Change The Beat (23by23)

What Change The Beat (23by23) does

Change The Beat is a Canadian nonprofit organization founded in 2021 by internationally acclaimed DJ and producer Sydney Blu to address the underrepresentation of women, LGBTQ2S+, and gender-expansive artists in electronic music — a category where fewer than 5% of artists signed to major dance labels identify as women at the time of founding. The organization operates a portfolio of programs including remix contests hosted through Beatport's LabelRadar platform, free and low-cost live workshops and masterclasses in cities worldwide, a touring live events and showcase program, a high-touch artist accelerator ("Going Global: The Electronic Artist Method"), and a monthly label-discovery initiative ("The Demo Room"). It does not operate proprietary technology; the stack is composed of third-party platforms — LabelRadar for contest infrastructure, Discord for community (1,200+ members as of 2024), Patreon for membership, Zeffy for donations, Partiful for RSVPs, and Zoom for virtual programming.

The business model is nonprofit and multi-stream: individual donations processed through Zeffy, a Patreon-based monthly subscription tier called CTB Plus (launched 2025) offering exclusive masterclasses, early remix contest access, and VIP networking, and merchandise sales. Programming is intentionally free or low-cost to remove barriers — workshops are free with RSVP, events typically priced around $15 in advance — and the organization supplements earned revenue with institutional grants from FACTOR and the Canada Council for the Arts. Strategic value is delivered to artists through structured release pathways secured via partnerships with over 20 major dance labels including mau5trap, Drumcode, Armada, Anjunadeep, Dirtybird, Toolroom, Insomniac, HE.SHE.THEY., Deadbeats, Rules Don't Apply, Young Art, I Am House, and BluFire/Peace Bisquit, plus technology partnerships with Native Instruments (prize packages) and Beatport/LabelRadar (platform infrastructure).

Since inception, Change The Beat has facilitated 100+ artist signings to A-list dance record labels, hosted 30+ events across North America and Europe (Toronto, New York, Miami, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Montreal, Vancouver, Ibiza, Amsterdam, and others), and earned the Beatport Parity Prize plus a Women in Music Canada Organization of the Year nomination in 2024. It operates as an independent nonprofit with no disclosed parent company, no venture funding, and no disclosed headcount or revenue figures.

Name

Change The Beat (23by23)

Legal name

23by23

Website

https://changethebeat.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Change The Beat is a Canadian nonprofit founded in 2021 by DJ Sydney Blu that supports women and gender-expansive electronic music artists through remix contests, workshops, live events, and mentorship, partnering with 20+ major dance labels to facilitate releases and career development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Industry Arts Education (Nonprofit)

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Creator/Artist Direct-to-Fan Streaming & Membership (MPAIACAF)

Keywords

• Electronic music nonprofit
• Artist development programs
• Music industry education
• Remix contests
• Women in electronic music

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Patreon Membership (CTB Plus): Change The Beat Plus membership program launched in 2025, offering exclusive workshops, masterclasses, early access to remix contests, VIP networking events, private Discord access, and discounts on events, merch, and gear. Members also receive priority track feedback and access to submit questions for guest artists.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts donations through Zeffy platform to fund free workshops, masterclasses, artist mentorship, networking opportunities, and operational costs including supporting women and gender-expansive staff.
3. Merchandise Sales: Change The Beat sells merchandise at events and potentially online, with proceeds supporting the organization's mission and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Change The Beat is a nonprofit organization that runs remix contests, workshops, masterclasses, live events, and a paid membership program (CTB Plus) to empower women, gender-expansive, LGBTQ2S+, and underrepresented artists in electronic music. The organization facilitates direct pathways to label signings on A-list dance record labels such as mau5trap, Drumcode, Armada, Anjunadeep, and Dirtybird through its remix contests hosted on Beatport's LabelRadar platform. Programs are delivered both virtually and through in-person events across major dance music cities including Toronto, New York, Miami, Ibiza, Amsterdam, and Montreal.

Product overview

Change The Beat is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of programs designed to increase representation of women and gender-expansive artists in electronic music. The core offerings include Remix Contests (hosted via LabelRadar), Events & Touring (curated showcases and stage takeovers), and Live Workshops. Additional premium offerings include CTB Plus (membership program with masterclasses and exclusive access), the Going Global Artist Accelerator, and The Demo Room (monthly label connection initiative). The organization operates through partnerships with leading dance music labels and an active Discord community of over 1,200 members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CTB Plus: Membership program launched in 2025 offering exclusive workshops, masterclasses, early access to remix contests, VIP networking events, private Discord access, and discounts on events, merch, and gear for women and gender-expansive artists.

Products and services

• Remix Contests Partnership-based remix competitions hosted on Beatport's LabelRadar platform that connect women and gender-expansive electronic music artists with top-tier dance music labels for real release opportunities and career advancement.
• Events & Touring Curated showcases and stage takeovers featuring internationally recognized artists alongside emerging talent, focused on women, gender-expansive, LGBTQ2S+, and underrepresented voices in electronic music, held in major dance music cities globally.
• Live Workshops Free and low-cost daytime workshops in cities worldwide covering music production, DJing, branding, marketing, touring, and navigating the music business, led by top-tier artists and industry professionals for women and gender-expansive electronic music artists.
• Going Global: The Electronic Artist Method High-level artist development accelerator providing emerging electronic music producers with strategy, mentorship, and actionable industry insight to build sustainable professional careers in music production, branding, marketing, touring, and business operations.
• CTB Plus Monthly membership program launched in 2025 offering exclusive workshops, masterclasses, early access to remix contests, VIP networking events, private Discord access, priority track feedback, and discounts on events, merch, and gear for women and gender-expansive electronic music artists.
• CTB Plus Masterclasses High-level podcast-style sessions for CTB Plus members featuring top industry professionals across music production, touring, management, and branding, providing direct access to key industry decision-makers.
• The Demo Room Monthly initiative connecting the Change The Beat Discord community with record labels actively seeking new talent through exclusive video content and demo submission opportunities for women and gender-expansive artists.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ artist signings to major A-list dance record labels
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• LabelRadar (Beatport)coreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial platform partner for hosting remix contests, enabling submissions, judging, and artist discovery. Provides infrastructure for managing contest entries and connecting winners with partner labels.
• Native InstrumentscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOriginal founding partner of #23by23 initiative; provides prize packages including KOMPLETE software for remix contest winners; supports educational programming.
• DrumcodecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading techno label partnered for remix contests providing release opportunities for women and gender-expansive artists.
• mau5trapcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributordeadmau5's label providing release opportunities for CTB artists through remix contests and direct signings.
• Armada MusiccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading dance music label partnered for remix contests and artist development opportunities.
• Dirtybird RecordscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent electronic music label hosting remix contests with Change The Beat for releases on the Dirtybird imprint.
• AnjunadeepcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDeep house/progressive label partnered for remix contests providing release pathways for CTB artists.
• Toolroom RecordscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based house/tech house label hosting remix contests with Change The Beat for artist releases.
• HE.SHE.THEY.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInclusive electronic music brand and label providing release and event opportunities for CTB artists.
• Deadbeats (Zeds Dead)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorToronto-based bass music label founded by Zeds Dead, partnered for remix contests with SIPPY 'KILLA' release opportunity.
• Night Vision (Universal Music Canada)strategicGTM or Marketing PartnerUniversal Music Canada's dance/electronic division, partnered for events and photo gallery showcases celebrating women in dance music.
• Femme HousestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen in electronic music organization, co-presenting events and supporting shared mission of gender equity in dance music.
• Support Women DJsstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-led platform promoting gender equity in electronic music; partnered for NYC events and community building.
• Insomniac RecordscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFestival and label partner providing remix contest opportunities for CTB artists.
• Association for Electronic Music (AFEM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry body representing electronic music; partner organization supporting diversity initiatives.
• Women in Music CanadastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian organization supporting women in music; nominated Change The Beat for Organization of the Year (2024).
• International Music Summit (IMS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerElectronic music industry summit; partner for industry visibility and networking.
• Rules Don't Apply Records (RDA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWalker & Royce's label hosting Ardalan remix contest with release opportunity for CTB artists.
• Young Art Records (TOKiMONSTA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLA-based label founded by TOKiMONSTA hosting 'Sci Fi' remix contest for CTB artists.
• I Am House Records (Crystal Waters)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHouse music label founded by Crystal Waters hosting remix contests with release opportunities.
• BluFire/Peace BisquitcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrooklyn-based label celebrating 35th anniversary; partnered for Ultra Naté remix contest.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Insomniac Records: Major electronic music festival and label group behind EDC and Discovery Project. Insomniac Records is a channel partner hosting remix contests with Change The Beat and a broader incumbent in dance music.
• Native Instruments: Major music production hardware and software company. Native Instruments was Change The Beat's original founding partner for the #23by23 initiative and provides KOMPLETE prize packages for remix contest winners.
• Beatport: Leading electronic music download and streaming platform and operator of LabelRadar. Beatport is a core technology partner for Change The Beat's remix contests and a broader incumbent in the same ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Resident Advisor: Leading electronic music media platform covering artists, labels, and events globally. RA is an earned media partner for Change The Beat and operates in the same electronic music discovery ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Women in Music (WIM): US-based nonprofit advocating for women in the music industry through education, networking, and awards. Operates the same nonprofit advocacy model as Change The Beat's parent sector and shares target audience.
• Women in Music Canada: Canadian nonprofit supporting women across the music industry through advocacy, education, and awards. Strategic partner of Change The Beat and the body that nominated CTB for Organization of the Year 2024.
• shesaid.so: Global community and nonprofit advancing women and gender minorities in the music industry. Operates local chapters, events, mentorship, and industry programs overlapping directly with Change The Beat's mandate.
• SoundGirls.org: Nonprofit supporting women in audio engineering, production, and music technology. Shares Change The Beat's mission of advancing women in music production and offers overlapping career development resources.
• Femme House: Nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing representation of women in dance music. Femme House co-presents events with Change The Beat and shares the same core mission, target audience, and label partnership model.
• Support Women DJs: Community-led platform promoting gender equity in electronic music and DJ culture. Co-presents NYC events with Change The Beat and targets the same women and gender-expansive DJ/producer audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Change The Beat (23by23)