Simone Records
Simone Records is a Montreal-based independent record label managing a roster of 60+ Quebec and francophone artists, providing recording, distribution, publishing, sync licensing, and live performance coordination services through digital platforms, European distribution partners, and a network of specialized booking and press agencies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Simone Records does
Simone Records is a Montreal-based independent record label operating under private ownership with no disclosed institutional backing or public listing. The label was founded in Quebec and is headquartered at 8506 Rue Saint-Denis in Montréal, with Sandy Boutin serving as Président and Steve Marcoux as Directeur général, supported by a team of approximately ten staff covering label management, publishing, promotion, production coordination, and accounting. The core business is artist representation and catalog administration for a roster of more than 60 artists spanning indie rock, folk, pop, electronic, world music, and alternative genres, with a concentration in the Quebec francophone market.
The label provides comprehensive record-label services including recording production, physical and digital music distribution, publishing rights administration, synchronization licensing, live performance coordination, and international touring support. Distribution is delivered through multiple channels: the label's own e-commerce boutique (boutique.simonerecords.net), global streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp), and dedicated European distribution partners Exag Records and Yotanka Records. Live performance and touring are facilitated through a network of partner booking agencies (Spectacles Bonzaï, Bonsound, Ruel Tourneur, Ensemble Concerts, 9e Vague, Ambiances Ambigues), with press relations handled by Projet Caravelle, Roy & Turner, HIVE MIND PR, and Cesaratto & Co, and radio promotion by Torpille.
Revenue is generated primarily through licensing and royalty streams from recorded music and publishing/sync rights, supplemented by professional services income from live performance coordination. The roster includes commercial standouts such as Karkwa (2010 Polaris Prize winner for 'Les chemins de verre'), Pascale Picard (whose debut album sold over 350,000 copies internationally), Hubert Lenoir (Polaris shortlist), Les Soeurs Boulay (multiple Félix awards), and Ariane Moffatt (multi-Félix winner), alongside emerging acts including Élégie (GAMIQ Révélation 2024) and zouz (signed October 2024). Operating geographies span Canada, the United States, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, with festival exposure at SXSW, CMJ, Osheaga, Les Eurockéennes, and Reeperbahn Festival.
Simone Records firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Simone Records
- Legal name
- Simone Records
- Website
- https://simonerecords.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Simone Records is a Montreal-based independent record label managing a roster of 60+ Quebec and francophone artists, providing recording, distribution, publishing, sync licensing, and live performance coordination services through digital platforms, European distribution partners, and a network of specialized booking and press agencies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Simone Records industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Record Label / Music Label Services
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225), Music Publishers (512230), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Record Labels (Major & Independent) (MPAIAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Publishing Administration (Catalog Admin, Global Subpublishing) (MPAIABAB), Full-Service Artist Management (MPAIAGAA), Sync Rights Representation (Pitching, Clearance, Negotiation) (MPAIABAF)
Keywords
Where Simone Records is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Simone Records business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Music Recording and Release: Simone Records generates revenue through signing and releasing music for its roster of 60+ artists. The label owns or administers recording catalogs and publishes music through various distribution channels including physical sales (boutique), digital streaming platforms, and international distribution agreements.
- Publishing and Sync Licensing: The label manages publishing rights for its artists' catalogs, facilitating synchronization licensing for film, television, advertising, and other media uses.
- Live Performance Management: Simone Records coordinates live performances and touring for its artists through in-house production coordinators and booking agency partnerships.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Simone Records product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Simone Records is a Montreal-based independent record label that signs, develops, and manages a roster of 60+ artists across multiple genres. The label provides end-to-end label services including artist development, recording, music publishing, digital and physical distribution, live performance booking, press relations, radio promotion, and sync licensing.
Product overview
Simone Records is a Montreal-based independent record label operating as a single unified offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The label provides comprehensive music industry services including artist representation and management, record production, physical and digital distribution, promotional services, and live show coordination. The company represents a diverse roster of over 60 Quebec and francophone Canadian artists spanning indie rock, folk, pop, electronic, and world music genres. The label's portfolio includes both established acts like Karkwa, Ariane Moffatt, and Louis-Jean Cormier, as well as emerging artists. Simone Records functions as both a traditional record label and management company, with operations spanning recording, distribution, touring, and merchandise sales.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Artist Development & Roster Management
- Music Recording & Production Support
- Music Publishing
- Music Distribution
- Live Performance Management
- Press Relations
- Radio Promotion
- Sync Licensing
Quantifiable outcome
- Karkwa won the prestigious Polaris Prize in 2010 for 'Les chemins de verre' - the first and only entirely Francophone album to win this award
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Simone Records
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Simone Records technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Simone Records partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Exag RecordscoreEuropean distribution partner handling releases for artists such as Vincent Khouni in European markets. Exag Records provides distribution services for Simone Records artists seeking European market presence.
- Secret City RecordsminorSome artists like Antoine Corriveau are signed to Secret City Records while Simone Records handles booking and live performances.
- Yotanka RecordscoreFrench distribution partner for Simone Records releases. Yotanka handles press, publishing, and promotion for Simone artists in France.
- Spectacles BonzaïcoreBooking agency representing Simone Records artists for live performances in Quebec.
- BonsoundcoreBooking agency representing Simone Records artists including Les Hay Babies, Dany Placard, and others for live performances.
- Ruel TourneurcoreBooking agency representing Simone Records artists including Mat Vezio and Le Winston Band.
- Ensemble ConcertscoreBooking agency representing Simone Records artists including Sara-Danielle and ALIAS for live performances.
- 9e VaguecoreBooking agency representing Simone Records artists including Pascale Picard, Étienne Coppée, and Klaus.
- Projet CaravellecorePress relations agency representing Simone Records artists in Quebec including STÉPHANIE LAPOINTE, Hubert Lenoir, and Dany Placard.
- Roy & TurnercorePress relations agency representing Simone Records artists including Pascale Picard and Hubert Lenoir in Quebec.
- HIVE MIND PRcorePress relations agency representing Simone Records artists including The Seasons and Hubert Lenoir in Canada and USA.
- TorpillecoreRadio promotion agency representing Simone Records artists for radio tracking and promotion.
- Goodbye Karelle - Yotanka Records (France)minorYotanka Records distributes Goodbye Karelle in France alongside Simone Records in Canada.
- Cesaratto & CocorePress relations agency representing Simone Records artists including Ingrid St-Pierre and handling management for various artists.
- Bonne PromominorRadio and press relations agency representing Laurence Helie.
- MothlandminorLabel and press relations for Alix Fernz, with booking through Ambiances Ambigues.
- Ambiances AmbiguescoreBooking agency representing Simone Records artists including Élégie and Alix Fernz.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Simone Records competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bonsound: Montreal-based independent music company providing label, management, booking, and publicity services to Quebec artists. Closest direct comparable in business model and roster overlap, and already serves as a booking agency for several Simone Records artists.
- Yotanka Records: French independent label serving as Simone Records' European distribution and press partner. Same fundamental business model—signing, developing, and distributing francophone artists—applied to the French market.
- Dare to Care Records: Quebec-based independent record label releasing indie rock, folk, and francophone artists. Operates in the same Montreal ecosystem with similar roster size and a comparable full-service label approach.
- Secret City Records: Montreal-based independent record label with a roster spanning indie, folk, and alternative, co-releasing some artists with Simone Records (e.g., Antoine Corriveau). Directly comparable in catalog scope, geographic focus, and artist services.
- Audiogram Records: Long-established Montreal independent label with deep Quebec francophone roster across rock, folk, and pop. Comparable in catalog maturity, domestic market focus, and award-winning artist development history.
- Grosse Boîte: Montreal-based independent label and management company focused on Quebec francophone artists, with analog roster positioning to Simone Records including touring, press, and radio promotion services.
Regional players
- Exag Records: European independent label distributing Simone Records artists such as Vincent Khouni in European markets. Operates the same independent label model but focused on European rather than North American artists.
- Indica Records: Canadian independent label with comparable roster size and focus on developing domestic talent. Similar full-service offering including publishing and touring, though oriented primarily to Western Canadian markets.
Emerging players
- Mothland: Montreal-based independent label and press relations entity working with emerging Quebec artists (e.g., Alix Fernz alongside Simone Records). Smaller-scope comparable focused on the indie/alternative segment.
Broad incumbents
- Nettwerk Records: Large Canadian independent label and music services company with global artist roster. Provides a broader incumbent benchmark for what an indie label can achieve at scale, though operating across all languages and geographies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Simone Records social profiles
Digital presenceSimone Records financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Simone Records leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Simone Records funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Simone 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 Simone Records
What does Simone Records do?
Simone Records is a Montreal-based independent record label that signs, develops, and manages a roster of 60+ artists across multiple genres. The label provides end-to-end label services including artist development, recording, music publishing, digital and physical distribution, live performance booking, press relations, radio promotion, and sync licensing.
Is Simone Records a public or private company?
Simone Records is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Simone Records founded?
Simone Records was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Simone Records based?
Simone Records is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Simone Records make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Music Recording and Release is the primary driver. The others are publishing and Sync Licensing and live Performance Management.
Who are Simone Records's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bonsound, Yotanka Records, Dare to Care Records, Secret City Records, Audiogram Records and Grosse Boîte. Regional players are Exag Records and Indica Records. Mothland is listed as an emerging player. Nettwerk Records is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Simone Records have an API?
No public API is recorded for Simone Records.
What industry is Simone Records in?
Simone Records's product category is Independent Record Label / Music Label Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAAAA, Record Labels (Major & Independent), with a secondary code of MPAIABAB, Publishing Administration (Catalog Admin, Global Subpublishing). Its NAICS code is 51225.