What LAB Records Ltd. does

LAB Records Ltd. is an independent record label founded in Manchester, UK in 2007. The company operates as a private limited company with a small team (1-10 employees) distributed across Manchester, London, and New York. Its core business is signing and developing musical artists, releasing recorded music, and distributing it globally through a partnership with ADA (Warner Music Group's independent distribution arm). LAB Records currently manages a roster of over 45 active artists spanning indie rock, pop, and alternative genres, including South Arcade, The K's, swim school, The Lathums, Only The Poets, and Meet Me @ The Altar. The label's catalogue comprises 450+ releases that have collectively been streamed billions of times, and it has achieved multiple top 40 UK albums, most notably The K's 'Pretty On The Internet,' which reached the UK album chart summit in August 2025 — only the second Manchester label release to do so since New Order on Factory Records in 1989.

The company's revenue model derives from music streaming royalties, digital sales, physical releases, merchandise, and artist development services. Distribution is handled by ADA, while direct-to-consumer sales are executed through the company's own storefront at lab.tmstor.es and its Bandcamp page. Marketing and artist promotion are conducted primarily via the label's website and artist-specific social media channels across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The label positions itself as a stepping stone for emerging talent, emphasizing its ability to spot and develop young artists and maintain close ties with influential figures in the entertainment industry. No public funding rounds, acquisitions, or ownership changes are disclosed; ownership structure and institutional investors remain opaque. Pricing for artist services and releases is not publicly disclosed, consistent with standard independent label practice.

Name

LAB Records Ltd.

Legal name

LAB Records, Ltd.

Website

https://labrecs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LAB Records Ltd. is an independent record label founded in Manchester in 2007 that signs, develops, and distributes music for over 45 artists globally via ADA. It holds 450+ catalogue releases streamed billions of times and reached #1 UK album chart in August 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Label Services

NAICS

Record Production and Distribution (51225), Record Production and Distribution (512250), Sound Recording Industries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Record Labels (Major & Independent) (MPAIAAAA)

Keywords

• Independent record label
• Artist development services
• Music distribution
• Catalogue releases
• Recorded music publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Record Label Services: LAB Records operates as an independent record label providing both frontline releases and artist services. The label generates revenue through music streaming, digital sales, physical releases, and artist development services.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

LAB Records Ltd. is an independent record label that signs artists and releases and distributes their recorded music. The label provides frontline releases and artist development services, with music distributed globally through ADA. The company has produced over 450 catalogue releases that have been streamed billions of times, with staff located in Manchester, London, and New York.

Product overview

LAB Records Ltd. is an independent record label founded in Manchester in 2007, operating as a single unified offering that combines frontline record label services with artist services. The company is distributed by ADA and has produced over 450 catalog releases that have been streamed billions of times. The label maintains a roster of over 45 artists and has achieved multiple top 40 albums, including The K's 'Pretty On The Internet' which reached UK album chart summit in August 2025. The company operates staff in Manchester, London, and New York.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LAB Records Independent Record Label Services Independent record label offering artist development, music distribution, and catalogue releases. Services include frontline releases and artist services, distributed by ADA globally, with staff in Manchester, London, and New York.
• LAB Records Music Catalogue Over 450 catalogue releases available for streaming and digital purchase through Bandcamp, ADA distribution, and the LAB Records store, featuring signed artists across multiple genres.

Named customers50 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ADAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLAB Records uses ADA for distribution of both frontline releases and artist services. ADA is a major distribution company that enables LAB Records to reach global audiences through their music catalogue of 450+ releases.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ninja Tune: London-based independent label with a similar artist-development ethos and a large global streaming catalogue; comparable in size, age, and indie A&R orientation.
• 4AD: Iconic UK/US indie label known for artist development and a strong catalogue; comparable to LAB Records in its A&R heritage and alternative/indie focus.
• XL Recordings: London-based independent label famous for developing artists (Adele, The Prodigy, Radiohead) into global acts — directly analogous to LAB Records' 'stepping stone' positioning for emerging talent.
• Because Music: European independent label comparable to LAB Records in its mix of artist development, catalogue depth, and multi-territory distribution via major-affiliated partners.
• Sub Pop Records: US independent label historically associated with artist development and breakout alternative acts, with a global distribution footprint similar to LAB Records' ADA arrangement.
• Rough Trade Records: Long-standing UK independent label rooted in indie/alternative development with a comparable focus on artist-led releases and A&R-driven catalogue growth.
• Epitaph Records: US-headquartered independent label with a globally distributed catalogue focused on alternative/punk/indie — comparable roster mix and indie-A&R philosophy to LAB Records.
• Warp Records: UK independent label with global reach and a development-driven roster across electronic and alternative genres — analogous mid-sized indie with catalogue-driven royalty profile.
• Partisan Records: US/UK-headquartered independent label signing and developing alternative and indie artists with global distribution — a near-twin business model to LAB Records in both roster composition and go-to-market.
• Domino Recording Company: UK-based independent record label with a similar A&R-led, artist-development identity and a globally distributed catalogue. Directly comparable as a UK indie of comparable scale signing alternative and indie artists.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/labrecords
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lab-records-ltd-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 LAB Records Ltd.