Transgressive Records
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersLondon, England, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
Transgressive Records firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Transgressive Records
- Legal name
- Transgressive Records
- Website
- https://transgressiverecords.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Transgressive Records industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Record Label
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225), Music Publishers (512230)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Publishing Administration (Catalog Admin, Global Subpublishing) (MPAIABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Global Rights Representation & Sub-Publishing/Reciprocal Collection Services (MPAIAKAI), Reissues, Remastering & Archive Services (MPAIAAAG)
Keywords
Where Transgressive Records is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London, England
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Transgressive Records business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Record Sales: Traditional record label revenue from physical album and single sales (vinyl, CD) through their online store shop.transgressiverecords.com. Artists include Sparks, Graham Coxon, Greg Freeman with releases in various physical formats including limited edition colored vinyl.
- Digital Music Distribution: Revenue from digital music sales and streaming through platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, with links provided on artist pages for listening and purchasing.
- Publishing: Transgressive Publishing manages rights for artists including publishing deals for Black Country, New Road and other artists.
- Artist Management: Transgressive Management provides day-to-day artist management for a roster of UK-based artists, handling music, art and culture curatorial output.
- Merchandise: Sale of artist merchandise and physical releases through the Transgressive Records Store.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | CD releases |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Vinyl LP |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Limited Edition Colored Vinyl |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pan The Pansexual LP |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
Transgressive Records product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Transgressive Records is an independent record label that signs, develops, releases, and distributes music from a roster of over 100 artists across indie rock, electronic, hip-hop, and experimental genres. The label operates complementary divisions: Transgressive Publishing handles rights administration and royalty collection, Transgressive Management provides day-to-day artist career services, and Canvasback Music serves as the US imprint for distribution and marketing. The company also sells physical releases and merchandise directly to consumers through the Transgressive Records Store e-commerce platform.
Product overview
Transgressive Records is an independent record label offering a unified platform for artist development and music release. The core label operation (Transgressive Records) signs and releases music across diverse genres, supported by affiliated divisions: Transgressive Publishing handles rights and royalties, Transgressive Management provides artist career services, and Canvasback serves as a distribution/label partnership. The company also operates a direct-to-consumer Transgressive Records Store for physical and digital merchandise sales. The label represents a roster of artists spanning indie rock (Alvvays, Foals), electronic (Flume, Neon Indian), hip-hop (Loyle Carner, Mykki Blanco), and experimental acts (SOPHIE, KOKOKO!). Founded in London with an office in New York, the company celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Canvasback Music: US imprint of Transgressive Records, acquired in 2015
- Transgressive Management
- Transgressive Publishing
Products and services
- Transgressive Records (Core Label) Independent record label service offering artist signing, music production, promotion, and distribution for artists across indie rock, electronic, hip-hop, and experimental music genres. Service is contracted through record deals with global distribution reach.
- Transgressive Publishing Music publishing service managing rights, royalties, and synchronization licensing for signed songwriters and the label's catalogue. Clients include Black Country, New Road and Two Door Cinema Club.
- Transgressive Management Full-service artist management handling day-to-day operations, career development, and strategic planning for a roster of UK-based artists including music, art, and culture curatorial output.
- Canvasback Music Wholly-owned US imprint and distribution partnership handling releases, marketing, and distribution support for artists in the US market.
- Transgressive Records Store Direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform selling physical releases, limited-edition colored vinyl, CDs, and merchandise for artists on the label roster. Products priced $15-51+ USD depending on format and edition.
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple Mercury Prize nominations and wins (Arlo Parks won Mercury Music Prize)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Transgressive Records
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Transgressive Records technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Transgressive Records partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Reeperbahn FestivalminorFestival stage takeover bringing Moonchild Sanelly, The Joy and Miso Extra to Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, Germany.
- Glastonbury FestivalcoreTransgressive annual late-night Takeover of The Wishing Well stage at Glastonbury Festival, featuring label artists across the festival weekend.
- Latitude FestivalcoreExclusive Thursday night Sunrise Arena Takeover at Latitude Festival, featuring Transgressive artists from 7pm to late.
- Jack Hedges (General Manager, North America)coreJack Hedges appointed as first hire for newly opened Transgressive North America office. Widely respected senior record label executive formerly of Atlantic Records and Sony.
- Rough TradecoreRough Trade Label Focus partnership celebrating Transgressive's 20-year anniversary. Includes in-store events, exclusive releases, and retail presence across Rough Trade stores.
- Canvasback MusiccoreCanvasback is Transgressive's US partner for marketing and distribution. Artists signed to Transgressive/Canvasback include Jawdropped, Rocket, Greg Freeman.
- Marathon ArtistsminorHotWax released their second EP 'Invite me, Kindly' via Marathon Artists before signing to Transgressive Records.
- War Child RecordsminorTransgressive artists Black Country New Road, Damon Albarn, Foals, and Marika Hackman featured on War Child Records 'HELP(2)' album inspired by the 1995 landmark release.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Transgressive Records competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Merge Records: US independent label founded in 1989 with comparable artist roster (Arcade Fire, Neutral Milk Hotel, Superchunk) and decades-long operating history. Similar artist-friendly ethos and catalog longevity focus.
- Sub Pop Records: Seattle-based independent label with comparable roster prestige (Nirvana, Beach House, Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty) and similar 20+ year operating history. Direct North American competitor given Transgressive's new US expansion.
- Bella Union: UK independent label founded in 1997 with a comparable focus on alternative and indie artists (Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty, Beach House). Similar scale, festival presence, and emphasis on artist development over commercial volume.
- Partisan Records: Independent label with UK and US operations (IDLES, Fontaines D.C., Cigarettes After Sex). Directly comparable in transatlantic indie artist development, recent scaling, and roster strategy focused on festival-circuit alternative acts.
- Secretly Group: US independent label group operating Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar, and Secretly Canadian. Comparable multi-label portfolio strategy, roster of critically acclaimed indie artists (Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers), and integrated publishing and management services.
- XL Recordings: London independent label part of Beggars Group with comparable roster prestige (Adele, Radiohead, The Prodigy, M.I.A.). Similar multi-decade operating history, genre-spanning signings, and integration of publishing and management-adjacent services.
- Domino Recording Company: London-headquartered independent record label founded in 1993 with a comparable roster of critically acclaimed indie and alternative artists (Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Animal Collective). Operates with integrated publishing and management-like services and similar global festival presence.
- Warp Records: Sheffield-based independent label with electronic and experimental focus (Aphex Twin, Autechre, Flying Lotus). Comparable in independent ethos, genre-defining roster, and integration of label, publishing, and adjacent services over 20+ years.
- Rough Trade Records: Iconic London-based independent label with a similar alternative-indie roster (The Smiths alumni, The Strokes, Sleaford Mods). Rough Trade is also Transgressive's distribution and retail partner through the 2024 Label Focus partnership, making them both competitor and collaborator.
Broad incumbents
- Beggars Group: UK-based independent music group that owns 4AD, Matador, Rough Trade, and XL Recordings. Larger portfolio incumbent that competes across multiple indie segments and offers the distribution and infrastructure scale that Transgressive cannot match internally.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Transgressive Records social profiles
Digital presenceTransgressive Records financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Transgressive Records leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Transgressive Records subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Transgressive Records funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Transgressive Records M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Transgressive Records
What does Transgressive Records do?
Transgressive Records is an independent record label that signs, develops, releases, and distributes music from a roster of over 100 artists across indie rock, electronic, hip-hop, and experimental genres. The label operates complementary divisions: Transgressive Publishing handles rights administration and royalty collection, Transgressive Management provides day-to-day artist career services, and Canvasback Music serves as the US imprint for distribution and marketing. The company also sells physical releases and merchandise directly to consumers through the Transgressive Records Store e-commerce platform.
Is Transgressive Records a public or private company?
Transgressive Records is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Transgressive Records founded?
Transgressive Records was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Transgressive Records based?
Transgressive Records is headquartered in London, England, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Transgressive Records make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Record Sales are the primary driver. The others are digital Music Distribution, publishing, artist Management and merchandise.
Who are Transgressive Records's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Merge Records, Sub Pop Records, Bella Union, Partisan Records, Secretly Group, XL Recordings, Domino Recording Company, Warp Records and Rough Trade Records. Beggars Group is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Transgressive Records have an API?
No public API is recorded for Transgressive Records.
What industry is Transgressive Records in?
Transgressive Records's product category is Independent Record Label. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIABAB, Publishing Administration (Catalog Admin, Global Subpublishing), with a secondary code of MPAIAKAI, Global Rights Representation & Sub-Publishing/Reciprocal Collection Services. Its NAICS code is 51225 and its SIC code is 2741.