b4
b4 is a New York City-based independent record label and artist management company founded in 2018, representing experimental, genreless artists including Tama Gucci, Faux Real, flirty800, KYM, and Paul Maxwell, distributed globally through ADA.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What b4 does
b4 is a New York City-based independent record label and artist management company founded in 2018 by Briana Cheng, originally established as an imprint of the prestigious 4AD label and now operating independently with global distribution through ADA (Warner Music Group's independent distribution arm). The label's core business spans three revenue streams: releasing recorded music (singles, EPs, and compilation albums) across streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, and YouTube; providing artist management representation for a roster of 5+ active artists including Tama Gucci, Faux Real, flirty800, KYM, and Paul Maxwell; and offering professional mixing and mastering services through in-house engineer Paul Maxwell. The catalog comprises 20+ releases spanning R&B, club, art-pop, electronic, and experimental genres, with recent flagship output including b4 Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (2023) and b4 Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (February 2026, with proceeds donated to Transgender Law Center and Palestine Children's Relief).
The company's underlying technology stack is conventional and non-proprietary: it uses Sanity as a headless content management system, Vercel for web hosting, Buttondown for newsletter distribution, and standard streaming-platform embeds including a SoundCloud player. b4 markets and acquires artists through social media (Instagram, X/Twitter, YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify), editorial playlist placements (notably Spotify's Club Resistance and The Sound of H&M), and earned media coverage in publications including The Guardian, Vogue UK, CLASH, PAPER, Resident Advisor, DIY, and The Line of Best Fit. The business model is community-led and event-driven: artists are sourced via demo submissions to [email protected], and visibility is generated through DJ sets, radio appearances on NTS, Dublab, Lot Radio, Foundation.FM, and Boiler Room features. There is no disclosed subscription or paid product offering; revenue is generated through streaming royalties, artist management fees, and mixing/mastering engagements. The company is privately held, operates as B4 Sounds LLC in New York, has not raised external funding, and has 43 employees.
b4 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- b4
- Legal name
- B4 Sounds LLC
- Website
- https://b4sounds.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- b4 is a New York City-based independent record label and artist management company founded in 2018, representing experimental, genreless artists including Tama Gucci, Faux Real, flirty800, KYM, and Paul Maxwell, distributed globally through ADA.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
b4 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Music Label
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225)
- SIC
- Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Record Labels (Major & Independent) (MPAIAAAA)
Keywords
Where b4 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
b4 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Record Label & Music Releases: b4 releases music through its catalog including singles, EPs, and compilation albums. Revenue is generated through streaming royalties from platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, digital sales, and potentially sync licensing opportunities.
- Artist Management: The company provides artist management services alongside record label operations, representing artists including Tama Gucci, Faux Real, flirty800, and KYM.
- Mixing & Mastering Services: b4 offers professional mixing and mastering services through in-house engineer Paul Maxwell.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
b4 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
b4 is an NYC-based independent record label and artist management company that releases culture-forward, genreless music through a roster that includes Tama Gucci, Faux Real, flirty800, and KYM. The company handles label representation, distribution via ADA across major streaming platforms, and in-house mixing and mastering engineering. As originally founded as an imprint of 4AD and now operating independently, b4 packages label services, management, and creative production into a single boutique offering for its artists.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Artist Management Services Full artist management representation for independent experimental and genreless musicians on the b4 roster, including strategy, bookings, and career development tied to the label's release pipeline.
- Mixing & Mastering Services Professional mixing and mastering services delivered by in-house engineer Paul Maxwell for artists releasing on b4 and external clients seeking high-quality audio finishing.
- b4 Greatest Hits Vol. 2 A multi-artist compilation album released by b4 in February 2026, gathering 13 tracks from the label's roster and creative community across R&B, club, art-pop, electronic, and experimental genres; available on streaming platforms via ADA distribution.
- b4 Greatest Hits Vol. 1 The first b4 greatest-hits compilation, released in January 2023, collecting signature tracks from the label's roster and distributed globally via ADA.
- My Mind EP An EP by b4 roster artist flirty800, released in September 2025, featuring the artist's club- and electronic-leaning sound and distributed globally through ADA.
- Strip EP An EP by b4 roster artist flirty800, released in May 2026, including the track Smoke, with global streaming distribution through ADA.
Quantifiable outcome
- Press coverage in The Guardian, Vogue UK, CLASH, PAPER, Resident Advisor, DIY, The Line of Best Fit, and other music publications
Companies that use b4
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
b4 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability2 records
b4 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- ADAcoreADA is b4's distribution partner handling global music distribution across streaming platforms and retail channels. As a major independent music distribution company, ADA enables b4 to distribute releases worldwide through Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms.
Scale indicators5 records
b4 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
b4 social profiles
Digital presenceb4 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
b4 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
b4 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
b4 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 b4
What does b4 do?
b4 is an NYC-based independent record label and artist management company that releases culture-forward, genreless music through a roster that includes Tama Gucci, Faux Real, flirty800, and KYM. The company handles label representation, distribution via ADA across major streaming platforms, and in-house mixing and mastering engineering. As originally founded as an imprint of 4AD and now operating independently, b4 packages label services, management, and creative production into a single boutique offering for its artists.
Is b4 a public or private company?
b4 is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was b4 founded?
b4 was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is b4 based?
b4 is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does b4 make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Record Label & Music Releases are the primary driver. The others are artist Management and mixing & Mastering Services.
Does b4 have an API?
No public API is recorded for b4.
What industry is b4 in?
b4's product category is Independent Music Label. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAAAA, Record Labels (Major & Independent). Its NAICS code is 51225 and its SIC code is 3652.