Nola Blue Records

What Nola Blue Records does

Nola Blue Records is an independent blues record label founded in 2014 by Sallie Bengtson and headquartered through a PMB at 590 Centerville Road, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The label's stated mission is to preserve the legacy of traditional blues artists while supporting emerging contemporary talent, and operationally it functions as a direct-to-consumer music business: albums and tracks are sold through Bandcamp as the primary digital channel and through the company's own website store, with merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies, caps, water bottles) fulfilled via Printful's print-on-demand infrastructure. The company expanded its footprint in 2022 with the launch of MoMojo Records, a wholly-owned distribution imprint serving independent artists seeking label support without full signing commitments.

The roster spans more than 30 artists, including legacy figures such as Benny Turner, Frank Bey (posthumous Grammy nominee, 2020), and Cash McCall, alongside contemporary Grammy-nominated and Blues Music Award-winning acts including Maria Muldaur, Curtis Salgado, Duke Robillard, Trudy Lynn, John Németh, Candice Ivory, and the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra. The catalog exceeds 60 albums, with three Grammy nominations, the 2020 Josie Awards Record Label of the Year designation, and the 2026 Keeping the Blues Alive Award from the Blues Foundation serving as primary credibility markers. Commercial distribution is described as global via Bandcamp, with regional live-event activity including the Lone Star Blues and Heritage Festival, which was conceived and produced by Bengtson in East Texas starting in 2019.

Revenue is generated through three streams: one-time music sales (digital and physical album/track purchases), one-time merchandise sales via the print-on-demand storefront, and artist management services billed as professional services. The company is privately held under the corporate name Nola Blue, Inc., with no disclosed funding rounds, no institutional investors, and no headcount disclosed beyond the founder. Technology is intentionally minimal — Bandcamp for distribution, Printful for merchandise, social media (Facebook, Instagram via MoMojo) and an email newsletter for marketing — consistent with a lean, founder-operated independent label rather than a technology platform.

Name

Nola Blue Records

Legal name

Nola Blue, Inc.

Website

https://nola-blue.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Nola Blue Records is an independent blues record label founded in 2014 by Sallie Bengtson and based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, producing and distributing music from a 30+ artist roster of legacy and contemporary blues acts via Bandcamp and a branded merchandise line, with the MoMojo Records imprint serving outside independent artists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancaster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Music Sales: Revenue from digital and physical album/track sales through Bandcamp and the label's own music store. Includes releases from legacy blues artists (Frank Bey, Cash McCall) and contemporary artists.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, caps, and water bottles through the company's e-commerce store using print-on-demand fulfillment.
3. Artist Management Services: Sallie Bengtson provides comprehensive management and strategic planning services to artists, including album releases, festival appearances, and career development support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Nola Blue Records is an independent blues record label that produces and distributes blues music albums from a roster of legacy and contemporary artists. The label sells digital and physical music releases directly to consumers through Bandcamp and its own website store, and offers branded merchandise (apparel and accessories) via print-on-demand fulfillment. Owner Sallie Bengtson also provides comprehensive artist management services including album releases, festival placements, and career development support.

Product overview

Nola Blue Records is an independent blues record label founded in 2014 by Sallie Bengtson, operating as a core record label product with merchandise and distribution services. The label's primary offerings include music albums from traditional blues legacy artists (Benny Turner, Frank Bey, Cash McCall) and contemporary blues artists, sold through their website and Bandcamp distribution. The company also operates a merchandise line featuring branded apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, caps) and accessories (water bottles) produced via print-on-demand service Printful. A secondary imprint called MoMojo Records, established in 2022, provides distribution services to independent artists. The label has received GRAMMY nominations and multiple industry awards including Record Label of the Year (Josie Awards 2020) and Keeping the Blues Alive Award (Blues Foundation 2026).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MoMojo Records: Distribution services imprint established in 2022 to provide professional support to independent artists while retaining flexibility to meet individual needs, goals, and budgets.

Products and services

• Legacy Rewind: Live in '25 Live album by Curtis Salgado recorded at The Triple Door in Seattle, Washington on April 5, 2025, capturing a high-impact retrospective performance spanning his celebrated career in R&B, funk, soul, and rock 'n' roll, available to blues music fans and collectors.
• Just Stay Live Surround sound recording by The Alexis P. Suter Band featuring Garth Hudson, captured at The Falcon in Marlboro, New York in 2011, available to blues music fans and collectors.
• BLAST OFF! Album by two-time Grammy nominee Duke Robillard featuring his signature fretboard work on a wide variety of material, available to blues music fans and collectors.
• Nola Blue Youth T-Shirt Moisture-wicking youth t-shirt with 50% cotton and 50% polyester blend in a modern fit with high-performance fabric, available in Black, Navy, Dark Heather, and Royal colors in sizes XS to XL, priced at $15.50, sold to fans and supporters of the label.
• Nola Blue Unisex T-Shirt Classic unisex 100% cotton tee with a sport grey variant at 90% cotton and 10% polyester, available in Purple, Royal, Charcoal, and White in sizes S to 5XL, priced at $22.50, sold to fans and supporters of the label.
• Nola Blue Unisex Hoodie Hoodie with 100% cotton face and 65% ring-spun cotton, 35% polyester blend, featuring a convenient pouch pocket and warm hood, available in Navy Blazer, Charcoal Heather, and Purple in size 3XL, priced at $36.00, sold to fans and supporters of the label.
• Nola Blue Denim Cap Embroidered cotton twill cap with intricate embroidery detail and washed-out vintage feel, available in Navy in one size, priced at $29.50, sold to fans and supporters of the label.
• Nola Blue Dad Cap Low-profile dad cap with adjustable strap and curved visor, made from 100% chino cotton twill, available in multiple colors including Green Camo, priced at $27.00, sold to fans and supporters of the label.
• Stainless Steel Bottle with Straw Lid 32 oz double-walled stainless steel water bottle with vacuum insulation, featuring a wide-mouth foldable straw and rotating handle, priced at $29.00, hand-wash only, sold to fans and supporters of the label.
• Artist Management Services Comprehensive management and strategic planning services for signed blues artists, including album releases, festival appearances (Chicago Blues Fest, Ann Arbor Blues Festival, Lucerne Blues Festival, Lone Star Blues and Heritage Festival), and career development support, provided by owner Sallie Bengtson.
• MoMojo Records Distribution Services Distribution services for independent artists seeking professional support while retaining flexibility to meet individual needs, goals, and budgets, provided through the MoMojo Records imprint established in 2022.

Quantifiable outcome

• All My Dues Are Paid received 2020 Grammy nomination for Traditional Blues Album of the Year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MoMoJo RecordscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorImprint established in 2022 to provide distribution services to independent artists seeking professional support while retaining flexibility to meet individual needs, goals, and budgets. Represents an ever-growing roster of independent artists.
• PrintfulminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrint-on-demand fulfillment provider for Nola Blue merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, caps, and water bottles. Products are printed and shipped as orders come in.
• BandcampcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary digital music distribution platform hosting Nola Blue Records artist pages, albums, tracks, and merchandise sales. Platform provides discovery features and direct artist-to-fan sales.
• Instagram (via MoMoJo Records)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial media marketing presence through MoMoJo Records Instagram account for brand promotion and artist visibility.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Shanachie Entertainment: Independent roots, world, and blues label with broader catalog across multiple genres. Comparable artist-development approach for traditional and contemporary blues acts but with a wider genre portfolio.
• Putumayo World Music: Independent world music and roots compilations label with retail-oriented distribution through Barnes & Noble and similar channels. Comparable indie label ethos and curated niche compilations model.
• Rounder Records: Historic independent roots/folk/blues label founded 1970, now part of Concord Music Group. Broader portfolio across roots genres (folk, bluegrass, blues) at larger scale; useful comparable for catalog depth and genre authority.

Regional players

• Dixiefrog Records: French independent blues and roots label founded in Paris. Comparable focus on blues, Americana, and roots artists with international distribution; serves primarily European market while signing U.S. blues talent similar to Nola Blue's roster.

Direct peers

• Blind Pig Records: Independent blues label founded 1977 in San Francisco, acquired by Alligator Records in 2012. Closely comparable specialty blues focus and indie distribution model, with Grammy-winning catalog including Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, and Otis Rush.
• Delmark Records: Chicago-based independent blues and jazz label founded in 1953, one of the oldest continuously operating indie blues labels. Comparable niche focus on traditional and contemporary blues with a deep catalog of legacy recordings.
• Stony Plain Records: Canadian independent roots and blues label founded 1976 in Edmonton. Comparable niche focus on blues, roots, and Americana, with a similar catalog-of-legacy-and-contemporary mix operated by a small team.
• Alligator Records: Largest independently-owned blues and roots record label in the U.S., founded 1971 in Chicago. Directly comparable genre focus (blues, roots) and indie label model, with deeper catalog and broader artist roster than Nola Blue.
• Vizztone Label Group: Blues and roots label group operating multiple imprints. Comparable genre focus on contemporary and traditional blues with a small-team operating model and a roster of established and emerging artists.
• M.C. Records: Independent blues and Americana label based in Rhode Island. Closely comparable small-team indie model with a roster emphasizing traditional blues and roots artists and direct-to-consumer sales.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nolabluerecords
• Instagraminstagram.com/momojo.records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Nola Blue Records