Minnesota's Top 20 Record Label Companies
Minnesota's Top 20 Record Label Companies
Operating in the heart of Minnesota's vibrant music scene, these top 20 record label companies are core contributors to the rich tapestry of artistic expressions found in this state. Ranging from labels focusing on folk, roots, and Americana, to those highlighting hard dance and punk genres, these companies provide platforms for distinct, diverse, and dynamic music offerings. This diversity echoes the state's musical heritage, paving the way for the hopeful future of the industry where even obscure sounds and rarely-heard tunes have the chance to thrive.
Top 20 record label companies in Minnesota
1. Red House Records Inc
- Website: redhouserecords.com
- Headquarters: Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
- Founded: 1981
- Headcount: 11-50
- Latest funding type: Acquired
Red House Records is a music label that specializes in folk, roots, and Americana music. The website features news and information about the label's artists, as well as a store where fans can purchase merchandise and albums from the label's roster.
2. DJ Beat Records Scandinavia
- Website: djbeat.no
- Headquarters: Oslo, Minnesota, United States
- Headcount: 11-50
DJ Beat Records Scandinavia is a record label focusing on hard dance music. They offer music releases in the hard dance genre, and maintain a presence on Spotify.
3. Havoc Records
- Website: havocrecords.com
- Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Headcount: 11-50
Havoc Records and Distribution is a music label and distributor specializing in punk and hardcore music. They offer records, tapes, and CDs from both current and classic bands.
4. Tone Filth
- Website: tonefilth.org
- Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Headcount: 11-50
Tone Filth is a records and tapes company focused on offering high-quality audio recordings.
5. Living Water Music
- Website: livingwatermusic.com
- Headquarters: Hibbing, Minnesota, United States
- Headcount: 11-50
Living Water Music is a multi-faceted music company and service offering complete customization of a wide range of music services and products for the general public as well as for musicians and music industry professionals.
6. Darque-Ayes Entertainment
- Website: darqueayes.com
- Headquarters: Coon Rapids, Minnesota, United States
- Headcount: 1-10
Indi Record Label, Radio Network, Music Publishing and DJ services. Darque-Ayes Entertainment Inc. was started in 1995 by two men with differing backgrounds in the entertainment industry. Stephen Darque was an author and song writer and David Ayes was an accomplished musician, singer/songwriter. They began with artist management focusing on local Twin City bands that were overlooked by the bigger Management firms in the area and opened up their record label R.A.R.E. Records in 1996. They formed a partnership with Bledbuck studios in Savage, MN. In late 1996 Stephen Darque left the company to explore other interests and David Ayes continued the journey and opened up the DJ/Karaoke arm of the company. In 2013, the record company was re-opened with the signings of Bry Sealy and Tusha Ramos. In 2015 we began aggressively seeking new bands to sign and have added Ashes From Stone, Kna-Lo Venge and Discord Curse to our family of artists.
7. Rhymesayers Entertainment
- Website: rhymesayers.com
- Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Founded: 1995
- Headcount: 11-50
Rhymesayers.com is a website that offers music merchandise and releases from various artists. They sell clothing, accessories, vinyl records, CDs, and digital music. Their catalog includes products from artists such as Atmosphere, Aesop Rock, and KMD.
8. Down In The Valley
- Website: downinthevalley.com
- Headquarters: Golden Valley, Minnesota, United States
- Founded: 1972
- Headcount: 11-50
Down In The Valley is a music and entertainment company that offers a wide selection of music albums, movies, and other related products. They have curated collections from various artists, including Neil Diamond, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Tom Waits.
9. Rock the Cause Records 501(c)3
- Website: irockthecause.org
- Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Founded: 2007
- Headcount: 11-50
Rock the Cause is a non-profit organization and record label that works with artists and hosts live concerts to raise awareness and money for charitable causes around the world. They also mentor underserved populations of youth about careers in the arts and entertainment industry while earning a high school diploma.
10. Music Marketing
- Website: musicgoat.com
- Headquarters: Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
- Headcount: 1-10
Your Musically Nonspecific Source For Online Music Reviews, Free Music Podcasts, Music Marketing Strategies, DIY Musicians, How I Promote My Music and Other Music What Not.
11. Rocky Road Touring
- Website: rockyroadtouring.com
- Headquarters: St Paul, Minnesota, United States
- Headcount: 1-10
Rocky Road Touring is a company based out of ST PAUL, MN, United States.
12. Saline Project Pictures
- Website: salineproject.com
- Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Headcount: 1-10
The Saline Project is a directing team made up of brothers Adam Toht and Ben Toht and 3D artist and designer Jesse Roff. Formed by Adam Toht in 1999, the Brooklyn-based Saline Project began by creating beautiful and humorous interstitials for MTV. They quickly made a name for themselves as comedic directors with a heavily visual sensibility. They began to create title sequences for television and film. In 2002, The Saline Project won an Emmy for the design and direction of a title sequence for ""Mortal Enemies,"" a BBC/Discovery documentary about Arafat and Sharon. After doing a teaser clip for MTV starring The Roots, The Saline Project started designing and directing music videos, creating videos for Eminem, The Hives, The Cure, Gwen Stefani, 50 Cent, The Black Eyed Peas, Mars Volta, Modest Mouse, and others, earning nominations for MTV VMAs and the Director of the Year Award for the MVPA. Soon the Saline Project began directing commercials, directing projects for Dunkin Donuts, Sony, M&Ms, Samsung, Nestle, Panda Express, and a popular 2013 Super Bowl commercial for Skechers (the one with the guy tackling a cheetah). Throughout the career of The Saline Project a culture of experimentation has been very important. Their experimental work has resulted in short films, art, zines, and long form developmental projects (Little Monsters). And notably Monsters, Villains, Heroes and Victims (MVHV), a thirteen part 3d image series that went viral when first released in 2012. The Saline Project continues to direct and design commercials, films and experimental projects and is currently based in Brooklyn New York.
13. SPC Ballet
- Website: spcballet.org
- Headquarters: Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
- Headcount: 1-10
SPC Ballet is a company that operates in the Media and Entertainment industry. It employs 11-20 people and has $1M-$5M of revenue. The company is headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
14. R1Way
- Website: r1way.com
- Headquarters: Crystal Bay, Minnesota, United States
- Headcount: 1-10
R1Way Inc is a company that operates in the Publishing industry. It employs 6-10 people and has $1M-$5M of revenue. The company is headquartered in Crystal Bay, Minnesota.
15. Modern Radio Record Label
- Website: modern-radio.com
- Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Founded: 1999
- Headcount: 1-10
Modern Radio is an independent and DIY record label based out of Minnesota that supports artists and provides an atmosphere where they can focus on their craft
16. ftwnu2
- Website: ftwnu2.com
- Headquarters: Minnetonka, Minnesota, United States
- Headcount: 1-10
FTWNU2 is a small Minnesota based, and run, record label. Dealing with only Minnesotan bands, FTWNU2 wanted to show the world what this part of the country had to offer. Since Minnesota is under cold and snow seven months out of the year, this brings out some real, genuine, angry music. Our first release was the DISSIDENT CLONE Creating the Consumed 7 vinyl ep back in 2015. With a couple year hiatus, due to medical reasons, FTWNU2 came back strong in 2018 with 3 releases: DISSIDENT CLONE CIVILIZED 10 song cd, BONEFIRE MURDERAPOLIS 8 song cd and the HIVE/NO SKIN split 7 vinyl ep. The BONEFIRE cd (100 for first pressing) sold out in three weeks, having us rush to make a 2nd pressing. Followed by the DISSIDENT CLONE cd (100 for first pressing) selling out and, again, having to do a second pressing. The purpose of FTWNU2 was to put out quality products at low quantities, and this seems to be popular amongst the fans. It was also to highlight bands from the area that pushed the envelope or required a certain palette to appreciate. I think weve achieved that.
17. Enemy Records
- Website: enemyrecords.com
- Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Headcount: 1-10
Enemy was founded by Dustin Zahn in 2004 with the sole purpose of releasing Dustin's favorite music from both himself as well as his closest friends. Originally, Enemy was started as a sublabel under Zahn and Ian Lehman's ""Abiotic Recordings,"" which would shift the focus from industrial techno to something more laid back and conceptual. Today's sound of Enemy rides the threshold of daring yet familiar sounds with focus on melody and progression rather than straight rhythm tracks that saturate today's dance market. The core artists are Dustin Zahn, Decimal, and Eidolon.
18. Boots Music International
- Website: rhythmnbootsmusic.com
- Headquarters: Afton, Minnesota, United States
- Headcount: 1-10
Offering a full range of services in the field of New Country Music, newly launched Rhythm n™ Boots Music LLC, provides artist management, music production, music publishing, and record label. As our debut artist, and as part of the launch of Rhythm n™ Boots Music, we are proud to announce that singer/songwriter Billy Joe Conor has signed an exclusive contract making RNB his managing agent, producer, record label, and publisher for all of his musical works, including those co-written with Rose Marie McCoy... Freebies On The House for Billy Joe Conor Fans and Friends... Free Billy Joe Conor Song Ringtones. Free Billy Joe Conor Personalized Cell Phone Wallpapers. Personalize your choice of a screensaver/wallpaper for your cell phone with your name and your text, and then send it to your cell phone.
19. Forged Artifacts
- Website: forgedartifacts.com
- Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Headcount: 1-10
Forged Artifacts is a company that operates in the Media and Entertainment industry. It employs 1-5 people and has $0M-$1M of revenue. The company is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
20. Titan Administration Records
- Website: titanarecord.com
- Headquarters: St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
- Founded: 2012
- Headcount: 1-10
In 1994, Titan Administration Records was formed in Mr. Freeburg music class with two of the top MC’s in St. Paul Central High School history. Throughout years of constant handwork and dedication by 2012, Titan Administration Records became a high quality Minnesota based record label. Titan Administration Records aims to keep the true Twin Cities’ Hip-Hop spirit alive. Titan’s legacy and innovation gives them the ability to maximize any artist potential. Titan isn’t any ordinary record label, Titan doesn’t own artists, Titan partners with artist and joins each artist on their own unique journey to stardom.
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