Beyond Wonderland 2012 is just a couple weeks away and we noticed quite a few record executives on this dance music festival’s bill this year. For that reason we wanted to rank the top five DJs that are also record executives. Do you agree with our selections?
5. John Digweed (Bedrock Records)
13 years ago, John Digweed, English DJ/Producer better known for his progressive-house tracks and dynamic live sets that have proven crowd favorites over a 19 year career, initiated his own record label, Bedrock Records, with fellow DJ/Producer and friend, Nick Muir. Since its inauguration the label has experienced a great amount of success under the leadership and experience of Digweed (DJMAG #55 in 2011). Though a large part of the labels success is due to its release of Digweed’s very own chart topping compilations (“MMII,” 2002) and collaborations with Nick Muir, the label’s talent, Marco Bailey, Christian Smith, John Selway, and future-phenom Guy J, all look promising and are on track to make Bedrock Records one of the leading record label and promotions companies in the future.
Stage: Chesire Woods
Set Time: 12:30am-2:00am
4. Gareth Emery (Garuda Records)
Now a house-hold name for EDM enthusiasts, Gareth Emery, DJMAG’s 2011 #13 DJ, traded in his old record label in 2008 for creative control in the form of his very own label, Garuda Records. Since its inception, the label proves worthy of admiration. Owing most of its immediate success to the success of Gareth himself, and Gareth’s first release under Garuda Records, “Exposure/Metropolis,” the label continues to make a name for itself with the addition of talent like Blake Jarrell, Ben Gold, Ashley Wallbridge, Craig Connelly, Triarchy, and Tritonal. Along with an ambitious arsenal of trance heavy-hitters, Gareth also understands the importance of branding his label with club promotions, and that is why Gareth Emery comes in at four on our list.
Stage: Queen’s Domain
Set Time: 10:45pm-12:00am
3. Andy C (Ram Records)
With the popularity of big-house tracks and “bangers” ubiquitous in any EDM music-lovers library, Ram Records and its commander in chief, Andy C, give drum and bass music a platform to not only compete with more popular genres, but grow as well. Recent chart-topping releases by D&B heavyweights Subfocus, Chase & Status, and Andy C himself, and the promotions of sold out events in London are a testament to the power and influence of Ram Records. With its dedication to the development of drum and bass music as a genre, Ram Records, now in its 20th year, is the Drum and Bass Awards winner of “Best Record Label” from 2008 to 2010, and why Andy C makes our list at number three.
Stage: Chess Village
Set Time: 11:30pm- 1:00am
2. Steve Aoki (Dim Mak Records)
Arguably the most influential figure in electro-house, Steve Aoki, with Dim Mak as his platform, gave birth to the careers of EDM legends like MSTRKRFT and the Bloody Beetroots and currently represents five of the top 100 DJ/Producers in DJMAG’s Top 100 of 2011 (#21 Infected Mushroom, #38 DaDa Life, #42 Steve Aoki, #75 Joachim Garraud, #86 Bloody Beetroots). More then just a respectable judge of talent, Aoki is an entrepreneur, combining imagination with ingenuity in order to better promote his label and its artists. With Dim Mak Studios in Hollywood every Tuesday night, Dim Mak Wednesdays at Yost Theater in Santa Ana, CA, Dim Mak Sundays at Drai’s in Hollywood, and “Obey the Kitty” every Wednesday night at Vessel in San Francisco, Aoki assures that his artists are frequenting the hottest clubs in California (not to mention nation-wide bus-tours across North America). With over 16 years of experience, the confidence to push artist development and creative collaborations and no sign of slowing down, Steve Aoki is a shoe-in for one of the top record executives of all time for any musical genre, and number two on our list for top record executives at Beyond Wonderland 2012.
Stage: Caterpillar’s Garden
Set Time: 12:45am- 2:00am
1. Armin van Buuren (Armada Records)
Though his accolades speak on behalf of his success as the world’s preeminent DJ/Producer, earning #1 DJ in DJMAG’s annual poll from 2007-2010, and #2 for 2011, what Armin van Buuren does with his record label and its artists is even more impressive. I know, hard to imagine, but try and swallow this: in addition to himself, three of the top eleven DJ’s in DJMAG’s 2011 poll all belong to Armada Records (#2 Armin van Buuren, #8 Dash Berlin, #9 Markus Schulz, and #11 Paul van Dyk). From DJMAG’s Top 100, ten of the artists are represented by Armada Records (#22 Aly &Fila, #50 Andy Moor, #51 Roger Shah, #52 John O’Callaghan, #69 Paul Oakenfold, and #83 Tritonal). Aside from the massive ASOT events hosted by Armada Records, or the consistency of its founder, what makes Armada Records the seminal label in EDM is its commitment to branding. With over two-dozen label imprints (a sub-label designed to catalog a more specified sound of a larger genre, but still managed and controlled by the main label) operated by Armada Records, but led by its artists, Armada has taken the success of its artists unique sound and style and made it a brand. For example, Markus Schulz and his imprint, ColdHarbour Records; Dash Berlin and his imprint, Aropa Records; Aly & Fila and their imprint, Future Sound of Egypt; and Paul Okenfold and the addition of his label, Perfecto. In doing so, Armin van Buuren, along with partners Maykel Piron and David Lewis, make Armada artist’s global trademarks and chart-topping successes, and that is why Armin van Buuren is our number one record executive at 2012′s Beyond Wonderland.
Stage: Queen’s Domain
Set Time: 12:00am-2:00am
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