Dangerbird Records

What Dangerbird Records does

Dangerbird Records is an independent record label founded in 2005 and headquartered at 3801 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. The label represents a roster of more than 30 artists — spanning established indie/alternative acts such as Grandaddy, Slothrust, Sea Wolf, and Matt Costa alongside emerging acts like MILLY, Mediocre, Hataałii, Jordi, and Hank May — and a catalog of approximately 120 albums. Its core products are full-service label offerings: artist representation, in-studio recording (the label maintains its own LA studio), promotional and press relations, digital and physical distribution, sync/licensing, merchandise sales, and a streaming aggregation layer branded as "Dangerbird Jukebox" (smarturl.it/dangerbirdjukebox).

The label monetizes through recorded music sales (digital downloads, streaming royalties, CDs, and vinyl LPs sold via its own store at store.dangerbirdrecords.com and third-party retailers), licensing and sync income, and artist merchandise. Marketing is multi-channel: the official website, active social profiles across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter/X, and TikTok, an email newsletter (offering 15% off first merch orders), streaming platform promotion, and earned coverage in outlets including Pitchfork, NPR, Stereogum, Paste, FLOOD, Aquarium Drunkard, and Punknews.org. Live touring is supported through BandsInTown integrations on artist pages.

In October 2025, Exceleration Music acquired Dangerbird's catalog (approximately 120 albums and 30+ artists), with the catalog to be promoted and distributed through Exceleration's distribution subsidiary Redeye Worldwide. The label continues to operate and release new music under the Dangerbird brand, with 2024 releases including Grandaddy's "Blu Wav," MILLY's "Your Own Becoming," Mediocre's "Growth Eater," Hataałii's "Waiting For A Sign," and Hank May's "Tails and Trails." A related imprint, AKP Recordings (akprecordings.com), operates alongside Dangerbird under the same ownership umbrella.

Name

Dangerbird Records

Legal name

Dangerbird Records

Website

https://dangerbirdrecords.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dangerbird Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label, founded in 2005, representing 30+ indie and alternative rock artists across approximately 120 albums, with full-service recording, distribution, sync/licensing, and merchandise capabilities following its October 2025 catalog acquisition by Exceleration Music.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Recorded Music Sales: Dangerbird Records generates revenue through the sale of recorded music, including digital downloads, streaming royalties, and physical media (CDs and vinyl LPs) sold via its own web store and through third-party retailers.
2. Licensing and Sync: The label generates licensing revenue from allowing third parties to use music from its catalog, as evidenced by contact information for licensing inquiries listed on the company website.
3. Merchandise Sales: The label sells artist merchandise (apparel, accessories) through its branded web store (store.dangerbirdrecords.com) offering 15% off first orders for newsletter subscribers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dangerbird Records is an independent Los Angeles-based record label that signs and develops artists, produces and releases their music (digital, CD, vinyl), distributes the catalog through streaming platforms and physical retail, and represents artists for sync/licensing opportunities. It also operates its own e-commerce store for direct-to-consumer merchandise and physical media sales. The label has an in-house recording studio in Los Angeles and a related imprint, AKP Recordings.

Product overview

Dangerbird Records is an independent Los Angeles-based record label offering artist representation and music distribution services. The label manages approximately 30 active artists and a catalog of approximately 120 albums. The product portfolio includes core label services (artist development, recording, promotion, distribution), the Dangerbird Jukebox streaming aggregator, and the Dangerbird Records Store for physical/digital merchandise sales. The label also operates the Microdose Singles series for emerging artists. Recent releases include albums from Grandaddy (Blu Wav), Milly (Your Own Becoming), Mediocre (Growth Eater), Hataałii (Waiting For A Sign), Hank May (Tails and Trails deluxe), and Slothrust (I Promise EP).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AKP Recordings: A related record label/imprint with its own website (akprecordings.com), mentioned in the footer of Dangerbird Records.

Products and services

• Dangerbird Records Label Services Independent Los Angeles-based record label representing over 30 artists and approximately 120 albums. Provides recording, distribution, promotion, and licensing services for signed artists.
• Dangerbird Jukebox

Quantifiable outcome

• The label's catalog of approximately 120 albums across 30+ artists was deemed significant enough to be acquired by Exceleration Music in 2025.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ATO Records: Independent label (Black Keys, Alabama Shakes) with similar indie/rock focus and roster scale. Comparable structure and artist-friendly approach.
• Sub Pop Records: Iconic Seattle-based independent record label with a comparable indie rock roster (Beach House, Fleet Foxes, Sleater-Kinney). Closely aligned in ethos, scale, and artist development model to Dangerbird Records.
• Domino Recording Company: UK-based independent label with comparable indie/alternative roster (Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Animal Collective). Similar role in the indie rock ecosystem.
• Secretly Canadian: Independent label group (Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, Dead Oceans) representing comparable indie/alternative artists like Bon Iver, Angel Olsen, and Phoebe Bridgers.
• Kill Rock Stars: Independent label with similar indie rock heritage (Sleater-Kinney, Elliott Smith). Comparable size and roster management model.
• Fat Possum Records: Independent label with comparable roster scale and indie/alternative focus. Direct comparable in catalog size and operations.
• Merge Records: Durham, NC-based independent label home to Arcade Fire, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Superchunk. Direct comparable in indie rock focus, artist-friendly structure, and catalog size.
• Epitaph Records: Independent punk/alternative label (Bad Religion, The Offspring, Pennywise). Adjacent indie ethos with broader commercial reach and a larger roster.
• Saddle Creek Records: Omaha-based independent label (Bright Eyes, The Faint). Similar size, indie rock focus, and direct-to-consumer distribution approach to Dangerbird.

Broad incumbents

• Beggars Group: UK-based independent label group (4AD, Matador, XL, Rough Trade). Larger and broader incumbent operating across multiple indie imprints with overlapping artist roster.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/dangerbirdrecords
• Xx.com/dangerbird
• Facebookfacebook.com/dangerbirdrecords
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dangerbird-records-publishing-management

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dangerbird Records