Change The Beat (23by23)
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
Change The Beat (23by23) firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Change The Beat (23by23) industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Change The Beat (23by23) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Change The Beat (23by23) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- Merchandise Sales: Change The Beat sells merchandise at events and potentially online, with proceeds supporting the organization's mission and programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | CTB Plus membership with exclusive benefits |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free workshops and masterclasses |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Remix contest entry |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Event tickets and workshops |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Change The Beat (23by23) product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Change The Beat (23by23)
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Change The Beat (23by23) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Change The Beat (23by23) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- LabelRadar (Beatport)coreOfficial 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 InstrumentscoreOriginal founding partner of #23by23 initiative; provides prize packages including KOMPLETE software for remix contest winners; supports educational programming.
- DrumcodecoreLeading techno label partnered for remix contests providing release opportunities for women and gender-expansive artists.
- mau5trapcoredeadmau5's label providing release opportunities for CTB artists through remix contests and direct signings.
- Armada MusiccoreLeading dance music label partnered for remix contests and artist development opportunities.
- Dirtybird RecordscoreIndependent electronic music label hosting remix contests with Change The Beat for releases on the Dirtybird imprint.
- AnjunadeepcoreDeep house/progressive label partnered for remix contests providing release pathways for CTB artists.
- Toolroom RecordscoreUK-based house/tech house label hosting remix contests with Change The Beat for artist releases.
- HE.SHE.THEY.coreInclusive electronic music brand and label providing release and event opportunities for CTB artists.
- Deadbeats (Zeds Dead)coreToronto-based bass music label founded by Zeds Dead, partnered for remix contests with SIPPY 'KILLA' release opportunity.
- Night Vision (Universal Music Canada)strategicUniversal Music Canada's dance/electronic division, partnered for events and photo gallery showcases celebrating women in dance music.
- Femme HousestrategicWomen in electronic music organization, co-presenting events and supporting shared mission of gender equity in dance music.
- Support Women DJsstrategicCommunity-led platform promoting gender equity in electronic music; partnered for NYC events and community building.
- Insomniac RecordscoreFestival and label partner providing remix contest opportunities for CTB artists.
- Association for Electronic Music (AFEM)minorIndustry body representing electronic music; partner organization supporting diversity initiatives.
- Women in Music CanadastrategicCanadian organization supporting women in music; nominated Change The Beat for Organization of the Year (2024).
- International Music Summit (IMS)minorElectronic music industry summit; partner for industry visibility and networking.
- Rules Don't Apply Records (RDA)coreWalker & Royce's label hosting Ardalan remix contest with release opportunity for CTB artists.
- Young Art Records (TOKiMONSTA)coreLA-based label founded by TOKiMONSTA hosting 'Sci Fi' remix contest for CTB artists.
- I Am House Records (Crystal Waters)coreHouse music label founded by Crystal Waters hosting remix contests with release opportunities.
- BluFire/Peace BisquitcoreBrooklyn-based label celebrating 35th anniversary; partnered for Ultra Naté remix contest.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Change The Beat (23by23) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
Change The Beat (23by23) social profiles
Digital presenceChange The Beat (23by23) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Change The Beat (23by23) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Change The Beat (23by23) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Change The Beat (23by23) 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 Change The Beat (23by23)
What does Change The Beat (23by23) do?
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.
Is Change The Beat (23by23) a public or private company?
Change The Beat (23by23) is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Change The Beat (23by23) founded?
Change The Beat (23by23) was founded in 2021.
Where is Change The Beat (23by23) based?
Change The Beat (23by23) is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Change The Beat (23by23) make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Patreon Membership (CTB Plus) is the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising and merchandise Sales.
Who are Change The Beat (23by23)'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Insomniac Records, Native Instruments and Beatport. Resident Advisor is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Women in Music (WIM), Women in Music Canada, shesaid.so, SoundGirls.org, Femme House and Support Women DJs.
Does Change The Beat (23by23) have an API?
No public API is recorded for Change The Beat (23by23).
What industry is Change The Beat (23by23) in?
Change The Beat (23by23)'s product category is Music Industry Arts Education (Nonprofit). Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIACAF, Creator/Artist Direct-to-Fan Streaming & Membership. Its NAICS code is 711320 and its SIC code is 7990.