UV

What UV does

UV is a community-rooted cultural platform founded in 2017 by DJ Express and KF, operating from Vancouver, Canada and New York City. The company curates and produces live music events, artist residencies, and cultural programming focused on experimental, underground, and underrepresented electronic music. UV generates revenue through three primary streams: event ticketing via third-party platforms (Ticketweb, Showpass, Resident Advisor), select client services (event production, talent booking, branding, design, marketing, music supervision), and music label royalties through the Specials label co-founded in 2019.

The company operates through a portfolio of branded initiatives including the Specials music label (6 releases), Propagate event series (launched 2023), A Week in Paradise annual festival, Choice Cuts Spotify playlist, and previously Paradise Cultural Society (not-for-profit, closed April 2024). Distribution is built on partnerships with Vancouver venues such as Fortune Sound Club, Village Studios, The Rickshaw Theatre, and Hollywood Theatre, with a recent partnership with CICA Vancouver (2024) extending into contemporary art crossover.

UV's business model is asset-light post the Paradise venue closure, with no proprietary technology platform, no external funding, and a small 8-person team. The core competitive advantage rests on 6+ years of community trust, curatorial credibility among experimental artists (Jayda G, Overmono, Kamaal Williams, Yu Su), and a differentiated position in Vancouver's underground music scene. The company targets underground music enthusiasts, venues seeking niche programming, and experimental artists seeking performance platforms.

Name

UV

Legal name

UV

Website

https://theuv.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

UV is a community-rooted cultural platform founded in 2017 that curates and produces experimental underground music events, artist residencies, and creative production spanning music, food, wine, and nightlife in Vancouver and New York City. It serves underground music enthusiasts, venues, and experimental artists through ticketing, client services, and the Specials music label.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Events & Cultural Programming

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Nightclub & Small Live Venue Operations (Clubs, Bars with Stages) (MPAGALAF)

Keywords

• Live music curation
• Event production services
• Underground electronic music
• Music label operations
• Cultural programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Ticketing: Revenue from ticket sales for curated live events, concerts, and performances featuring experimental and underground electronic music artists. Events are sold through third-party platforms including Ticketweb, Showpass, and Resident Advisor.
2. Client Services: Select client work including Event Production & Talent Booking, Branding & Strategy, Design & Marketing, and Music Supervision services. This represents a professional services revenue stream for UV.
3. Music Label Operations: Co-founded music label project called Specials in 2019, releasing records from diverse artists including Regularfantasy's 'New Glow' EP. Revenue generated from music releases and associated activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

UV curates and produces live music events, artist residencies, and cultural programming centered on experimental and underground electronic music. The company operates a music label (Specials), runs an event series (Propagate), and hosts an annual multi-venue festival (A Week in Paradise). It also provides select client services including event production, talent booking, branding, design, marketing, and music supervision for venues and brands.

Product overview

UV is a community-rooted cultural platform (not a traditional tech product) that cultivates forward-thinking music, performance, and culture. The company operates through multiple branded initiatives: the core UV Platform for event curation and community building; Paradise Cultural Society (now closed) as a not-for-profit managing physical spaces; Specials as a music label; Propagate as an event series; and A Week in Paradise as an annual festival. The company also offers professional services including event production, talent booking, branding, design, marketing, and music supervision. The Choice Cuts Spotify playlist serves as a curated music brand. UV does not offer a software product with API, AI, or integrations in the traditional sense.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Paradise: Music venue and event space operated by UV, serving as a hub for collaboration and cultural events in Vancouver
• Specials
• Propagate
• Paradise Cultural Society

Products and services

• Event Production & Talent Booking

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CICA Vancouver (Centre of International Contemporary Art)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2024New partnership in 2024 for events bridging music and contemporary art. First collaboration is 'Ksawery Komputery & Khotin' event at CICA Vancouver on March 8, 2024 - a PHYgital experience merging interactive light art with ambient electronic music performance.
• Paradise / Paradise Cultural SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2019 as not-for-profit to steward physical spaces (Paradise and Paradise Cultural Centre) that served as home for collaboration, risk-taking, and new cultural possibilities for 6+ years before closing in April 2024. UV founders DJ Express and KF co-founded the organization.
• Specials (Music Label)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic label project co-founded by DJ Express in 2019 with a discography of 6 releases featuring artists including Regularfantasy. Releases distributed via Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music with physical releases through Rubadub.
• Pacific RhythmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborated on 'Weekend in Paradise' festival curation alongside Paradise and Pacific Rhythm, highlighting Vancouver DTES venues including Fortune Sound Club, The Rickshaw Theatre, Pizza Coming Soon & Paradise.
• Fortune Sound ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary Vancouver venue partner for UV events, located in historic Chinatown. Hosts regular performances featuring international and local experimental artists.
• Village StudioscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVancouver venue partner (formerly Celebrities Underground, now reimagined with recording studio, new lighting, and Funktion-One sound system) hosting UV events including Jayda G, Derrick Carter, and Mall Grab performances.
• The Rickshaw TheatreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVancouver venue partner included in 'Weekend in Paradise' festival programming for events like Jack J & Suzanne Kraft live show.
• Propagate Event SeriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecently launched event series presenting niche dance music in interesting settings. First event at Commodore with DJ Seinfeld & Baltra; outdoor event at Malkin Bowl with Jayda G, Octave One & Yu Su.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Elsewhere: Brooklyn-based multi-room venue and event operator with curated underground and experimental electronic programming — comparable to UV's prior Paradise model as a venue-driven platform for forward-thinking live music in a major city.
• Boiler Room: London-based platform curating and streaming underground DJ sets and live electronic music. Shares UV's curatorial ethos, community-led content approach, and focus on experimental/underrepresented electronic artists.
• Pacific Rhythm: Vancouver-based record label, record store, and event promoter specializing in underground house/electronic music — directly comparable to UV's Specials label and overall Vancouver curatorial scope, and an actual UV partner on 'Weekend in Paradise'.
• Resident Advisor: Global platform for underground electronic music event listings and ticketing — UV uses RA as a core distribution channel and competes for the same underground audience attention with editorial content and event programming.
• Hotflush Recordings: Independent electronic/experimental music label founded by Scuba with catalog and event programming — directly comparable to UV's Specials label in scale, genre focus, and integration with live event curation.
• The Lot Radio: Brooklyn-based online radio station and community-rooted music venue broadcasting and hosting experimental live acts — directly comparable as a small, community-driven platform supporting underground music with physical programming.
• Crack Magazine: Independent UK music and culture publication and event curator focused on electronic, hip-hop, and experimental music — analogous to UV in combining editorial content, community programming, and event curation at boutique scale.
• Beacon Sound: Portland-based independent record store, label, and event venue curating experimental/electronic music — analogous small-footprint community platform combining physical space, label releases, and curated events similar to UV's Paradise-era model.

Regional players

• Le Bain: NYC rooftop venue at The Standard High Line programming curated electronic and live music events — comparable niche-venue programming model to Paradise, though operating in a hotel/venue context rather than independent.

Broad incumbents

• Mixmag: Long-running global electronic music media brand covering dance music culture, events, and artist features. Comparable to UV in audience and editorial focus but operates at significantly larger scale and as a broad incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/the.uv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theuv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 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 UV