Urban Sound Studios AS

What Urban Sound Studios AS does

Urban Sound Studios AS is a privately held Norwegian recording studio company founded circa 2007 and headquartered at Marstrandgata 8 in the Grünerløkka district of Oslo. The company operates a multi-room recording complex comprising five specialized studios (A, B, C, D, Z) — ranging from the flagship 80 m² Studio A tracking room with its 48-channel Neve VR Legend console, to project rooms (C), a dedicated mixing/mastering suite (D), and a production studio (Z). It serves Norwegian and international music artists across genres including rock, metal, jazz, pop, hip-hop, and electronic, with a named client list that includes Alan Walker, Dimmu Borgir, Madrugada, Leprous, Martin Solveig, Young Thug & Migos, and Sivert Høyem, alongside film/TV post-production clients such as Netflix (Vikings, Cardinal, Helix), Disney Animation (Lionguard), and NRK. The technical stack pairs analog signal chain (Neve VR Legend, vintage Neumann/AKG/Sennheiser microphones, Tube Tech/Distressor/Avalon/SSL outboard, Rhodes and Hammond B3, vintage guitars and amplifiers) with ProTools HD Native/Ultimate digital workstations and 32 channels of Lynx Aurora conversion.

The studio monetizes through professional services billed by session or hourly rates, with all pricing quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Revenue streams include recording and mixing, mastering, live on-location recording (24+ tracks of 24-bit audio via analog, MADI, Dante), ADR/voiceover/dubbing for film and animation (delivered internationally via Source Connect and Skype), live video session production, trackmaking, artist development, and ancillary services such as album art direction and release-party hosting. Distribution is direct — bookings come through producer/engineer relationships, the website, word-of-mouth referrals, festival connections, and curated Spotify/Tidal/Soundcloud playlists showcasing past productions. The company maintains sub-brands 'Urban Sound Recordings' (a record label arm) and 'Urban Sound Sessions' (live video series), and collaborates with Oslo Sessions for joint audio-plus-video productions.

The team of approximately six people includes founder-era engineer Jock Loveband (formerly of Power Plant Studios, London, with credits including David Gilmour, Sting, and The Stranglers), Studio B manager Thomas Wang Johannesen (joined November 2007), international producer Mark Axiak (joined March 2011, with prior experience in Sydney/New York/LA/London/Berlin), Henrik Fossum, Aleksander Sjølie, Studio D manager Ruben Dalen, and engineer Martin Langerød (joined October 2016). The studio has historically reinvested in equipment and facilities — most notably the 2010 Neve VR Legend installation (recapped again in 2014 by Neve-guru Neil McCombie), the 2011 Studio D rebuild, the 2016 addition of an SSL desk to Studio B, and the 2019–2020 Studio A live-room refurbishment. No external institutional investment, funding rounds, or parent-company structure is disclosed.

Name

Urban Sound Studios AS

Legal name

Urban Sound Studios AS

Website

https://urbansound.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Urban Sound Studios AS is a privately held Oslo-based recording studio complex operating five specialized rooms (A–Z) anchored by a 48-channel Neve VR Legend console. It serves Norwegian and international music artists and film/TV clients (Netflix, Disney) with recording, mixing, mastering, ADR, and live session services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recording Studio Services

NAICS

Sound Recording Studios (51224), Other Sound Recording Industries (512290), Music Publishers (512230)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Recording Studios (Commercial, Project, Mobile) (MPAIAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Voiceover Recording & Production (Narration, Promo, Commercial VO) (MPAHAEAK), Rehearsal & Pre-Production Studios (Rehearsal Rooms, Backline) (MPAIAHAK)

Keywords

• Audio recording services
• Music production studio
• Mixing and mastering
• ADR voiceover services
• Live sound engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Recording and Mixing Services: Core studio recording and mixing services billed by session or hourly rates. Studio A and Studio B facilities available for recording full bands, vocal sessions, and intimate productions. Includes use of all equipment, instruments, and studio spaces.
2. Mastering Services: Audio mastering services provided as standalone or bundled with recording/mixing packages
3. Live Recording Services: On-location live recording capabilities capturing 24+ tracks of 24-bit audio from concerts, festivals, and live events
4. Voiceover and ADR: Audio for picture work including ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement), voiceovers, dubbing for film, TV series, and commercials. International clients include Disney Animation, Netflix productions, and NRK
5. Live Video Sessions: Production of live music videos filmed in studio with professional crew, offered as a complete package including recording and filming

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Urban Sound Studios AS operates a multi-studio recording complex in Oslo offering professional audio recording, mixing, mastering, live multi-track recording, ADR and voiceover, live video sessions, live sound engineering, and trackmaking services across five specialized studios (A, B, C, D, Z). The studio combines high-end analog infrastructure, including a 48-channel Neve VR Legend console in Studio A, with ProTools HD digital workflows and an extensive microphone and outboard gear collection. Services are sold on a quote-based, project-by-project basis to Norwegian and international music artists, bands, film/TV production companies, and animation studios.

Product overview

Urban Sound Studios AS operates as a multi-studio recording complex offering five distinct studio spaces (Studios A, B, C, D, and Z) plus comprehensive production services. Studio A is the flagship facility featuring a 48-channel Neve VR Legend console for large-scale recordings, while Studio B offers versatile recording with vintage and modern gear. Studios C and D serve as project and mixing suites respectively, and Studio Z is a production studio. The service portfolio spans recording and mixing, live video sessions, voiceover and ADR work, live recording, live sound engineering, trackmaking, art direction, release parties, and artist development. The studio works with Norwegian and international artists across multiple genres and hosts the Urban Sound Sessions live recording series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Urban Sound Recordings: Record label/recording label arm of Urban Sound Studios
• Oslo Sessions

Products and services

• Studio A Recording Large-scale recording studio with a 48-channel Neve VR Legend console (recapped in 2010 and 2014) and 80m2 main recording room, designed for big drums, rock bands, and acoustic music recording. Available for booking by Norwegian and international artists.
• Studio B Recording Versatile recording studio with vintage and modern gear, microphone and headphone connections to all main recording rooms, suitable for medium to large band constellations as well as intimate vocal sessions.
• Studio C Project Studio Project studio with 30m2 recording room and 18m2 control room, home to Giddygang, suitable for smaller production sessions.
• Studio D Mixing, Mastering and Production Refined mixing, mastering, and production suite managed by Ruben Dalen, featuring 30m2 control room, 3m2 recording room, and amp booth.
• Studio Z Production Studio Production studio featuring Jan Ove Kjøndal and Espen Tappel, with 15m2 control room and 3m2 recording booth.
• Recording and Mixing Services Professional audio recording and mixing services for Norwegian and international artists, with a long track record of producing albums and singles across genres.
• Mastering Services Audio mastering services provided as standalone offerings or bundled with recording and mixing packages.
• Voiceover and ADR Services Sound to picture, ADR (automated dialogue replacement), dubbing, and audiobooks with Source Connect software or Skype connections for international projects, including Disney Animation, Netflix productions, and NRK.
• Live Recording Services Multi-track live recording services capturing 24+ tracks of 24-bit audio from analog sources, MADI, Dante, and other formats, with additional mixing, editing, and mastering.
• Live Sound Engineering Live sound engineering services for concerts, outdoor festivals, and small clubs, leveraging extensive live sound experience.
• Trackmaking and Music Production Music production services from initial idea to final master in any genre, including beat making and full track creation.
• Live Video Sessions Set up and record live sessions in the studio with a professional film crew to create original music videos that capture the essence of playing live with studio-quality sound.
• Urban Sound Sessions Live Series Series of live recording sessions filmed in the studio featuring various artists performing live with professional production quality.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produced albums for established international artists including Alan Walker, Dimmu Borgir, Madrugada, and film/TV productions for Netflix, Disney
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Oslo SessionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Oslo Sessions (live recording and video production company) for professional live session recordings at Urban Sound Studios. Partners work together on capturing live performances with film crew, producing music videos that combine studio-quality audio with professional video production.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sweet Silence Studios: Historic Copenhagen recording studio with international legacy credits (Metallica, etc.). Nordic regional peer with broader scale and heritage positioning.
• Hansa Studios: Iconic Berlin-based recording studio with deep historical client roster (Bowie, U2, Depeche Mode). Operates at the top of the European premium studio tier with broader infrastructure.
• Abbey Road Studios: Iconic London-based recording studio with global brand recognition. Represents the upper bound of premium commercial recording and a key international benchmark for client prestige.

Direct peers

• Ocean Sound Recordings: Norwegian coastal recording studio with premium positioning for analog recording and international artists. Comparable in service mix and boutique-premium market segment.
• Duper Studio: Bergen-based Norwegian recording studio providing recording, mixing, and production services. Directly comparable Norwegian boutique facility serving a similar artist and label client base.
• Teldex Studio: Berlin-based premium recording and post-production facility specializing in classical and high-end audio. Comparable in premium positioning and post-production capability for international clients.
• Sunlight Studios: Premium recording studio in Stockholm, Sweden serving Nordic and international artists. Closest Scandinavian equivalent in scale, equipment depth, and premium-session positioning.
• Propeller Music Division: Oslo-based music production and recording facility. Direct competitor in the same Norwegian market for recording, mixing, and artist development services.
• Athletic Sound: Oslo-based recording studio offering recording, mixing, and production services to Norwegian and international artists. Direct competitor in the same geography and customer base as Urban Sound.
• Lydriket: Oslo-based recording and mixing studio. Local peer competing for the same Norwegian artist and label bookings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuu7HzzvurtEPMmEMwPHjgA
• Facebookfacebook.com/UrbanSoundStudios2017
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urban-sound-studios-as
• Instagraminstagram.com/urbansoundstudios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Urban Sound Studios AS