What FADER Label does

FADER Label is a New York City-based independent record label co-founded in 2002 by Jon Cohen and Rob Stone, operating with a lean staff of approximately 7 employees. The company's core business is artist representation and development: it signs recording artists, provides record deals, marketing, promotion, distribution, touring support, and management services across genres spanning indie pop, electronic, hip-hop, and alternative. Its current and alumni roster exceeds 40 artists and includes breakout and established names such as Clairo, Slayyyter, Matt and Kim, Yuna, Saul Williams, Lewis Del Mar, Charlie Burg, binki, and Shallou.

The label monetizes through three principal streams. First, streaming and record sales revenue via distribution on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and other major platforms, with several catalog releases crossing significant streaming milestones (e.g., Lewis Del Mar 350M+ streams, Slayyyter's debut mixtape 100M+ streams). Second, sync licensing of label music into films, television, video games, and commercials, with documented placements for brands and media properties including Nike, Acura, Mitsubishi, Verizon, FIFA, and Grand Theft Auto. Third, direct-to-consumer merchandise sales through an external storefront at shop.thefader.com. The brand is closely associated with The FADER magazine, providing editorial cross-promotion and earned media advantages that differentiate it from purely studio-distributed independent labels.

The label has also extended its catalog through a posthumous release from Alan Vega of Suicide and through strategic producer partnerships (e.g., James Ford, Dan Carey, Grian Chatten) to elevate developing artists. The company is privately held with no institutional investors, parent company, or public funding rounds disclosed in the source material. It distributes music globally but has no documented AI/ML capability, no proprietary technology platform beyond standard label operations, and no disclosed product pipeline beyond catalog releases and merchandise.

Name

FADER Label

Legal name

FADER Label

Website

https://faderlabel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FADER Label is a New York City-based independent record label co-founded in 2002, signing and developing recording artists across indie, electronic, hip-hop, and alternative genres. It generates revenue from streaming royalties, sync licensing to brands and media, and merchandise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sync Marketplaces & Licensing Platforms (MPAIALAG), Sync Clearance & Rights Management (One-Stop, Negotiation, Documentation) (MPAIALAF)

Keywords

• Record label services
• Artist management
• Music distribution
• Sync licensing
• Music publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Record Sales and Streaming Royalties: Revenue from album and single releases through digital streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music) and digital/physical record sales.
2. Sync Licensing: Placement of label artists' music in films, TV shows, video games, and commercials for brand partners including Nike, Acura, Mitsubishi, Verizon, FIFA, and Grand Theft Auto.
3. Merchandise and Shop: Revenue from branded merchandise sales through shop.thefader.com.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FADER Label is an independent record label that signs artists to its roster, develops their careers, and distributes their recorded music. In addition to artist management and distribution, the label monetizes its catalog through sync licensing, placing songs in commercials, films, and brand campaigns for clients such as Nike and FIFA. The label is headquartered in New York City and has been operating since 2002.

Product overview

FADER Label is a New York City-based independent record label co-founded in 2002 by Jon Cohen and Rob Stone. The label operates as a traditional music record label providing recording artist representation, management services, and distribution. Its core product is its artist roster spanning diverse genres including indie pop, electronic, alternative, and hip-hop. The label also operates a merchandise shop through its parent company The FADER. Notable current artists include Clairo, Slayyyter, YUNA, James Ivy, Unflirt, Saul Williams, Matt and Kim, Wavedash, binki, Lewis Del Mar, Charlie Burg, and many others. The label has a history of releasing critically acclaimed albums and singles worldwide, with artists achieving sync placements in film, TV, video games, and commercial advertising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Artist Development & Recording Contracts Signing artists to the label's roster and providing artist development resources, including production support and career development, for independent recording artists seeking label representation.
• Music Distribution Distribution of signed artists' recorded music through digital streaming platforms, physical retail, and other channels to reach listeners and generate recorded-music revenue.
• Sync Licensing Licensing pre-recorded music from the label's catalog for synchronization use in commercials, films, brand campaigns, and events. Clients have included Nike and FIFA.
• Artist Management Management services for signed artists covering career planning, release strategy, and brand partnership facilitation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Artists have landed syncs with Nike, Acura, Mitsubishi, Verizon, FIFA, and Grand Theft Auto
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered key and secondary.

• James FordkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerJames Ford produced YOTA's debut single 'Drop The Bomb' featuring MF Doom. Ford is a well-known producer who has worked with numerous artists and brought production expertise to the YOTA project.
• Dan CareykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerDan Carey produced Peter Xan's 2023 EP 'GOD SAVE THE KING'. Carey is a renowned producer known for his work with Fontaines D.C. and other artists, bringing his distinctive production style to Xan's project.
• Grian ChattensecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten collaborated with Peter Xan on the production of his 2023 EP 'GOD SAVE THE KING'.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Glassnote Records: Independent label (Mumford & Sons, Phoenix, Childish Gambino) known for breaking indie and alternative acts into mainstream success. Comparable to FADER Label in its artist development focus and indie-to-mainstream track record.
• Partisan Records: Independent label with roster spanning indie rock and alternative (Fontaines D.C., Cigarettes After Sex, IDLES). Comparable to FADER Label as a young, culturally resonant indie label with strong artist development pipeline.
• Merge Records: Independent label co-founded by members of Arcade Fire, with a roster spanning indie rock and alternative acts. Directly comparable to FADER Label as a similar-sized, independent, artist-friendly label with strong cultural positioning.
• Mom + Pop Music: Independent label focusing on artist development across indie, alternative, and electronic genres (Sleigh Bells, Courtney Barnett). Comparable to FADER Label as a similarly positioned indie label with strong sync licensing presence and emerging artist focus.
• Ninja Tune: Independent label with strong electronic, hip-hop, and alternative roster (Bonobo, Coldcut, Cinematic Orchestra). Comparable to FADER Label as a similarly-sized independent label with genre diversity and strong cultural brand.
• 4AD: Iconic independent label (Pixies, The National, Big Thief) with a curated roster of critically acclaimed alternative and indie artists. Directly comparable to FADER Label in its role as a tastemaker-driven indie label with strong brand identity.
• Sub Pop Records: Independent record label founded in Seattle in 1986, known for developing indie and alternative artists (Nirvana, Fleet Foxes, Beach House). Directly comparable to FADER Label as a similarly positioned independent label with a curated roster and strong cultural cachet.
• Domino Recording Company: UK-based independent label (Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Animal Collective) with global distribution. Comparable to FADER Label as an indie label with strong artist development, catalog monetization, and international reach.
• Secretly Group: Independent music group encompassing Jagjaguwar, Secretly Canadian, and Dead Oceans labels, with a roster spanning indie, folk, and alternative acts. Comparable to FADER Label as a multi-label indie group with strong artist development and sync placement capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Big Machine Records: Larger independent label (Taylor Swift alumni, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett) with broad mainstream reach. Comparable to FADER Label as an independent label business, though operating at a significantly larger scale and across commercial genres.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fader-label

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 FADER Label