Lava Records
Lava Records is a privately held, artist-first music record label founded in 1995 by Jason Flom, operating as an imprint under Republic Records/Universal Music Group. It signs and develops rock, alternative, and pop artists — including Greta Van Fleet and jxdn — and distributes globally through its UMG partnership.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lava Records does
Lava Records is a privately held music record label founded in 1995 by Jason Flom and currently operating as an imprint under Republic Records, itself part of Universal Music Group. The label functions as an artist-first operation that combines indie-level artist development with the global distribution, marketing, and promotional reach of a major label through its Republic/UMG partnership. Its current roster spans rock, alternative rock, and pop and includes Grammy-winning rock band Greta Van Fleet, Mexico-born alternative rock sister trio The Warning, pop/rock artist Haiden Henderson, 2X RIAA Gold-certified singer jxdn (2B+ global streams), Los Angeles alternative rock quartet Return to Dust, and the original content property 'Lulu Is a Rhinoceros.' Notable alumni include Lorde, Jessie J, Black Veil Brides, and Andy Black. The label also operates a podcasting and broader media business through Lava Media and Lava for Good Podcasts, with the latter's 'Wrongful Conviction' series recognized as part of Adweek's 2024 Podcast Network of the Year.
The company generates revenue primarily through recording contracts with its signed artists, with downstream monetization across streaming platforms, digital downloads, physical album sales, and sync licensing for film and television, distributed globally via Republic/UMG. The business is operated from a very lean headcount of 1-10 employees, with the recorded music business headquartered under Universal Music Group's Santa Monica office at 2220 Colorado Avenue, while the founder's broader media activities are rooted in New York. The company has no disclosed external funding rounds and is wholly private, with Jason Flom serving as Founder, President, and CEO. In 2024-2025, the label broadened beyond traditional recorded music into original content, launching the Apple TV+ animated musical special 'Lulu Is a Rhinoceros' based on the founder's children's book, signaling an intent to build owned IP alongside the artist catalog business.
The go-to-market motion is sales-led and relationship-driven: the label competes primarily on the strength of its A&R reputation and the artist-development support it can offer, leveraging the Republic/UMG partnership to deliver global reach that an independent label could not match. Marketing is executed through the label's own social channels (Instagram, Facebook, email newsletter) and Universal Music Group's global marketing infrastructure. Distribution is handled entirely by Republic/UMG, including direct-to-consumer availability through major streaming platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify. No consumer-facing pricing is disclosed, consistent with standard record-label economics where revenue is generated through artist contracts, royalty splits, and licensing rather than direct customer transactions.
Lava Records firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lava Records
- Legal name
- Lava Records
- Website
- https://lavarecords.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Lava Records is a privately held, artist-first music record label founded in 1995 by Jason Flom, operating as an imprint under Republic Records/Universal Music Group. It signs and develops rock, alternative, and pop artists — including Greta Van Fleet and jxdn — and distributes globally through its UMG partnership.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lava Records industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Record Label
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225), Record Production and Distribution (512250), Music Publishers (512230)
- SIC
- Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Master Rights Ownership & Catalog Management (MPAIAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sync Rights Representation (Pitching, Clearance, Negotiation) (MPAIABAF), Sync Royalty Administration & Reporting (Cue Sheets, Claims, Audits) (MPAIALAL)
Keywords
Where Lava Records is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lava Records business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Music Recording and Distribution: Lava Records generates revenue through recording contracts with artists, with distribution handled by Republic Records/Universal Music Group. The label earns revenue from streaming platforms, digital downloads, physical album sales, and sync licensing for film/TV.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Lava Records product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lava Records is an artist-first music record label that signs and develops musical artists across rock, alternative, pop, and electronic genres through recording contracts. The label produces and releases music albums and EPs from its roster while leveraging its partnership with Republic Records/Universal Music Group for global distribution, marketing, promotion, and sync licensing across streaming platforms, digital stores, physical retail, and film/TV.
Product overview
Lava Records is an artist-first music record label offering global reach through its partnership with Republic Records/Universal Music Group. The label represents a portfolio of rock and pop artists including Greta Van Fleet (Grammy-winning rock band), The Warning (Mexico-born alternative rock sister trio), Haiden Henderson (pop/rock artist), jxdn (2X RIAA Gold-certified pop singer), and Return to Dust (alternative rock quartet). The label also produces original content including the Apple TV+ animated musical 'Lulu Is a Rhinoceros.' Alumni include Lorde, Jessie J, Andy Black, Black Veil Brides, and others.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lava Records Label Services Artist-first record label offering recording contracts, artist development, global distribution through Republic/Universal partnership, marketing, promotion, and sync licensing services for signed musical artists across rock, alternative, pop, and electronic genres.
- Starcatcher (Greta Van Fleet) Third studio album by Grammy-winning American rock band Greta Van Fleet, released on Lava Records. Produced by Dave Cobb at RCA Studios in Nashville.
- Keep Me Fed (The Warning) Full-length album by Mexico-born sister trio The Warning released on Lava/Republic Records, featuring singles 'MORE,' 'S!CK,' and 'Hell You Call A Dream.'
- WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS (jxdn) Second critically acclaimed album by 2X RIAA Gold-certified singer jxdn, featuring emotionally charged pop anthems with a bold vocal presence.
- Speak Like The Dead EP (Return to Dust) EP by Los Angeles-based alternative rock quartet Return to Dust featuring radio single 'Bored,' released on Lava/Republic Records.
- tension EP (Haiden Henderson) 2025 EP by pop/rock artist Haiden Henderson featuring fan favorites 'lovesucker,' 'lips,' and 'sweat,' representing his most unrestrained work combining stadium-size pop with D.I.Y. rock 'n' roll.
- Lulu Is a Rhinoceros (Apple TV+ Animated Musical) Apple TV+ animated musical special inspired by the children's book by Jason and Allison Flom. Features voice cast including Auli'i Cravalho, Alex Newell, Dulé Hill, Paul Rust, and Utkarsh Ambudkar, with original songs including 'Good Morning, Beautiful You' and 'The Perfect Me (Finale).'
Companies that use Lava Records
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Lava Records technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lava Records partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Republic Records/Universal Music GroupcoreLava Records operates in partnership with Republic Records/Universal Music Group, providing artists with the global reach and capabilities of the world's largest music company alongside the attention and commitment of an indie label.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lava Records competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Sumerian Records: Independent rock/metal label founded in 2006 (Polyphia, Periphery); comparable as an emerging player building a rock roster with global digital distribution.
Direct peers
- Hopeless Records: Independent rock/punk label (All Time Low, Avenged Sevenfold alumni); comparable as a mid-sized rock-focused label developing artists with major-label distribution partnerships.
- Fueled by Ramen: Warner Music boutique imprint specializing in rock/alternative/pop-punk signings (Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco); closely comparable as a major-label-affiliated indie-style label with a rock-skewed roster.
- Epitaph Records: Independent rock/punk label (Pennywise, Bad Religion); comparable as a genre-specialized indie label that combines independent artist development with major-distribution reach.
- Sub Pop Records: Independent rock label distributed through Warner; closely comparable as a long-tenured indie label with rock-genre focus and major-label distribution partnership.
Broad incumbents
- Big Machine Records: Independent major-affiliated label (Taylor Swift alumni, Florida Georgia Line); comparable as an artist-first imprint operating with major-label distribution infrastructure outside the UMG system.
- Atlantic Records: Warner Music major label where Jason Flom previously served as Chairman and CEO; comparable given shared leadership lineage and rock/pop crossover artist development focus.
- Republic Records: Parent label under Universal Music Group and Lava's primary distribution and marketing partner; comparable as a major-label imprint pursuing hit-driven artist development with global reach.
- Interscope Records: Universal Music major-label imprint with rock and alternative roster; comparable as a major-label home for similar genres with global distribution infrastructure.
Regional players
- Dirty Hit: UK-based independent label (The 1975, Wolf Alice); comparable as an artist-first indie label with major-distribution partnership, focused on alternative/rock development outside the US market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lava Records social profiles
Digital presenceLava Records financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lava Records leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Lava Records funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lava 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 Lava Records
What does Lava Records do?
Lava Records is an artist-first music record label that signs and develops musical artists across rock, alternative, pop, and electronic genres through recording contracts. The label produces and releases music albums and EPs from its roster while leveraging its partnership with Republic Records/Universal Music Group for global distribution, marketing, promotion, and sync licensing across streaming platforms, digital stores, physical retail, and film/TV.
Is Lava Records a public or private company?
Lava Records is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Lava Records founded?
Lava Records was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Lava Records based?
Lava Records is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lava Records make money?
One revenue line is on record: music Recording and Distribution.
Who are Lava Records's main competitors?
Sumerian Records is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Hopeless Records, Fueled by Ramen, Epitaph Records and Sub Pop Records. Broad incumbents are Big Machine Records, Atlantic Records, Republic Records and Interscope Records. Dirty Hit is listed as a regional player.
Does Lava Records have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lava Records.
What industry is Lava Records in?
Lava Records's product category is Music Record Label. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAAAB, Master Rights Ownership & Catalog Management, with a secondary code of MPAIABAF, Sync Rights Representation (Pitching, Clearance, Negotiation). Its NAICS code is 51225 and its SIC code is 3652.