The music industry in Illinois promises diverse styles and genres, thanks to a plethora of vibrant record label companies. Through these companies, music lovers can explore, purchase, and delve into an eclectic array of tunes. These firms offer an array of services, ranging from managing artist’s releases to selling vinyl records, CDs, and digital downloads. They not only cater to popular music genres like rock, metal, alternative, but also are a gateway to discovering emerging artists. The Illinois music industry, spearheaded by these record label companies, is geared towards producing high-quality music and promoting unique talent, reflecting the rich and diverse musical heritage of the state.


Top 21 record label companies in Illinois

1. Victory Records

Victory Records is a music company that manages and releases albums for various artists. They offer a diverse catalog of music, including rock, metal, and alternative genres.


2. Polyvinyl Records

Polyvinyl Records is a music company that offers a wide range of vinyl records, merchandise, and music from various artists. They provide a platform for music lovers to discover new artists, purchase their music, and shop for exclusive merchandise.


3. Numero Group

Numerogroup is a company that sells music records and merchandise. They offer a wide range of vinyl records, CDs, and digital downloads. They have a diverse catalog of albums from various genres and decades.


4. Archeophone Records

  • Website: archeophone.com
  • Headquarters: Champaign, Illinois, United States
  • Headcount: 51-200

Archeophone is a Grammy-winning label that specializes in reissuing forgotten recordings of the acoustic era (1890s-1925). They preserve, contextualize, and make available historic music recordings from around the world.


5. Windy City Records, LLC

WCRecords is an independent record label in Chicago providing music production, recording, marketing, distribution, printing, duplication, management, and booking services to their artists.


6. Big Beef Records

  • Website: bigbeef.com
  • Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Headcount: 11-50

Big Beef Records & Productions is a music production company offering a catalog of rock music and music-related media.


7. Ingen Enterprise

INGEN Music is an established record label based in Chicago and Milwaukee. They offer artists and producers a trustworthy platform to launch and develop their musical careers. Their portfolio includes R&B singers and songwriters.


8. Carrot Top Records, INC.

Carrot Top Records is a company that helps musicians gain exposure and share their music with the world.


9. Thrill Jockey Records

Thrill Jockey is a music label that offers a wide range of genre-spanning music, including various artists and bands. They release albums and organize live shows, capturing the energy and creativity of the artists. Stay up to date with the latest news from Thrill Jockey.


10. Axis Records LLC

Axis Records is a music label founded by Jeff Mills. The label offers a range of music genres, including electronic music, jazz fusion, and art installations.


11. Shadonj

  • Website: shadonjinc.com
  • Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Headcount: 51-200

We could not extract a relevant description for the company based on its website.


12. ChicagoMusic.org

Chicago Music is a platform for music enthusiasts to discover music festivals, venues, resources, and events in Chicago.


13. freewayaudio

  • Website: freewayaudio.weebly.com
  • Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Founded: 2014
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Latest funding type: Equity Crowdfunding

I am currently working on two different businesses, both in which I believe will help develop each other. The first is webzunlimited, which offers individuals the opportunity to bring what they have to offer into a unique and professional online presence. The development cost for the venture is $7,000 http://webzunlimited.weebly.com The second business is in the music production field. Freewayaudio is the name of a multi-functional online business aimed toward allowing musical artist of all genres more exposure to both listeners and record labels. Music artist would be able to create a social profile like any other major social media website, however this online opportunity would allow fans and followers to critic and vote only on the artist they are fans of and following. Each artist in each genre will compete for artist of the month for six months. The top six will then compete for the remainder six months for artist of the year. The winner will in turn receive a prize, which I would love to be a record deal, and a feature in several magazines telling their story. I believe this opportunity will benefit those who have amazing talent, yet are not able to take advantage of opportunities to show their talent like American Idol, The Voice, Xfactor, etc. Many individuals are not able to take advantage of these opportunities do to unfortunate circumstances. Which is where freewayaudio comes in to offer another avenue of opportunity to get their talent exposed to millions with the same initial idea as American Ideal, but online. The site will require a membership fee be paid for the artist to create profiles and upload their music. The development cost for the venture would be $10,000. The site is currently in development but offers artist many products to assist in their ventures into the music production industry. http://freewayaudio.weebly.com


14. Palettes

  • Website: palettes.us
  • Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Founded: 2014
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

Palettes is an independent record label established in 2014 and based in Chicago, offering a range of music genres from a diverse pool of artists.


15. Millikin University - School of Music

In its ninth year of production, First Step Records is a student operated record label and publishing company providing hands-on experience in the business of music. Located at Millikin University in Decatur, IL, the label seeks to provide opportunities for students, faculty, and alumni artists. First Step is a student-run record label and publishing company that supports and promotes the diverse, quality music of Millikin University. The product we produce exceeds industry standards. That we are a commercial outlet for Millikin Universitys established and emerging artists.


16. Vitae Records

  • Website: vitaerecords.com
  • Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Headcount: 1-10

Vitae Records LLC is a company that operates in the Media and Entertainment industry. It employs 6-10 people and has $1M-$5M of revenue. The company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.


17. Playing Field Recordings

  • Website: playing-field.com
  • Headquarters: Urbana, Illinois, United States
  • Headcount: 11-50

Playing Field Recordings is an indie rock record label that features artists from around the world.


18. Mophi &a; MoFyne Records

  • Website: mophi-mofyne.com
  • Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Headcount: 1-10

The purpose of Mophi & Mofyne Record is to have an Company build on trust, honesty and loyalty, a brotherhood and sisterhood. A family oriented company; we as people work so hard in everyday life to have something and almost never make it.


19. Sleeping Dog Records

Sleeping Dog Records provides the best in new recorded music from the hottest of today's artists, covering musical styles from blues and rock to R&B and country. Sleeping Dog, an equal opportunity innovator, uses the power of the Internet to bring more music ... better music ... directly to you, from its base just outside of Chicago, Illinois. Chicago is a well known birthplace of modern blues. What is less known is the ongoing, living, breathing, thriving, striving, scene that continues to evolve in this bluest of all cities. Any evening, of any week - hundreds of the world?s best musicians ply their trade in bars, clubs, restaurants, concerts, on street corners, at parties, for weddings ? wherever a crowd can be cajoled to gather. The music they play is at the bedrock of American culture. It?s an art form that continues to change and grow. Modern blues defies boundaries and defines the bleeding cultural edge - while never wavering from the innate strength and dignity of its time honored tradition. Blues covers all moods, occasions and demographics. Muddy Waters said ?the blues had a baby ? and they called it rock and roll?. But Mother Blues was more prolific than that. As it happens, she?s become the progenitor of all relevant American music. Any player who ever hoped to make bad things better has been a step child of the blues. And what the blues gives ? she also takes. What?s old is new. Modern blues has absorbed influences from every one of its musical offspring ?rock, jazz and gospel ? country, funk, R&B - even hip hop. Blues does not just cover the map. Blues IS the map. By popular understanding, blues musicians labor in obscurity. It?s called paying dues. In the ancient 1960?s a handful of British rock bands made a few obscure American blues icons globally famous, although rarely rich. Since then, most living blues musicians have fully upheld the larger tradition of the starving minstrel. Sleeping Dog records began as a labor of love to bring this music back to a broader audience. The company has ...


20. Chris G. Productions

Chris G Productions is a full-service digital production studio specializing in helping musicians improve their sound and reach their full potential. With years of experience and an unwavering passion for music, Chris and his team provide world-class production services to clients of all genres.


21. Pitchfork

  • Website: pitchfork.com
  • Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Founded: 1995
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Latest funding type: Acquired
  • LinkedIn

Pitchfork.com is an online music magazine that covers a wide range of genres including rock, hip-hop, dance, and folk/country. The website features album reviews, news, interviews, and features on emerging and established artists. It offers a platform for music enthusiasts to discover and explore new music.


Want to find more record label companies?


If you want to find more companies that offer a wide array of music genres and merchandise you can do so with Inven. This list was built with Inven and there are hundreds of companies like these globally.


With Inven you'll also get to know the company's:


  • Ownership: Which of these are private equity backed? Which are family-owned?
  • Contact data: Who are the owners and CEO's? What are their emails and phone numbers?
  • Financials: How do these companies perform financially? What are their revenues and profit margins?

...and a lot more!