Manhattan Records
Manhattan Records is a Tokyo-based specialty retailer and record label, operated by Lexington Co., Ltd., focused on hip-hop, R&B, and house music, serving music enthusiasts, DJs, and vinyl collectors through its Shibuya retail store, e-commerce site, and Manhattan Recordings label.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Manhattan Records does
Manhattan Records is a Tokyo-based specialty music retailer and record label founded on 1991-05-24, operating under Lexington Co., Ltd. The company runs a curated direct-to-consumer business spanning an e-commerce platform (manhattanrecords.jp), a physical retail store in Shibuya, and an associated artist label at manhattanrecordings.jp. Its product catalog is focused on hip-hop, R&B, house, dance, Japanese, and rock/pops music, offered in physical formats (vinyl records priced ¥990-¥9,350, CDs ¥2,200-¥6,600, MIX CDs) alongside DJ equipment, original branded merchandise (T-shirts, bags, stickers, incense, the LEX BOX record storage system), and event tickets. The site also supports pre-orders/reservations for upcoming releases, and ships internationally via the Buyee marketplace.
Underlying technology is a standard third-party e-commerce stack: an integrated storefront with search, cart, and checkout; credit-card processing via the ZEUS payment gateway; cash-on-delivery collection through Sagawa Express (e-Collect); and email/newsletter plus social-channel marketing (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LINE, YouTube, MMAGG blog). Pricing is unit-based in Japanese yen with free shipping on orders above ¥10,000 (tax included) and a loyalty program awarding 3% back in points (upgraded from 1%). Distribution is dual-channel — DTC through the Shibuya store and online — supplemented by wholesale supply to major Japanese music retailers including TOWER RECORDS, HMV, DISK UNION, Shinseido, and Seikodo, with supply-side relationships to Universal Music, Warner Music Japan, Toshiba EMI, Toy's Factory, AVEX, and XL Recordings.
The company targets four primary consumer segments: music enthusiasts, DJs and turntablists, vinyl collectors, and fashion/lifestyle consumers seeking branded merchandise. The Shibuya retail location serves as a venue for in-store performances, release events, Record Store Day activations, and pop-ups, reinforcing the brand's positioning in Japan's underground hip-hop and R&B culture. Manhattan Recordings extends the business into artist releases and label A&R, and the firm maintains active social and content channels to drive engagement across its niche audience.
Manhattan Records firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Manhattan Records
- Legal name
- 株式会社レキシントン (Lexington Co., Ltd.)
- Website
- https://manhattanrecords.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Manhattan Records is a Tokyo-based specialty retailer and record label, operated by Lexington Co., Ltd., focused on hip-hop, R&B, and house music, serving music enthusiasts, DJs, and vinyl collectors through its Shibuya retail store, e-commerce site, and Manhattan Recordings label.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Manhattan Records industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Retail
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225)
- SIC
- Retail-Record & Prerecorded Tape Stores (5735), Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Download Stores & Digital Music Retail (Transactional) (MPAIACAM)
Keywords
Where Manhattan Records is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Manhattan Records business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Music Media Sales: Retail sales of vinyl records, CDs, and mix CDs across genres including Hip Hop, R&B, House, Dance, Japanese, Rock/Pops, and Reggae. Both new releases and used inventory available.
- DJ Equipment and Merchandise: Sales of DJ equipment, accessories, and branded merchandise including t-shirts, bags, stickers, incense, and lifestyle goods.
- Ticketing Services: Sale of event tickets for in-store performances and DJ events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Music media (vinyl, CD, mix CD) pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Original merchandise |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | LEX BOX record storage |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Manhattan Records product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Manhattan Records operates a hip hop and R&B-focused record shop, online store, and music label based in Tokyo. The company retails vinyl records, CDs, MIX CDs, DJ equipment, and original branded merchandise (apparel, accessories, lifestyle goods) through its e-commerce platform at manhattanrecords.jp and a physical store in Shibuya. It also runs an associated record label, Manhattan Recordings.
Product overview
Manhattan Records operates as a specialized online record store and e-commerce platform focused on Hip Hop, R&B, House, and related music genres. The company offers a curated selection of vinyl records, CDs, MIX CDs, DJ equipment, and original merchandise including apparel and accessories. The product portfolio includes physical music formats (vinyl and CD), DJ gear, original brand merchandise (T-shirts, tote bags, stickers, incense, etc.), and ticket sales. The platform serves both domestic Japanese customers and international music enthusiasts, offering Japanese domestic and imported releases from various international labels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vinyl Records Physical vinyl records including new releases and used/secondhand vinyl across genres such as Hip Hop, R&B, Dance, House, Jazz, and Rock. Includes Japanese-domestic releases, imported editions, and limited/special pressings with obi strips.
- Artist CDs CD albums and releases from various artists spanning R&B, Hip Hop, Dance, Japanese, and Rock/Pops genres.
- MIX CDs Curated DJ MIX CDs featuring compilations and DJ mixes across multiple genres.
- DJ Equipment DJ gear and equipment for professional and hobby DJs, available through the online store.
- Manhattan Records Original Goods Original branded merchandise including T-shirts (M CLASSIC TEE, M RETRO FONT EMBROIDERY TEE, M STORE LABEL TEE, MANHATTAN SHOPPER TEE), tote bags, stickers, hand towels, rubber coasters, key holders, incense products, and accessories featuring the Manhattan Records logo.
- Tickets Event tickets and in-store event passes for Manhattan Records Shibuya store events such as DJ performances and pop-up activations.
- Reserve Service Pre-order/reservation service for upcoming releases, allowing customers to secure items before release.
- LEX BOX Record storage solution - a specialized record shelf/cube system that holds approximately 200 records per box, available in white and black color options, designed for both vertical and horizontal placement.
- Manhattan Recordings Label Associated record label operated by Lexington Co., Ltd., featuring artist releases, label news, and new music singles from artists such as Daz, Young Yujiro, Y1ee Coyote, Tim Pepperoni, and SUIKEN x MAHBIE.
Companies that use Manhattan Records
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Manhattan Records technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Manhattan Records partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Universal MusiccorePrimary music supplier providing vinyl records, CDs, and other music media products through their Japanese distribution network.
- Warner Music JapancoreMajor label supplier providing Japanese and international releases for distribution through Manhattan Records.
- XL RecordingsmajorUK-based independent label whose catalog including artists like Adele, Radiohead, and Little Simz is distributed through Manhattan Records.
- BuyeeminorInternational shipping service enabling overseas customers to purchase from the Manhattan Records online store.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Manhattan Records competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Amoeba Music: Large US independent music retailer with deep used and new vinyl/CD inventory and significant online presence. Comparable in product mix (vinyl, CD, used goods) and cultural positioning as a destination specialty store, though at substantially larger scale.
- Juno Records: UK-based online music retailer with deep catalog across dance, electronic, hip-hop, and related genres. Comparable as a specialty e-commerce music retailer serving enthusiasts/DJs with broad imports and used inventory.
Direct peers
- P-Vine Records: Tokyo-based independent record label and distributor with retail and wholesale operations. Comparable as a Japanese specialty music company combining label/distribution with retail access into niche genres (soul, jazz, African, Latin).
- Tower Records Japan: Japan's largest specialty music retail chain with physical stores and a robust e-commerce platform. Tower Records is both a direct retail competitor and a wholesale customer of Manhattan Records, making it the most comparable peer across product, channel, and customer overlap.
- Rough Trade: Iconic UK-based independent record store chain with adjacent label operations. Comparable as a specialty music retailer with strong cultural positioning, physical stores, e-commerce, and merchandise extensions.
- HMV Japan: Major Japanese music and entertainment retailer with nationwide physical stores and online sales. HMV is one of Manhattan Records' wholesale customers and competes directly for vinyl, CD, and music merchandise buyers in Japan.
- Disk Union: Japan's leading specialty record retailer with deep used and new inventory across genres including hip-hop, jazz, and rock. Closely comparable to Manhattan Records in focus on collector/genre-specific music and presence as both competitor and wholesale customer.
- Rush Hour: Amsterdam-based record store and label specializing in dance, house, and electronic music. Comparable to Manhattan Records in the combination of a focused-genre record shop with an associated label and online/international distribution.
Others
- BEAMS: Japanese lifestyle and apparel retailer/brand with deep streetwear and music-culture credentials. Comparable as a lifestyle-and-music-culture commerce peer relevant to Manhattan Records' branded merchandise (T-shirts, bags, accessories) and event/lifestyle positioning.
Regional players
- BounDEE by SSNW: Japan-focused hip-hop and R&B specialty retailer serving a similar collector niche. Comparable as a domestic regional peer in genre focus and vinyl-import catalog, though with a different operating scale and channel mix.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Manhattan Records social profiles
Digital presenceManhattan Records financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Manhattan Records leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Manhattan Records funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Manhattan Records 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 Manhattan Records
What does Manhattan Records do?
Manhattan Records operates a hip hop and R&B-focused record shop, online store, and music label based in Tokyo. The company retails vinyl records, CDs, MIX CDs, DJ equipment, and original branded merchandise (apparel, accessories, lifestyle goods) through its e-commerce platform at manhattanrecords.jp and a physical store in Shibuya. It also runs an associated record label, Manhattan Recordings.
Is Manhattan Records a public or private company?
Manhattan Records is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Manhattan Records founded?
Manhattan Records was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Manhattan Records based?
Manhattan Records is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Manhattan Records make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Music Media Sales are the primary driver. The others are DJ Equipment and Merchandise and ticketing Services.
Who are Manhattan Records's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Amoeba Music and Juno Records. Direct peers are P-Vine Records, Tower Records Japan, Rough Trade, HMV Japan, Disk Union and Rush Hour. BEAMS is listed as an others. BounDEE by SSNW is listed as a regional player.
Does Manhattan Records have an API?
No public API is recorded for Manhattan Records.
What industry is Manhattan Records in?
Manhattan Records's product category is Music Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIACAM, Download Stores & Digital Music Retail (Transactional). Its NAICS code is 51225 and its SIC code is 5735.