So Fierce Music Corporation

What So Fierce Music Corporation does

So Fierce Music Corporation is a Toronto-based private music label, artist management company, and entertainment services firm founded in 2020 by Velvet Code, an award-winning electronic music producer and DJ. The company is purpose-built to serve 2SLGBTQIA+ recording artists, drag performers, songwriters, and entertainers who are marginalized by the mainstream music industry because of age, race, gender, or sexual identity. Its core offerings include record label services (recording, production, and global digital distribution via Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube), an Artist Development Program providing personalized guidance in songwriting, vocal performance, branding, image, and music production, and artist management covering bookings, live performances, and brand partnerships for events, pride celebrations, and corporate engagements. A Virtual So Fierce Studio enables remote collaboration between Velvet Code and roster artists, and a syndicated weekly house music radio show ('Rise To The Rhythm') broadcasts to over 100 international radio stations reaching 850,000 potential listeners weekly.

The company operates with a deliberately small core team of four (Founder & CEO Velvet Code, Head of Technology Sam Stratigeas, Head of Sales Bonte Minnema, and Brand Marketing Manager Brandan Dietrich) and a roster of 40+ LGBTQIA+ artists spanning drag artists, recording artists, rappers, singers, and performers from Canada, the US, Uganda, Mexico, Ireland, and the UK — including winners and finalists of Canada's Drag Race and Queen of the Universe. The label's revenue model combines streaming royalties and digital music sales, artist management and booking fees, merchandise sales, and event revenue from its proprietary Fierce & Fabulous Expo. Strategic credibility is anchored in Velvet Code's selection for Lady Gaga's Chromatica remix team and an ongoing songwriting partnership with Wendy Starland (credited with discovering Lady Gaga), and the company recently entered a distribution partnership with Sony Music for select releases. The company is bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding and operates an affiliated nonprofit, the You Do You Foundation (launched September 2022), which supports underprivileged 2SLGBTQIA+ musicians.

Name

So Fierce Music Corporation

Legal name

So Fierce Music Corporation

Website

https://sofiercemusic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Toronto-based independent music label and artist management company founded in 2020 by Velvet Code, providing record label services, artist development, and booking for a roster of 40+ LGBTQIA+ artists marginalized by the mainstream music industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Music Label and Artist Management

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Music Publishers (512230)

akta.pro primary industry

Record Labels (Major & Independent) (MPAIAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Full-Service Artist Management (MPAIAGAA), Talent Booking Agencies (Live Performance) (MPAIAGAB), Music Producers & Production Teams (MPAIAHAB), Digital Strategy & Social Media Management (Artists) (MPAIAGAH)

Keywords

• Independent music label
• Artist management services
• Music production
• Artist development
• Entertainment company

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Record Label / Music Sales: So Fierce Music releases music for its roster of artists across global streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube). Revenue is generated through streaming royalties, digital single and album sales, and remix production services. Notable releases include singles produced by Velvet Code for artists such as Hunter ('King Me'), Queen SirJET ('Release Me The Remixes'), G Precious ('SO FIERCE The Remixes'), Venus ('B.R.O.K.E.'), Taiga Brava ('Brava'), and Scarlett BoBo's solo album and singles.
2. Artist Management & Booking: The company manages artists and handles bookings for events, pride celebrations, corporate events, and brand partnerships. The management/booking page offers a formal intake form for artist bookings and brand partnership requests covering hosting, drag show/performance, and collaboration.
3. Merchandise Sales: The label sells artist merchandise (e.g., Dahlia Doll's merch line) and branded goods through its website and events.
4. You Do You Foundation Support: In September 2022, Velvet Code launched the You Do You Foundation (youdoyoufoundation.org) to help underprivileged and financially compromised 2SLGBTQIA+ musicians. While this is a charitable initiative, it expands the company's ecosystem of services and future talent pipeline.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

So Fierce Music Corporation operates an independent record label, artist management firm, and entertainment company focused on 2SLGBTQIA+ artists marginalized by the mainstream music industry. Founded in 2020 by Velvet Code, the Toronto-based company provides music production, global digital distribution, artist development, booking/management, and brand partnership services across its roster of 40+ artists including Drag Race winners and finalists.

Product overview

So Fierce Music is a Record Label and Entertainment Company offering a unified portfolio of services for LGBTQIA+ artists. The core offerings include Record Label Services (recording, production, distribution), Artist Management (bookings, brand partnerships), and an Artist Development Program (songwriting, vocal performance, branding, image, music production). The company releases music singles through its label, such as 'King Me' by Hunter, 'Release Me (The Remixes)' by Queen Sirjet, and 'SO FIERCE (The Remixes)' by G Precious, all produced in collaboration with Velvet Code Productions. The company also produces the Fierce & Fabulous Expo, an event celebrating queer culture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fierce and Fabulous Expo: A vibrant, inclusive celebration of queer culture, bringing together drag performers, musicians, and fans for entertainment, education, and self-expression.

Products and services

• Record Label Services Recording, production, and global digital distribution of music for 2SLGBTQIA+ artists across Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Releases singles, remixes, and albums to the label's roster of marginalized LGBTQIA+ recording artists.
• Artist Management and Booking Professional management services for recording artists, drag performers, and entertainers including event bookings for pride celebrations, corporate events, and brand partnerships. Handles formal intake for hosting, drag show/performance, and collaboration requests.
• Artist Development Program Personalized guidance in songwriting, vocal performance, branding, image, and music production for emerging and established 2SLGBTQIA+ artists. Provided as part of the label's core services to roster and prospective artists.
• Velvet Code Productions Electronic music production services led by founder Velvet Code, including songwriting, original production, and remix work. Credited with notable remixes for Lady Gaga's Chromatica album (Stupid Love, Sour Candy).
• Fierce & Fabulous Expo Branded annual event celebrating queer culture featuring drag performers, musicians, and fans for an afternoon and evening of entertainment, education, and self-expression. Produced by So Fierce Music.
• King Me Single release by artist Hunter produced by Velvet Code, distributed on So Fierce Music across global streaming platforms.
• Release Me (The Remixes) Remix single by Queen SirJET featuring Velvet Code, released by So Fierce Music on global streaming platforms.
• SO FIERCE (The Remixes) Remix single by G Precious featuring Velvet Code, released by So Fierce Music on global streaming platforms.
• B.R.O.K.E. Debut single by Venus (Canada's Drag Race Season 4 winner) produced by Velvet Code for So Fierce Music, distributed globally.
• Savin' Lives Like Mine Debut single by artist Hunter released on So Fierce Music, distributed on global streaming platforms.
• Can We Pretend Single by Jourdan Frost with contemporary pop production, released on So Fierce Music and featured on Rated LGBT Radio.
• Let It Crash Debut song by Joey Arrigo in collaboration with Velvet Code, released on So Fierce Music across streaming platforms.
• Brava Debut single by Taiga Brava (Queen of the Universe Season 2 winner) produced by Velvet Code, released on So Fierce Music and distributed globally.
• Together We're Free Debut single by Peter G produced by Velvet Code, released on So Fierce Music across all streaming platforms worldwide.
• Spinning 2023 debut ballad by Jae XO released on So Fierce Music before the artist pivoted to dance-pop production.

Quantifiable outcome

• Velvet Code's album 'Dreamer' accumulated over 3 million plays on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Goudie Events Ltd (UK)minorOthersUK-based event partner listed under the privacy policy as adhering to So Fierce Music Corporation's privacy practices. VAT: 4457937 52.
• Goudie Events (Aust)minorOthersAustralian event partner listed under the privacy policy. ABN: 48 192 315 171.
• Goudie Events E.UminorOthersEU event partner listed under the privacy policy. UID ATU 79677707.
• Rent a Queen LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based drag performer rental/booking company listed as a partner adhering to So Fierce Music's privacy policy.
• Book a Queen LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based drag performer booking company listed as a partner adhering to So Fierce Music's privacy policy.
• So Fierce Music Corp (Canada)minorOthersParent/affiliated Canadian entity. Corporation number 1610312-0. Listed as a partner under the privacy policy.
• Lifes a Drag Entertainment Ltd. (UK)minorOthersUK-based drag entertainment company. Company number 15317570. Listed as a partner under the privacy policy.
• Vayne Entertainment (EU)minorOthersEU-based entertainment partner listed under the privacy policy.
• Wil Sabin Entertainment (Aust)minorOthersAustralian entertainment partner listed under the privacy policy.
• Queer Collective (IE)minorOthersIrish LGBTQIA+ collective partner listed under the privacy policy.
• The Outing Festival (IE)minorOthersIrish LGBTQIA+ festival partner listed under the privacy policy.
• Queen of the Palace (UK)minorOthersUK-based drag entertainment brand partner listed under the privacy policy.
• Sony MusicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaomi Leone is working on a debut EP with So Fierce Music/Sony and Velvet Code to be released in early 2025, indicating a distribution or licensing partnership with Sony Music for certain label releases.
• Lady Gaga / TeammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVelvet Code was selected for Lady Gaga's Chromatica Billboard remix team, producing notable remixes of 'Stupid Love' and 'Sour Candy'. This is a significant industry partnership bringing high-profile credibility to the label and its founder.
• Wendy StarlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWendy Starland, who discovered and developed Lady Gaga, developed a songwriting partnership with Velvet Code and is part of the So Fierce Music family as a co-songwriter, bringing major-label songwriting expertise to the label's artists.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Merge Records: Independent record label (Arcade Fire, Neutral Milk Hotel, etc.) with a comparable independent-release model and artist-driven ethos. Relevant as a comparable-sized independent label with a curated roster and strong artist development values, though across indie rock rather than LGBTQIA+ music.
• ATO Records: Independent record label with comparable scale and artist development focus (Black Keys, My Morning Jacket, etc.). Relevant as a similarly-sized independent label with management and label services, though focused on established rock and Americana acts rather than emerging LGBTQIA+ talent.
• Glassnote Records: Independent record label with a comparable roster-managed scale (Mumford & Sons, Phoenix, etc.). Operates with an artist-development-driven independent label model similar to So Fierce Music, though across mainstream genres rather than a niche identity-focused roster.
• Sony Music Entertainment: Global major-label music company and So Fierce Music's distribution partner. Comparable as a counterpart in the music label and artist services space, with a vastly larger scale and the infrastructure to which So Fierce Music routes key releases through partnership.
• Sub Pop Records: Iconic independent record label (Nirvana, Fleet Foxes, etc.) at a meaningfully larger but comparable independent-label operating model. Comparable as a benchmark for the upper end of what an independent label with strong artist development and a focused identity can achieve.
• Mom + Pop Music: Independent record label with a similar operational scale to So Fierce Music, representing a diverse artist roster (Flaming Lips, Courtney Barnett, etc.). Comparable in being a mid-sized indie label with artist development and broader management capabilities, though without the LGBTQIA+ specialization.
• Secretly Group: Independent label network combining Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, Dead Oceans, and others. Comparable as a multi-label independent operator with artist development infrastructure, though at a meaningfully larger scale and across broader genres.

Direct peers

• Righteous Babe Records: Independent record label founded by Ani DiFranco with a long-standing reputation for supporting LGBTQIA+ artists and radically independent musicians. Comparable to So Fierce Music in being a values-driven independent label positioned for artists marginalized by mainstream industry structures.
• PEG Records: Drag-focused independent music label closely associated with Drag Race alumni releases (e.g., Alaska, Adore Delano). Comparable to So Fierce Music in serving LGBTQIA+ recording artists with production and release services, including roster artists who are drag competition winners and contestants.
• Kill Rock Stars: Independent record label with a strong history of working with LGBTQIA+ and queer artists (including Sleater-Kinney and others). Directly comparable to So Fierce Music's identity-first label model serving marginalized artists outside the major-label system.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sofiercemusic
• Facebookfacebook.com/sofiercemusic
• Instagraminstagram.com/sofiercemusic

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries12 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 So Fierce Music Corporation