Scruff of the Neck

What Scruff of the Neck does

Scruff of the Neck is a Manchester-based independent music company founded in 2009 by Mark Lippmann, operating as a vertically integrated record label (Scruff of the Neck Records), music publisher, concert and festival promoter, artist management firm, and creative services provider. The company serves independent and emerging UK music artists, with a roster that includes both emerging acts (The Slow Readers Club, MARiMARi, Joe Cross, The Cheap Thrills) and heritage signings such as Cast and Inspiral Carpets, the latter of which have produced Top 10 UK album chart results. Its product surface includes the label (with global distribution via Believe), music publishing via a joint-venture with Sentric, artist management, live events and festival promotion (including the 2,500-capacity Empress Ballroom at Blackpool Winter Gardens, a 40,000-capacity stage at Y Not Festival, and own-brand events Year's End Festival and NQ Takeover), and merchandise.

The company's go-to-market is event-driven: it discovers and signs artists, develops them via integrated label/management/publishing services, and promotes them through owned venue and festival partnerships plus its longstanding Twitch-based showcase series, Scruff of the Neck TV (over 100 studio shows, 300+ artists, 15.6 million unique views, 16,100 Twitch followers, 27,000 peak concurrent viewers). Revenue is generated across five streams: live event promotion (transaction fees on tickets ranging £11-14 for standard gigs to £25-40 for premium Winter Gardens shows), label distribution and streaming royalties (via Believe), music publishing royalties (via Sentric), artist management fees, and merchandise sales through an online store. The company is currently expanding internationally, having launched in Berlin in 2025 with a grassroots live music series led by local representative Jake McGloin. Scruff of the Neck Records Ltd is a privately held UK private limited company with 1-10 employees, no external institutional investors, and no disclosed funding rounds.

Name

Scruff of the Neck

Legal name

SCRUFF OF THE NECK RECORDS LTD

Website

https://scruffoftheneck.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Scruff of the Neck is a Manchester-based independent music company founded in 2009 that operates a record label, music publisher, concert/festival promoter, and artist management firm serving independent UK artists, with global distribution via Believe and a music publishing JV with Sentric.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Music Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Live Music Booking (Bands, Soloists, DJs) (HSACAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brand Partnerships & Music Placement Services (Non-Exclusive Brand Deals) (MPAIALAM), Podcast Hosting & Enterprise Solutions (Private/Branded Podcasts) (MPACADAF)

Keywords

• Independent record label
• Music publishing
• Concert promotion
• Artist management
• Live event promotion

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Concert and Festival Promotion: Revenue from promoting and organizing live concerts, festivals, and events. The company takes over venues like the Empress Ballroom at Blackpool Winter Gardens and runs multiple stages at festivals.
2. Record Label and Distribution: Revenue from record sales, streaming royalties, and distribution deals. Artists sign to Scruff of the Neck Records with global masters distribution through Believe.
3. Music Publishing: Revenue from music publishing through joint-venture with Sentric, collecting royalties from compositions and licensing.
4. Artist Management: Management fees from artists under management including The Slow Readers Club, MARiMARi, Joe Cross, The Cheap Thrills, and others.
5. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling merchandise, vinyl, CDs, and other artist-related products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Scruff of the Neck is an independent music company that signs and distributes emerging artists through its record label (with global distribution via Believe), provides music publishing services through a joint-venture with Sentric, manages artists, and promotes concerts and festivals across the UK and expanding into Germany. The company operates an integrated ecosystem supporting artists from emerging talent through to chart success, evidenced by Top 10 UK Album Chart placements for signed acts.

Product overview

Scruff of the Neck is an established Manchester-based independent music company offering a diversified portfolio of services including a record label (Scruff of the Neck Records), concert and festival promotion, artist management, and music publishing. The company operates as an integrated music ecosystem supporting artists through live events, recordings, and creative services. Key products include Scruff of the Neck TV (a Twitch-based music showcase), Year’s End Festival (annual Manchester event), NQ Takeover (grassroots Northern Quarter series), festival stage partnerships, and their record label with global distribution through Believe. The company expanded into Germany in 2025 with a Berlin-based grassroots live music initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Scruff of the Neck TV: Weekly TV music showcase series launched in partnership with Twitch during pandemic lockdown, featuring indie, rock, alternative and pop artists broadcast globally from Manchester offices and studio.
• Year's End Festival
• NQ Takeover

Products and services

• Scruff of the Neck Records UK-based independent record label offering global masters distribution through Believe. Signs and distributes emerging music acts across the UK, releasing albums and singles including signed artists Cast, Bilk, Inspiral Carpets, and The Lilacs.
• Live Events & Concert Promotion Concert and festival promotion services including event booking, venue management, and live show organization. Promotes artists across UK venues and festivals including The Fratellis at Blackpool Winter Gardens and Feeder tour dates.
• Artist Management Management services for artists including business development, fanbase growth, and career guidance. Current management clients include The Slow Readers Club, MARiMARi, Joe Cross, and The Cheap Thrills.
• Music Publishing Music publishing services through a joint-venture with Sentric, handling rights management and royalty collection for signed artists' compositions and licensing.
• Scruff of the Neck TV Weekly music showcase series broadcast globally via Twitch, featuring the best of indie, rock, alternative and pop from UK artists. Amassed 15.6 million unique views over 100 studio shows with 300+ artists booked during its run.
• Year's End Festival Annual day-night festival in Manchester taking over Oxford Road Corridor across multiple venues, bringing together music lovers and industry professionals for a day of cult classics and emerging artists.
• NQ Takeover Multi-venue music event series across Manchester's Northern Quarter featuring emerging bands at multiple venues for one night, creating community and showcasing new talent. January 2025 edition sold over 1,000 tickets.
• Y Not Festival Stage Takeover Partnership with Y Not Festival in the Peak District, hosting the Giant Squid Stage for three days at the 40,000-capacity festival featuring indie music.
• New Sonic Sessions Free live music event series collaboration with Beavertown at Manchester venue Lost Cat, showcasing emerging artists.
• Online Store Merchandise store at scruffoftheneck.com/pages/store selling vinyl, CDs, apparel, and artist merchandise. Operates a 30-day return policy with refunds processed within 10 business days.

Quantifiable outcome

• Artists achieve Top 10 album chart positions (Cast #8 UK Album Chart)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• SentriccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Music publishing joint-venture with Sentric, signed in 2024, expanding Scruff of the Neck's publishing capabilities and royalty collection infrastructure.
• TwitchflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Global partnership to launch Scruff of the Neck TV during pandemic lockdown. Weekly music showcase broadcast globally via Twitch, achieving 15.6 million unique views. Innovative hybrid streaming at Y Not Festival 2022 reached 1.1 million viewers.
• BelievecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Global masters distribution deal with Believe, following Scruff of the Neck winning Best Small Label at the AIM Awards in 2019. Believe handles worldwide distribution of all Scruff of the Neck Records releases.
• FatsomacoreTechnology or IntegrationEvent marketing and ticketing platform partner. All Scruff of the Neck events are ticketed through Fatsoma, with ticket purchases processed through their platform.
• MarshallminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Marshall for Year End Festival 2023, providing equipment and amplification support for the festival.
• BBC IntroducingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with BBC Introducing for Year End Festival 2023, featuring BBC Introducing support and coverage.
• Signature BrewminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Signature Brew for Year End Festival 2023, beer sponsor and venue partner.
• 42nd StreetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerManchester-based youth arts organization partnered for Year End Festival 2023.
• BeavertownminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative 'New Sonic Sessions' series - free live music nights at Lost Cat venue featuring emerging artists, sponsored by Beavertown brewery.
• Distiller RecordsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociation for 2019 SXSW showcase presentation, working together to spotlight artists at the festival.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bella Union: Independent UK record label and music publisher. Closely comparable to Scruff of the Neck as a UK indie combining label and publishing for alternative and rock artists with a selective A&R focus.
• Domino Recording Company: UK-headquartered independent record label and music publisher with global distribution. Directly comparable to Scruff of the Neck as a UK indie with multi-territory distribution and a track record of breaking alternative and indie acts.
• Warp Records: Long-running UK independent record label and music publisher based in Sheffield/London. Compares directly to Scruff of the Neck as a UK indie combining label, publishing, and artist development with a strong roster of distinctive acts.
• Transgressive Records: Independent UK record label and publisher with label, publishing, and management services. Comparable to Scruff of the Neck in running an integrated indie music operation combining label, publishing, and artist support.
• Rough Trade Records: Independent UK label and retailer with global distribution and publishing infrastructure. Comparable to Scruff of the Neck in integrating label and live/community music infrastructure with independent artist development.
• Fierce Panda Records: UK-based independent record label focused on indie and alternative rock. Similar to Scruff of the Neck in operating a small-team UK indie label with a curated indie/rock roster.

Others

• Believe: Global digital music distribution and label services company that is Scruff of the Neck's distribution partner. Comparable as an infrastructure provider whose service offering shapes the addressable market for independent labels like Scruff of the Neck.
• Fatsoma: UK ticketing and event-marketing platform that powers Scruff of the Neck's ticketing infrastructure. Comparable as a technology partner whose platform reach directly affects the company's event-revenue capture.
• Sentric Music: Independent music publisher and rights administrator in the JV with Scruff of the Neck. Comparable as a publishing-administration partner relevant to the company's publishing economics and catalog growth strategy.

Broad incumbents

• BMG: Major global music company combining recorded music, publishing, and artist services. Relevant as a much larger incumbent that competes for the same indie/rock label and publishing opportunities Scruff of the Neck targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ScruffoftheNeck
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scruff-of-the-neck

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Scruff of the Neck