Many Hats Distribution Hits $50M Milestone in Artist Payouts

New York-headquartered, independently owned music company Many Hats Distribution has surpassed more than $50 million paid directly to artists since launching in 2020.

Milestone:

• Many Hats says it has grown annual sales from just over $1 million in 2021 to nearly $20 million in the past year, with 90% of the revenue flowing directly back to artists.

• Its artist-first model combines distribution, label services, physical product strategy, retail access, and hands-on operational support, while allowing artists to retain ownership of their catalogs.

• The company was founded by Zack Zarrillo, co-founder of management outfit Alternate Side, and Fred Feldman, longtime independent music executive and founder of Triple Crown Records.

Key releases:

• Many Hats says its growth has been driven across both digital and physical distribution.

• Breakout moments include Kesha’s first independent release, "Joyride," viral campaigns with Pinegrove and Mom Jeans, and white-label distribution partnerships with management companies including Crush, Monotone, and Vector.

• It has also helped bring physical releases to retail from artists including JPEGMAFIA, Mk.gee, Weezer, Lizzy McAlpine and Mannequin Pussy.

• In addition, it operates the in-house label Wax Bodega, home to Hot Mulligan, Arm’s Length, Free Throw, and more.

What they said:

• Zack Zarrillo: “It’s my favorite day of the month when we pay out. Seeing that money go directly to artists never gets old. The whole point of Many Hats is to give artists the infrastructure to grow while keeping ownership of what they’ve built. When you see artists who were earning a few thousand dollars a month grow into real, sustainable businesses, that’s the model working exactly the way it should.”