Ipecac Recordings
Ipecac Recordings is an independent record label founded in 1999 by Mike Patton and Greg Werckman, releasing eclectic music across vinyl, CD, and digital formats to fans of experimental and alternative music worldwide. It serves artists through single-record licensing deals that preserve ownership.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersAlameda, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ipecac Recordings does
Ipecac Recordings is an independent record label founded on April 1, 1999, by musician Mike Patton and his manager Greg Werckman, headquartered in Alameda, California. It was originally conceived as an outlet for Patton's various musical projects but expanded into a full label when the Melvins joined the roster. Over 27+ years, the label has built a catalog of more than 100 artists spanning rock, country, hip-hop, electronic, comedy, classical, and soundtracks, with marquee names including Mike Patton projects, Melvins, Tomahawk, mclusky, Dälek, The Jesus Lizard, ISIS, and recent additions like Cor de Lux and Gatta Morta.
The label's core product is recorded music released across vinyl, CD, and digital formats, distributed through four main channels: Bandcamp (global digital), Blixt (US), Townsend (UK/EU), and independent record stores worldwide. Merchandise is sold through the Blixt Merch Store, and the label supports touring for its artists across North America and Europe. Ipecac differentiates itself structurally through an artist-friendly deal model: artists retain ownership of their releases, and the label only does single-record licensing deals rather than long-term restrictive contracts, which is a core tenet of its business model.
Revenue mechanics are diversified across physical music sales, digital sales and streaming, merchandise, and licensing/sync deals, with no SACB-based or B2B pricing model. The label operates as a private company with 1–10 employees, no disclosed parent company, and no external institutional funding. Marketing is handled primarily through Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, email newsletter, and Bandcamp, with minimal reliance on paid acquisition.
Ipecac Recordings firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ipecac Recordings
- Legal name
- Ipecac Recordings
- Website
- https://ipecac.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ipecac Recordings is an independent record label founded in 1999 by Mike Patton and Greg Werckman, releasing eclectic music across vinyl, CD, and digital formats to fans of experimental and alternative music worldwide. It serves artists through single-record licensing deals that preserve ownership.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ipecac Recordings industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Music Label
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Recorded Music Distribution (Physical & Digital) (MPAIAAAC)
Keywords
Where Ipecac Recordings is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alameda
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ipecac Recordings business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Physical Music Sales: Sales of vinyl records, CDs, and merchandise through their own webstores and indie record retailers worldwide.
- Digital Music Sales: Digital album and single sales through Bandcamp and streaming platforms.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of band merchandise including apparel and accessories through Blixt Merch Store.
- Licensing Deals: Single record licensing deals where artists retain release ownership, a core business model principle.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Ipecac Recordings product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ipecac Recordings is an independent record label that releases music across vinyl, CD, and digital formats from a roster of 100+ artists spanning experimental rock, punk, hip-hop, electronic, and more. The label operates artist-friendly single-record licensing deals that allow artists to retain ownership of their releases, and coordinates touring and merchandise sales for its roster.
Product overview
Ipecac Recordings is an independent record label founded in 1999 by Mike Patton and Greg Werckman. The company operates as a unified platform offering music production, global distribution, touring coordination, and merchandise sales. Its core product is the record label itself, which releases music across vinyl, CD, and digital formats through multiple channels including Bandcamp, the US Blixt store, and UK/EU Townsend store. The catalog spans artists like Melvins, Dälek, mclusky, Cor de Lux, Gatta Morta, Valve (video game soundtracks), Spotlights, and many more across genres including rock, hip-hop, electronic, and experimental music. The label differentiates itself by treating artists fairly, allowing ownership retention, and avoiding singular genre constraints.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Music Releases (Albums, Singles, EPs) Catalog of music releases distributed across vinyl, CD, and digital formats, featuring artists such as Melvins, Dälek, mclusky, Cor de Lux, Gatta Morta, The Jesus Lizard, ISIS, Tomahawk, Mike Patton projects, and many more across rock, punk, hip-hop, electronic, and experimental genres. Sold directly to consumers and through indie record stores.
- Touring and Concert Booking Services Booking and coordination of live performances for Ipecac artists across venues in North America and Europe. The label organizes and promotes tours for acts including CNTS, Cor de Lux, King Garbage, mclusky, Melvins, Mondo Cane, and Tomahawk.
- Band Merchandise
Companies that use Ipecac Recordings
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Ipecac Recordings technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ipecac Recordings partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Blixt MerchandisecoreBlixt handles US music and merchandise distribution for Ipecac Recordings through their webstore platform.
- TownsendcoreTownsend handles UK/EU music distribution for Ipecac Recordings through their webstore platform.
- BandcampcoreBandcamp serves as the primary digital distribution and sales platform for Ipecac Recordings' catalog.
- Thirty TigersminorThirty Tigers handles distribution for AVTT/PTTN (The Avett Brothers & Mike Patton) collaboration alongside Ramseur Records.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ipecac Recordings competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sub Pop Records: Iconic independent record label founded in 1986, similar in artist-friendly approach and eclectic roster. Sub Pop is the most comparable indie label of similar vintage and influence, though it operates at significantly larger scale.
- Matador Records: Independent label founded in 1989 with a similar eclectic, artist-centric approach. Matador has signed artists across rock, electronic, and experimental genres, comparable to Ipecac's broad roster philosophy.
- Merge Records: Independent label known for artist-friendly contracts and eclectic roster spanning indie rock, folk, and electronic. Comparable to Ipecac in independent ethos and artist-retention model.
- Epitaph Records: Independent punk and indie rock label founded in 1981. Similar anti-major-label ethos and DIY distribution approach, though with a sharper genre focus than Ipecac's eclectic roster.
- Alternative Tentacles: Independent punk label founded in 1979. Notably connected to Ipecac — co-founder Greg Werckman was formerly Alternative Tentacles' label manager. Highly comparable in niche positioning and underground ethos.
- Drag City Records: Independent label with eclectic roster spanning experimental rock, folk, electronic, and avant-garde. Mirrors Ipecac's broad genre approach and artist-friendly model.
- Kill Rock Stars: Independent label specializing in punk, indie rock, and experimental music. Comparable in underground niche positioning and artist-friendly ethos.
- Sacred Bones Records: Independent label founded in 2007 with a focus on experimental, post-punk, and noise artists. Similar in niche positioning and catalog-building approach.
- Thrill Jockey Records: Independent label founded in 1992 with eclectic roster across experimental, post-rock, and electronic genres. Comparable in vintage and curatorial approach.
- Sargent House: Independent label focused on progressive, experimental, and heavy music. Comparable in targeting the post-rock/experimental niche and artist-focused approach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ipecac Recordings social profiles
Digital presenceIpecac Recordings financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ipecac Recordings leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Ipecac Recordings funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ipecac Recordings 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 Ipecac Recordings
What does Ipecac Recordings do?
Ipecac Recordings is an independent record label that releases music across vinyl, CD, and digital formats from a roster of 100+ artists spanning experimental rock, punk, hip-hop, electronic, and more. The label operates artist-friendly single-record licensing deals that allow artists to retain ownership of their releases, and coordinates touring and merchandise sales for its roster.
Is Ipecac Recordings a public or private company?
Ipecac Recordings is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ipecac Recordings founded?
Ipecac Recordings was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ipecac Recordings based?
Ipecac Recordings is headquartered in Alameda, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ipecac Recordings make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Physical Music Sales are the primary driver. The others are digital Music Sales, merchandise Sales and licensing Deals.
Who are Ipecac Recordings's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sub Pop Records, Matador Records, Merge Records, Epitaph Records, Alternative Tentacles, Drag City Records, Kill Rock Stars, Sacred Bones Records, Thrill Jockey Records and Sargent House.
Does Ipecac Recordings have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ipecac Recordings.
What industry is Ipecac Recordings in?
Ipecac Recordings's product category is Independent Music Label. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAAAC, Recorded Music Distribution (Physical & Digital). Its NAICS code is 51225.