Selector
Selector was an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit electronic music journal that published editorial coverage of electronic music, artists, and technology through its website, funded entirely by reader donations. It operated from 2017 until dissolving on December 31, 2024.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Selector does
Selector was an independent electronic music journal that operated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization from June 2017 until dissolving on December 31, 2024. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the publication covered electronic music, artists, industry news, and music technology through four core content streams: Sounds (music releases vetted by a blind tastemaker panel of industry professionals who rated submissions 1-10 without seeing artist names or associations), Stories (essays, culture pieces, and industry coverage), Tech (hardware, software, and music production tool coverage), and Heritage Artists (profiles of established 20+ year veterans). The organization intentionally rejected advertising and commercial influence, positioning itself as uncompromised editorial coverage while compensating all writers for their contributions.
The business model was donation-funded reader support through a 501(c)(3) structure, with no disclosed revenue, no advertising, and no paid subscription or product offerings. Selector operated with 1-10 employees and supplemented its core editorial team through a contributor training program called 'Introduction to Electronic Music Journalism,' which covered writing fundamentals, WordPress publishing, SEO, and social media practices. The technology stack was minimal: a WordPress-based website at selector.news with no mobile app, no API, and no disclosed integrations. Selector dissolved in late 2024 with content preserved for historical reference, representing a unique nonprofit experiment in independent music journalism that failed to sustain itself financially.
Selector firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Selector
- Legal name
- Selector
- Website
- https://selector.news
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Selector was an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit electronic music journal that published editorial coverage of electronic music, artists, and technology through its website, funded entirely by reader donations. It operated from 2017 until dissolving on December 31, 2024.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Selector industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electronic Music Journalism
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sample Libraries, Loops & Sound Content Platforms (MPAIAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- DJ & Performance Gear (Controllers, Turntables, CDJs, Mixers) (MPAIAJAC), Music Production Hardware (Synthesizers, Drum Machines, Samplers, MIDI Controllers) (MPAIAJAE)
Keywords
Where Selector is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Selector business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Selector product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Selector published an independent electronic music journal available for free on its website, covering music releases, artist profiles, technology, and industry news. The Sounds program allows artists to submit music for evaluation by a blind panel of industry professionals who rate tracks from 1–10 without seeing artist names or affiliations, ensuring selection based purely on artistic merit.
Product overview
Selector is an independent nonprofit electronic music journal operating as a single unified content platform. The organization publishes editorial coverage through distinct content streams: Sounds (music releases selected via blind tastemaker panel rating system), Stories (essays and culture pieces), Tech (music technology coverage), and Heritage Artists (profiles of established 20+ year veterans). Writer development is supported through the Introduction to Electronic Music Journalism training program. Revenue derives from reader donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with all writers compensated for their work.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sounds
Companies that use Selector
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Selector technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Selector partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves4 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Selector competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Resident Advisor: The leading independent electronic music publication and ticketing platform. Directly comparable to Selector as a digital editorial outlet covering electronic music releases, artists, and culture with editorial depth.
- Mixmag: Long-running electronic and dance music magazine with strong digital presence covering releases, DJ culture, and tech. Comparable as an electronic music editorial brand targeting DJs, producers, and enthusiasts.
- DJ Mag: Industry-defining publication covering DJ culture, gear, and electronic music releases. Overlaps directly with Selector's audience and content verticals (Sounds, Tech, Stories).
- The Vinyl Factory: Independent music media and vinyl production operation with strong editorial coverage of electronic and experimental music. Comparable as a non-ad-driven, culture-focused electronic music publication.
- Crack Magazine: Independent print and digital music publication with deep electronic, techno, and experimental coverage. Comparable as an independent electronic music editorial outlet focused on artistic merit.
- Boiler Room: Global electronic music platform combining live DJ streams, editorial features, and documentary content. Comparable as an electronic music media brand with significant editorial and editorial-adjacent operations.
- Electronic Beats (Telekom Electronic Beats): Deutsche Telekom-supported electronic music publication covering releases, artists, and culture. Comparable as an electronic music-focused editorial platform with international reach.
- Bandcamp Daily: Editorial arm of Bandcamp covering independent music across genres with particularly strong electronic music coverage. Comparable as an independent-leaning music journalism outlet serving electronic music listeners.
Broad incumbents
- Pitchfork: Major music publication covering all genres including substantial electronic music content. Comparable at the editorial/journalism level but operates at much larger scale and broader genre scope than Selector.
- Beatport: Largest electronic music download/streaming platform with an editorial/news component. Comparable as a destination for electronic music consumers and as a content publisher in the same category Selector served.
Market position
Strengths2 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
Selector social profiles
Digital presenceSelector financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Selector leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Selector funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Selector 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 Selector
What does Selector do?
Selector published an independent electronic music journal available for free on its website, covering music releases, artist profiles, technology, and industry news. The Sounds program allows artists to submit music for evaluation by a blind panel of industry professionals who rate tracks from 1–10 without seeing artist names or affiliations, ensuring selection based purely on artistic merit.
Is Selector a public or private company?
Selector is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently closed.
When was Selector founded?
Selector was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Selector based?
Selector is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Selector's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Resident Advisor, Mixmag, DJ Mag, The Vinyl Factory, Crack Magazine, Boiler Room, Electronic Beats (Telekom Electronic Beats) and Bandcamp Daily. Broad incumbents are Pitchfork and Beatport.
Does Selector have an API?
No public API is recorded for Selector.
What industry is Selector in?
Selector's product category is Electronic Music Journalism. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAIAF, Sample Libraries, Loops & Sound Content Platforms, with a secondary code of MPAIAJAC, DJ & Performance Gear (Controllers, Turntables, CDJs, Mixers). Its SIC code is 2741.