merchandise through their online store. Albums include Motherlode (76-minute, 16-track EarthBound tribute), Stritch's Brew (live recording), Fireball! EP, and Live @ Poor House.
2. Live Performance Fees: The band generates revenue from booking fees for live performances at conventions, festivals, and events including MAGFest, TwitchCon, and Silicon Valley Comic-Con.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts (Rainbro Road, Super DK Bros, Super Soul Bound, Marifro variants), pins (SSB Logo, PK Rockin, Soulful Cart), face coverings, and combo packages. Products sold via their online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Super Soul Bros is a live video game music cover band that performs funk-and-jazz reinterpretations of classic gaming soundtracks at conventions, festivals, and events. They sell the resulting recorded music as digital albums (via Bandcamp) and physical CDs/USB drives (via their own online store), and monetize fandom through branded merchandise including t-shirts, enamel pins, and face coverings.

Product overview

Super Soul Bros is a video game music cover band offering live performances and recorded music products. Their core offerings include music albums (Motherlode, Stritch's Brew, Fireball!, Live @ Poor House, Super Soul Bros Super Drive) and merchandise (t-shirts, pins, face coverings). The band performs live video game music with funk and jazz fusion, offering both digital downloads via Bandcamp and physical products including a unique SNES cartridge flash drive. The product portfolio centers on their musical performances and tribute albums to game soundtracks, supplemented by branded merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Motherlode Super Soul Bros' first full-length, studio-produced tribute album to the EarthBound/Mother series — 16 tracks spanning 76 minutes across the Mother trilogy, available in digital form on Bandcamp and as a physical copy via the band's online store. Targeted at video game music fans, particularly EarthBound/Mother enthusiasts.
• Stritch's Brew Live album recorded at Cafe Stritch in San Jose, CA on May 28 & 29, 2016 during the FanimeCon weekend, celebrating the band's 5th FanimeCon weekend. Sold as a one-time physical purchase on the band's online store, aimed at fans who want a recorded live Super Soul Bros performance.
• Fireball! CD Super Soul Bros' first studio-recorded EP, containing 5 high-energy songs with a 19-minute total runtime, including tracks such as Chrono Trigger and Mario Circuit. Sold as a one-time physical CD purchase for video game music fans.
• Live @ Poor House CD Live album featuring 6 songs with a 51-minute runtime, including performances of Melee Medley-Zelda Theme and Chemical Plant Zone. Sold as a one-time physical CD purchase for fans seeking live recordings of the band's performances.
• Super Soul Bros Super Drive An 8GB flash drive packaged inside an SNES-style cartridge housing the band's full discography (6 albums) plus bonus videos including the Live @ San Pedro DVD, with Motherlode included. Sold as a one-time premium physical purchase aimed at superfans seeking the complete catalog.
• SSB Logo Pin Enamel pin featuring the SSB band logo, created by Fangamer, sold as a one-time purchase on the band's online store for fans and collectors.
• PK Rockin Pin Enamel pin featuring the PK Rockin design, created by Fangamer, sold as a one-time purchase on the band's online store.
• Soulful Cart Pin Enamel pin featuring the Soulful Cart design, created by Fangamer, sold as a one-time purchase on the band's online store.
• Super Soul Bros Face Covering Non-medical-grade face covering branded with the band, sold as a one-time purchase on the band's online store for fans who want to wear band merchandise (not medical grade).
• Rainbro Road T-Shirt T-shirt featuring the 'Rainbro Road' design, available in Aqua and Black color variants. Sold as a one-time purchase on the band's online store for fans seeking branded apparel.
• Super DK Bros T-Shirt T-shirt featuring the Super DK Bros gorilla design, sold as a one-time purchase on the band's online store.
• Super Soul Bound T-Shirt EarthBound-themed t-shirt featuring the Super Soul Bros logo with an Earth globe, made of American Apparel 50/50 poly/cotton blend. Sold as a one-time purchase.
• Unisex Super Soul Bros T-Shirt Unisex t-shirt featuring the band logo, made of American Apparel 50/50 poly/cotton blend, sold as a one-time purchase on the band's online store.
• Green Marifro T-Shirt Unisex Team Green 'Marifro' t-shirt referencing the Mario Bros franchise, made of American Apparel 50/50 poly/cotton blend, sold as a one-time purchase.
• Red Marifro T-Shirt Unisex Team Red 'Marifro' t-shirt referencing the Mario Bros franchise, sold as a one-time purchase on the band's online store as the counterpart to the Green Marifro tee.
• Live Performance Bookings Booked live funk/jazz performances of video game music at conventions, festivals, and events including MAGFest, TwitchCon, Silicon Valley Comic-Con, PAX Prime, FanimeCon, and local Bay Area gigs. Contracted directly with event organizers via email ([email protected]) and phone ((408) 915-8085), with fees negotiated per booking.

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FangamercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFangamer is a partner that creates and sells Super Soul Bros merchandise, including pins. The SSB Logo Pin, PK Rockin Pin, and Soulful Cart Pin are described as 'created by Fangamer.' Fangamer is a well-known gaming merchandise company that serves the video game collector community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• TwitchCon: Major gaming and streaming convention at which Super Soul Bros has performed. Comparable as a venue/buyer of live VGM entertainment and a top-of-funnel audience channel.
• Fangamer: Gaming-collector merchandise company that creates and distributes branded products for indie games and gaming-culture brands. Already a Super Soul Bros partner (pins) and an adjacent ecosystem enabler in the VGM/gaming merch channel.
• MAGFest (Music and Gaming Festival): Major gaming-and-music convention that books VGM cover acts including Super Soul Bros as regulars. Comparable as a venue/buyer for the band's core live-performance revenue stream.
• PAX (Penny Arcade Expo): Gaming convention where the band has performed (PAX Prime). Comparable as a venue/buyer of VGM live entertainment and as a Penny Arcade-adjacent ecosystem the band has earned media coverage from.

Direct peers

• Scarlet Moon Productions: Video game music label producing album projects of VGM covers and original game soundtracks. Comparable distribution model and audience overlap with Super Soul Bros' album business.
• Materia Collective: VGM-focused label producing albums of game-music covers and original game-inspired compositions. Comparable product (VGM cover albums, Bandcamp/distribution) targeting overlapping fans.
• Bit Brigade: Video-game cover band that performs live soundtracks while a game is played on stage. Same customer base (gaming-convention attendees, VGM fans) and same event-driven business model as Super Soul Bros.
• GameChops: Record label and platform dedicated to video game music covers and remixes. Comparable as a music/recording and licensing channel for VGM reinterpretations, even though it is a label rather than a live act.
• The Minibosses: Pioneering video-game-music cover band performing live arrangements at gaming events and festivals. Directly comparable: live VGM covers targeting the same convention/gaming-fan audience with a similar multi-format band setup.

Broad incumbents

• Brave Wave Productions: Established video game music label with a broader catalog (original and licensed game soundtracks). Comparable as a larger player in the VGM-recorded-music space, although it focuses more on original compositions than funk/jazz covers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/supersoulbros
• YouTubeyoutube.com/supersoulbros
• Facebookfacebook.com/SuperSoulBros
• Instagraminstagram.com/supersoulbros

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Super Soul Bros