What Midwest Tape, LLC does

Midwest Tape, LLC is a Holland, Ohio-based distributor that has served U.S. public libraries exclusively for more than 30 years. The company operates a dual-format content distribution business: physical media (DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, and Playaway launch pads) delivered through library-tailored procurement channels (EDI, 9xx ordering, and direct sales), and Hoopla, a wholly-owned digital platform that streams and lends ebooks, audiobooks, comics, music, and video to library patrons via mobile and web apps. Hoopla functions as a two-sided marketplace between libraries (paying subscribers) and end patrons (app users), with per-borrow and BingePass content access models layered on top of subscription licensing.

The company's product surface spans a curated physical catalog with MARC-record-compliant metadata for library discovery layers, alongside a digital platform with patron-facing browsing, borrowing, and content detail experiences. Hoopla is supported by a Resource Center that provides marketing materials and training content for library staff, suggesting the company invests in customer enablement as part of its go-to-market.

Midwest Tape runs a sales-led, relationship-driven business model targeting library procurement staff and consortia, with no disclosed expansion into adjacent segments such as schools, academic institutions, or retail. The company is privately held as an LLC, with no funding rounds, M&A activity, or revenue figures publicly disclosed. Revenue is generated through content licensing to library systems (Hoopla) and physical media wholesale margins (Midwest Tape distribution), with no third-party retail channel disclosed.

Name

Midwest Tape, LLC

Legal name

Midwest Tape, LLC

Website

https://midwesttapes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Midwest Tape, LLC is a Holland, Ohio-based distributor serving U.S. public libraries exclusively for 30+ years, delivering physical media (DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, Playaway) and operating Hoopla, a wholly-owned digital lending and streaming platform for library patrons.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Library Content Distribution

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Sound Recording Industries (5122)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Library & Education Audiobook Distribution (Public Libraries, Schools, Academic) (MPAJAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Physical Audiobook Publishing & Distribution (CD/MP3 Media, Packaging, Fulfillment) (MPAJAIAJ), Digital Content & Media Subscriptions (CRAFAIAA)

Keywords

• Library media distribution
• Physical media wholesale
• Digital library platform
• Audiobook distribution
• Library content services

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Physical Media Distribution: Distribution of physical media (CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, Playaway audio) to public libraries. Libraries place orders through EDI, 9xx ordering, or direct website ordering.
2. Hoopla Digital Platform: Digital content streaming and lending platform for libraries. Libraries subscribe to provide patron access to digital content including streaming video, music, audiobooks, and e-books.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Midwest Tape distributes physical media—DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, and Playaway devices—to public libraries across the United States through direct sales, EDI, and 9xx ordering systems. The company also operates hoopla, a wholly-owned digital content platform that gives library patrons streaming and lending access to movies, TV shows, music, audiobooks, and e-books, including curated bundles via BingePass.

Product overview

Midwest Tape operates as a dual-entity offering: its core business is physical media distribution (DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, Playaway devices) to public libraries, which it has served exclusively for over 30 years. Complementing this is hoopla, a digital streaming and content platform that extends library services into the digital realm, offering movies, TV, music, audiobooks, and e-books. Within hoopla, the BingePass feature provides patrons with bundled access to content collections. The company also offers supporting services including EDI and 9xx electronic ordering systems, and the Midwest Tape Resource Center for library marketing materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• hoopla: Digital streaming and content platform for public libraries offering movies, TV shows, music, audiobooks, and eBooks.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Recorded Books (RBmedia): Recorded Books distributes physical and digital audiobooks to public libraries under brands like RBdigital and Premium On Demand, directly overlapping with Midwest Tape's audiobook distribution and Hoopla audiobook catalog.
• OverDrive: OverDrive operates the Libby app and is the dominant provider of digital books, audiobooks, and streaming video to public and school libraries, directly competing with Midwest Tape's Hoopla platform for the same library digital lending budgets.
• Blackstone (Library Interiors): Blackstone Publishing produces and distributes audiobooks in physical and digital formats to public libraries, directly competing with Midwest Tape's audiobook and Hoopla digital catalog offerings.
• Kanopy: Kanopy provides on-demand streaming video to public libraries and universities, competing head-to-head with Hoopla's streaming video offering for library subscriptions and patron eyeballs.
• Baker & Taylor: Baker & Taylor is a long-standing physical and digital media distributor to public libraries, with its Axis 360 digital platform directly comparable to Midwest Tape's combined physical distribution and Hoopla digital service.

Broad incumbents

• EBSCO Information Services: EBSCO supplies research databases, e-books, and discovery services to public and academic libraries, an adjacent content and services vendor competing for the same library procurement budgets as Midwest Tape.
• Ingram Content Group: Ingram is the largest wholesale book distributor to libraries and retailers, offering physical fulfillment plus the Ingram Digital/Aspen digital lending platform; it competes with Midwest Tape across both physical and digital library channels at much greater scale.
• ProQuest / Clarivate: ProQuest (now part of Clarivate) provides academic and public library content, ebooks, and streaming media, overlapping with Midwest Tape in audiobook and digital video distribution to libraries.

Emerging players

• Bibliotheca: Bibliotheca provides library technology including RFID, self-service kiosks, and digital lending infrastructure, supplying many of the same public library customers that Midwest Tape serves with physical and digital content.
• Findaway (Spotify): Findaway, acquired by Spotify, distributes audiobooks and operates the Audiobook Cloud platform used by libraries, competing with Midwest Tape in the digital audiobook distribution segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/midwesttape
• Facebookfacebook.com/midwesttapes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/midwesttape

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Midwest Tape, LLC