Mixmastered Records

What Mixmastered Records does

Mixmastered Records is an independent record label founded in Chicago in 2008 by Dan Morrell, a former B96/WBBM-FM radio personality since 2001 and former Chicago Bears official DJ. The label signs and develops artists across four genres—Metal, Hip-Hop, EDM, and Pop—with a roster spanning approximately 10 artists and a catalog of 28 releases that have accumulated 14M+ total streams. Its roster is anchored by Soundmaster T and Jah Rista in Hip-Hop, Dan Morrell in EDM, and Metalbourne in Metal, with Pop currently open for signings. The label describes itself as 'bound by craft, not category,' positioning multi-genre capability as its differentiator.

The company operates three revenue streams: (1) sync licensing fees for film, TV, advertising, gaming, and trailer placements, sold via a direct phone line (800.649.6278) with 48-hour quote turnaround and 100% one-stop catalog clearance; (2) streaming royalties from DSPs, distributed via DistroKid; and (3) $1 paid demo submission fees processed through Stripe, which double as a bot filter for A&R intake. Customers include music supervisors, ad agencies, and trailer houses on the B2B side, plus independent artists seeking label representation. The label claims to listen to every submission and respond within ten business days, with the $1 fee refunded if the artist is signed.

Mixmastered Records is a founder-led, privately held independent with 1–10 employees, no disclosed institutional investment, no parent company, and no funding rounds. It operates as part of a broader 'Mixmastered family of companies' that includes Mixmastered Studios (recording/production) and MMTD. The technology stack is entirely third-party: DistroKid for distribution, Stripe for payments, and OneHub360 as the website platform. There is no proprietary platform, no API, no mobile app, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities. Operating geographies are nominally global via DSP reach, but artist recruitment and headquarters remain Chicago-based.

Name

Mixmastered Records

Legal name

Mixmastered Records

Website

https://mixmasteredrecords.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mixmastered Records is an independent, founder-led Chicago record label founded in 2008 that signs multi-genre artists (Metal, Hip-Hop, EDM, Pop), distributes via DistroKid to major DSPs, and sells sync licensing to music supervisors and ad agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Record Label

NAICS

Record Production and Distribution (51225), Music Publishers (51223)

akta.pro primary industry

Record Labels (Major & Independent) (MPAIAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Master Rights Ownership & Catalog Management (MPAIAAAB), Sync Clearance & Rights Management (One-Stop, Negotiation, Documentation) (MPAIALAF), Sync Rights Representation (Pitching, Clearance, Negotiation) (MPAIABAF)

Keywords

• Independent record label
• Sync licensing services
• Music distribution
• Artist development
• Multi-genre music

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sync Licensing: License tracks from full catalog to music supervisors, ad agencies, trailer houses, and game developers for film, TV, advertising, gaming, and trailers. One-stop catalog with fast 48-hour quote turnaround.
2. Streaming Revenue: Revenue from streaming plays across DSPs via DistroKid distribution. Artists receive releases across all major platforms.
3. Demo Submission Fee: $1 submission fee filters bots and tire-kickers. Fee is refunded if artist is signed. Funds administrative costs of A&R listening process.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Mixmastered Records is an independent record label that signs multi-genre artists (Metal, Hip-Hop, EDM, Pop), records and releases their music, distributes the catalog via DistroKid to all major streaming platforms, and licenses the catalog for synchronization in film, TV, advertising, gaming, and trailers. The label also runs an A&R demo submission program with a $1 fee to filter and discover new artists.

Product overview

Mixmastered Records is an independent record label founded in Chicago in 2008, operating as a multi-genre platform that signs artists across Metal (2 artists, 3 releases), Hip-Hop (5 artists, 11 releases), EDM (3 artists, 4 releases), and Pop (roster open). The label's core offerings include its artist catalog and sync licensing service for film, TV, advertising, gaming, and trailers, plus an A&R demo submission program. Distribution is handled via DistroKid to all major DSPs. The roster includes Soundmaster T (Hip-Hop), Jah Rista (Hip-Hop), Dan Morrell (EDM/Founder), and Metalbourne (Metal), with the label positioning itself as 'Bounder by craft, not category.'

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sync Licensing Service Music licensing service for music supervisors, ad agencies, trailer houses, and game developers needing tracks for film, TV, advertising, gaming, and trailers. Offers one-stop catalog clearance across 28 tracks with a 48-hour quote turnaround. Contact line: 800.649.6278.
• A&R Demo Submissions Artist submission platform for independent artists across Metal, Hip-Hop, EDM, and Pop genres. Requires a $1 fee (processed via Stripe) to filter bots and unqualified submissions. Every submission is reviewed by A&R with a 10-business-day response time. Fee is refunded if the artist is signed.
• Soundmaster T, "The Droked Out Movement" Hip-hop album release from Mixmastered Records' signed artist Soundmaster T, featuring collaborations with Jah Rista and Dan Morrell. Distributed to all major DSPs via DistroKid.
• Metalbourne, "Forge" EP release from industrial/heavy metal artist Metalbourne on the Mixmastered Records roster. Distributed to all major DSPs via DistroKid.
• Dan Morrell, "Frequency" EP release from EDM artist and label founder Dan Morrell. Distributed to all major DSPs via DistroKid.
• Lakeshore Sessions Vol. 1 Label compilation album under the 'Lakeshore Sessions' brand, featuring various artists from the Mixmastered Records roster across genres.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14M+ total streams across catalog
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DistroKidcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigital music distribution partner enabling releases to all major DSPs including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Tidal. Handles global distribution logistics for the label's catalog.
• Mixmastered StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Mixmastered family of companies. Recording studio operation supporting label artists with production capabilities.
• MMTDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Mixmastered family of companies. Associated music/media entity.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Songtradr: Sync licensing marketplace and distribution platform aiming to democratize music licensing for independent artists and rights holders. Comparable on the indie-focused sync value proposition, with a marketplace rather than direct-sales model.
• Create Music Group: Independent music company operating record labels, publishing, and distribution with active sync licensing. Comparable business model overlap (label + sync + distribution), though at meaningfully larger scale and with institutional backing.

Direct peers

• Marmoset: Independent sync licensing agency and roster-based catalog representing indie artists across multiple genres, with a similar one-stop licensing model and boutique music-supervisor focus. Directly comparable on sync service model, catalog size class, and target buyer.
• Musicbed: Sync licensing platform for independent artists and composers serving film, TV, advertising, and trailer clients. Comparable in curating indie multi-genre catalog for sync buyers, though operating at significantly larger scale.
• Position Music: Independent music publishing and master rights company offering sync licensing for film, TV, advertising, and trailers. Closely comparable as a boutique, independent sync-first operation with multi-genre catalog.
• Instrumental (Alibi Music): Independent sync licensing library offering cleared tracks to music supervisors, ad agencies, and trailer houses. Comparable in offering curated, one-stop cleared indie catalog for sync buyers.
• Fatbeats Distribution: Independent hip-hop label and distributor with curated artist roster. Comparable as an independent, founder-led label operating in adjacent hip-hop-leaning territory with similar multi-genre ambitions.

Broad incumbents

• Epidemic Sound: Subscription-based sync music platform for content creators, advertising, and media. Comparable as a sync-first curated catalog business, though at vastly larger scale and a different commercial model (subscription vs. per-license).
• APM Music: Large-scale production music and sync library owned by Sony Music, serving film, TV, advertising, and gaming with hundreds of thousands of tracks. Comparable on the sync-licensing value proposition but operates at vastly larger scale and corporate ownership.
• AWAL (Sony-owned): Independent artist distribution and label services platform, now owned by Sony Music. Comparable on the distribution-via-DSP model for indie artists, with much larger scale and corporate backing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MixmasteredRec
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdof4Ju7amm1chz1gi1T2ZA
• Facebookfacebook.com/MixmasteredRecords
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mixmastered-records
• Instagraminstagram.com/MixmasteredRecords
• Pinterestpinterest.com/Mixmastered

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 Mixmastered Records