FRNDS MGMT

What FRNDS MGMT does

FRNDS MGMT is a boutique music artist management firm founded in 2020 and headquartered in Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia. The firm represents approximately 20 artists across electronic, indie, pop, and rock genres, with a flagship roster that includes Grammy-nominated producer Alison Wonderland, ARIA-winning indie rock act DMA'S, platinum-streaming electronic duo Crooked Colours, and producer ShockOne, collectively generating more than 500 million streams. The firm secures major-label release pathways for its artists through partnerships with Atlantic Records and Warner Music, and has extended its international footprint via partnerships with Monstercat in North America and CruCast in the United Kingdom.

Beyond artist management, FRNDS MGMT operates two in-house record label imprints — Dark Machine Records, built around managed artist ShockOne, and FMU Records — extending the firm into recorded-music ownership and label services. The business model is anchored in the standard music management commission structure, typically a percentage of artist gross income, supplemented by label revenue participation through its in-house imprints and demo-sourcing activity via a public A&R submission portal.

The firm is privately held, employs approximately five people, and has not disclosed funding rounds or financial metrics. Its competitive position rests on the commercial performance of its roster and its ability to maintain major-label distribution relationships, with roster expansion, international partnership formation, and ecosystem buildout through its sub-brand labels being the principal visible strategic priorities in 2024-2025.

Name

FRNDS MGMT

Legal name

FRNDS MGMT

Website

https://frndsmgmt.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FRNDS MGMT is a Darlinghurst-based boutique music management firm managing approximately 20 artists across electronic, indie, pop, and rock, with major-label partnerships and two sub-brand record labels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Artist Management

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114), Record Production and Distribution (51225)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Artist Management (MPAIAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entertainment Booking & Speaker/Talent Management (HSACAAAI), Live Music Booking (Bands, Soloists, DJs) (HSACAHAA), Master Rights Ownership & Catalog Management (MPAIAAAB), Songwriting & Composition (Topliners, Co-writers, Camps) (MPAIABAA)

Keywords

• Artist management services
• Music talent representation
• Record label operations
• Tour booking coordination
• Festival booking services

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Core offering

FRNDS MGMT provides full-service music artist management for a roster of approximately 20 independent musicians spanning electronic, indie, pop, and rock genres. Services include career development, touring and festival booking coordination, recording and label deal facilitation, radio promotion, and international market expansion. The company also operates two affiliated record label imprints (Dark Machine Records and FMU Records) that handle releases for roster artists, and connects artists to global distribution through partnerships with Atlantic Records, Warner Music, and Monstercat Records.

Product overview

FRNDS MGMT is a music artist management company offering a single unified service centered on artist management and representation. The core offering is the management of approximately 20 recording artists across electronic, indie, pop, and rock genres, supported by two sub-brand record labels—Dark Machine Records and FMU Records—which handle releases for roster artists. Additional services include a demo submission portal for aspiring artists and a newsletter subscription service powered by Mailchimp.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Artist Management Services Full-service management representation for approximately 20 independent musicians and bands across electronic, indie, pop, and rock genres, handling career development, touring and festival booking coordination, recording and label deal facilitation, radio promotion, and international market expansion.
• Dark Machine Records

Quantifiable outcome

• Artists on roster have collectively accumulated over 500M+ streams
• +5 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Dark Machine RecordscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShockOne's label imprint based in Australia. FRNDS MGMT artists have releases through this label. DON DARKOE was picked up by ShockOne's label imprint DMR (Dark Machine Records) and released official remix of ShockOne's track 'SAY WOAH' via UKF.
• FMU RecordssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMusic label linked on FRNDS MGMT website as part of their artist ecosystem. Artists may have releases distributed through this label.
• Sweat It Out!supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian label that Crooked Colours signed to after winning triple j's 2014 St Jerome's Laneway Festival competition. Label partnership for artist releases and distribution.
• Atlantic RecordscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor label partnership. Crooked Colours forthcoming debut on Atlantic Records. Represents major label backing for roster artists.
• Warner MusiccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShockOne's sophomore album 'A Dark Machine' released via Warner Music in 2019, licensed to Monstercat Records in North America.
• Monstercat RecordssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorth American licensing partner for ShockOne's 'A Dark Machine' album via Warner Music. Represents international distribution reach.
• Viper RecordsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReleased ShockOne's debut 'ShockOne EP' in 2009 featuring the drum and bass classic 'Polygon'. Early career label relationship.
• CruCastsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK monster label where DON DARKOE debuted with bootleg of Darude Sandstorm. International label partnership for Australian drum and bass artists.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• WME (William Morris Endeavor): Global talent agency representing artists across music, film, TV, and live touring. Comparable as a much larger incumbent offering overlapping artist representation and booking services, though not Australian-focused.
• BMG Rights Management: Global music rights and label company combining publishing, recorded music, and artist services. Comparable as a broader incumbent operating in adjacent rights management and label space relevant to FRNDS MGMT's label imprints.
• Creative Artists Agency (CAA): Global talent and entertainment agency representing artists across music and touring worldwide. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same artist representation space, with vastly larger scale and global footprint.

Direct peers

• Modest! Management: UK-based boutique artist management firm representing globally significant acts across indie and alternative genres. Comparable business model — full-service management for ~20-30 artists with strong major-label relationships.
• Chugg Entertainment: Australian artist management and live touring company founded by Michael Chugg, managing major Australian acts. Comparable as a fellow Australian artist management firm with strong touring and festival booking capabilities.
• Primary Talent International: UK-based artist management and booking agency representing international touring acts. Comparable as a mid-sized management firm with festival booking and international touring coordination at its core.
• Mushroom Group: Australia's largest independent music company, offering artist management, label services, publishing, and live representation across multiple genres. Most direct Australian comparable given overlapping roster scale, label operations, and artist management focus.
• UNIFIED Music Group: Australian independent music group combining artist management, record labels (UNIFIED Recordings), and publishing. Directly comparable to FRNDS MGMT's integrated label-management model in the Australian indie/electronic scene.

Regional players

• Liberation Records: Australian independent record label distributed by Mushroom Group, signing Australian and NZ acts. Comparable as a regional label player serving similar Australian indie and electronic artists that FRNDS MGMT also represents.

Emerging players

• Warp Records: UK-based independent label specializing in electronic and experimental music with its own artist management arm. Comparable as a label with electronic music roster overlap to FRNDS MGMT's ShockOne, Alison Wonderland, and Young Franco.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/frndsmgmt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 FRNDS MGMT