Armada Music
Armada Music logo since 2022
Founded2003
FounderArmin van Buuren, Maykel Piron, David Lewis
Genre
Country of originNetherlands
LocationAmsterdam
Official websitewww.armadamusic.com

Armada Music is a Dutch independent record label that specialises in electronic dance music. The company is headquartered in Amsterdam and has offices in New York, London and Laren, Netherlands.[1][2]

As of 2026, artists represented by Armada Music include Armin van Buuren, Arty, D.O.D, Eelke Kleijn, Jan Blomqvist, Joris Voorn, KI/KI, Lilly Palmer, Loud Luxury, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, THEMBA and Yulia Niko.[3][4]

History

Armada Music was founded in 2003 by Dutch producer Armin van Buuren, Dutch business executive Maykel Piron and music manager David Lewis. The name is derived from the first two letters of the founders' names: Armin, Maykel and David.[5]

On 20 April 2023, Armada launched BEAT Music Fund, described by the company as the first dance music investment company. Its first acquisitions included the master recordings catalog of Kevin Saunderson's KMS Records and the master and publishing catalog of Arty, also known as Alpha 9.[6][7]

In June 2023, BEAT Music Fund acquired New York house label King Street Sounds and the master and publishing catalog of Dutch dance duo Chocolate Puma.[8]

In April 2024, Armada formed a new parent company, Armada Music Group, to encompass its label, publishing and investment arms. The same announcement included the acquisition of Amsterdam-based publisher Cloud 9 Music, whose publishing division was merged into Armada Music Publishing.[9]

In September 2025, BEAT Music Fund acquired the entire master rights catalog of Mixmash Records, the label founded by Laidback Luke and Olga Heijns.[10] The following month, Armada Music partnered with former Defected Records founder Simon Dunmore to launch NBT Records, a new label based at Armada's London creative hub.[11] In November 2025, Armada Music acquired the worldwide rights to the entire catalog of British singer-songwriter and DJ Sonique, including "It Feels So Good".[12]

Sub-labels

Labels within Armada Music include:[13]

  • All I Need
  • Armada Music
  • Armada Captivating
  • Armada Chill
  • Armada Electronic Elements
  • Armada Subjekt
  • Armind
  • A State of Trance
  • DAYS like NIGHTS
  • Delecta Records
  • Flashover Recordings
  • SONO Music
  • Who's Afraid of 138?!
  • slash
  • King Street Sounds

Awards and nominations

As of December 2015, the label had won the "Best Global Record Label" award for five years in a row at the International Dance Music Awards (IDMA's).[14] Armada received two nominations at the 2014 IDMAs,[15] and seven in 2019.[16] The Academy of Electronic Music, a joint venture between Armada, Google, Point Blank, and DJ Mag, was the recipient of the 'People's Voice Award' at the 2014 Webby Awards.[17] In 2016, Armada Music was one of the 21 labels nominated for the IMPALA FIVEUNDERFIFTEEN[18] campaign shining a light on Europe's most inspiring young labels. The label received the IMPALA Young Label Spotlight Award.[19]

References

  1. ^ "About". Armada Music. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  2. ^ "Armada Music". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  3. ^ "About". Armada Music. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  4. ^ Dalugdug, Mandy (24 November 2025). "Armada strikes catalog deal with UK dance music artist Sonique". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  5. ^ "Armada Music". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  6. ^ "Armada Music launches first-ever dance music investment company: BEAT Music Fund". Armada Music. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  7. ^ Tencer, Daniel (20 April 2023). "Armin van Buuren's Armada Music launches $100m catalog-buying fund backed by Pinnacle Financial". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  8. ^ Tencer, Daniel (29 June 2023). "Armada's $100m BEAT Music Fund acquires storied indie label King Street Sounds and catalog of dance duo Chocolate Puma". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  9. ^ Tencer, Daniel (16 April 2024). "Armin van Buuren's Armada forms new parent company, acquires Amsterdam's Cloud 9 Music, and targets $500m in new investments". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  10. ^ Tencer, Daniel (10 September 2025). "Armada's BEAT Music Fund acquires entire master rights catalog of Laidback Luke and Olga Heijns' Mixmash Records". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  11. ^ Fornitani, Rafaela (22 October 2025). "Armada Music launches NBT Records in partnership with Simon Dunmore". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  12. ^ Dalugdug, Mandy (24 November 2025). "Armada strikes catalog deal with UK dance music artist Sonique". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  13. ^ "Labels". Armada Music. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  14. ^ Papadatos, Markos (10 December 2015). "Meet Maykel Piron: Co-Founder and CEO of Armada Music SPECIAL". Digital Journal. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  15. ^ "31st Annual International Dance Music Awards – Winter Music Conference 2016 – WMC 2016". Winter Music Conference. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  16. ^ "Zeven International Dance Music Awards nominaties voor Armada Music" [Seven International Dance Music Awards nominations for Armada Music]. Entertainment Business (in Dutch). 25 February 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  17. ^ "GOOGLE, ARMADA, POINT BLANK, DJ MAG: ACADEMY OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC". Webby Awards. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  18. ^ "IMPALA Young Label Spotlight". Impala. 27 July 2020.
  19. ^ "FIVEUNDERFIFTEEN: Armada Music (The Netherlands)". The Independent Echo. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.