Big Crown Records

Big Crown Records is an American independent soul and funk label founded in 2016 by Leon Michels and Danny Akalepse in Brooklyn, New York. It is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026 with a series of showcase events: September 11 at Chicago's Thalia Hall, October 10 at Los Angeles' The Bellwether, and October 24 at Brooklyn's Elsewhere. The label's roster includes El Michels Affair, Lady Wray, Marco Benevento, Bobby Oroza, Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band, Homer, Dave Guy, Thee Heart Tones, and Thee Marloes.

Big Crown built its reputation on modern soul and funk recordings with a global sensibility. Its signings span American soul (Lady Wray, El Michels Affair), Finnish soul (Bobby Oroza), German funk (Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band), Indonesian soul (Thee Marloes), and Turkish psych (Derya Yildirim & Grup Simsek). The label's 10th anniversary in 2026 includes a rollerskating record fair at Brooklyn's Xanadu venue on July 25, featuring DJ sets from Edan, El Michels Affair, and Akalepse. Marco Benevento's album Glera was released in 2026.

How Big Crown Operates

Big Crown runs a small, selective A&R operation from its Brooklyn headquarters. The label is built around Leon Michels' production and a community of musicians who record for the label. Its model favors artists with a distinct soul, funk, or global sound. The label's 10th anniversary showcases in 2026 feature cross-pollination between roster acts, reflecting the collaborative nature of the Big Crown community.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you make soul, funk, Afrobeat, or global music with an analog aesthetic, Big Crown is one of the most respected independent labels in that space. Its global roster (American, Finnish, German, Indonesian, Turkish artists) shows it signs across borders. Its 10-year track record and anniversary showcases in 2026 signal continued growth.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

• Highly selective: Big Crown signs very few artists each year.
• No unsolicited demos: Big Crown does not accept cold submissions.
• Analog soul aesthetic: The label has a distinct sound. Music outside that aesthetic will not fit.
• Small team: A boutique operation has limited marketing bandwidth.

Related Resources

• Record Label Contracts Explained - What a Big Crown deal contains
• Independent Labels vs Major Labels - The boutique independent model
• How to Get a Record Deal in 2026 - Building a soul music profile
• Daptone Records - A related Brooklyn soul label
• Big Crown Records Official Site - Roster and releases