# John Course > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/John_Course > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/John_Course.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Course > Source revision: 1341749226 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Australian DJ and record producer}} {{Multiple issues| {{Notability|1=biographies|date=September 2025}} {{Primary sources|date=September 2025}} }} {{Infobox musical artist | name = John Course | image = | caption = | background = non_performing_personnel | birth_name = John Course | origin = Melbourne, Australia | genre = [House](/source/House_music), [electronic dance music](/source/electronic_dance_music) | occupation = [DJ](/source/Disc_jockey), [record producer](/source/record_producer), entrepreneur | years_active = 1980s–present | label = [Vicious Recordings](/source/Vicious_Vinyl), [Ministry of Sound Australia](/source/Ministry_of_Sound_Australia) | website = {{URL|https://www.johncourse.com/}} }} '''John Course''' is an Australian DJ, record producer, and music industry executive. He is best known as the co-founder of '''Vicious Recordings''' (formerly Vicious Vinyl), a label credited with launching the international careers of [Madison Avenue](/source/Madison_Avenue_(band)), [Dirty South](/source/Dirty_South_(DJ)), and [Peking Duk](/source/Peking_Duk).{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Tegan |title=The History of Vicious Recordings |url=https://www.beat.com.au/the-history-of-vicious-recordings/ |publisher=Beat Magazine |access-date=2026-03-04}} Course is a central figure in the history of Australian dance music, having sold over one million compilation albums through the [Ministry of Sound Australia](/source/Ministry_of_Sound_Australia) brand.{{cite web |title=How Many Copies Did Those Ministry Of Sound Compilations Actually Sell? |url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/how-many-copies-did-those-ministry-of-sound-compilations-sell/ |publisher=Tone Deaf |access-date=2026-03-04}} == Career == === Early years and residency === Course first rose to prominence in the late 1980s as a resident DJ at Melbourne's **Chevron** nightclub, where he headlined influential nights such as "Sanction" and "Insanity."{{cite web |title=John Course · Biography |url=https://ra.co/dj/johncourse/biography |publisher=Resident Advisor |access-date=2026-03-04}} During this period, he won the Victorian state titles for the [DMC World DJ Championships](/source/DMC_World_DJ_Championships) in both 1988 and 1989. In 1993, Course was featured in the inaugural ''[DJ Mag](/source/DJ_Mag)'' Top 100 DJs poll, an alphabetical listing of the world's most influential selectors at the time.{{cite magazine |title=DJ Mag Top 100 History |url=https://djmag.com/top100djs |magazine=DJ Mag |date=October 1993}} === Vicious Recordings === In 1990, Course co-founded Vicious Vinyl (now Vicious Recordings) alongside [Andy Van](/source/Andy_Van) and Colin Daniels. Serving as the label group's General Manager, Course oversaw the A&R and commercial strategy for the label's sub-imprint, Vicious Grooves.{{cite web |title=Interview with John Course and John Curtin |url=https://amnplify.com.au/portfolio-items/interview-with-john-curtin-from-request-artists/ |publisher=Amnplify |date=2020-01-31 |access-date=2026-03-04}} In this capacity, he played a central role in the development of [Madison Avenue](/source/Madison_Avenue_(band)), whose debut single "[Don't Call Me Baby](/source/Don't_Call_Me_Baby)" (1999) became a global success, reaching number one on the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart).{{cite web |title=John Course - DMC World Magazine |url=https://www.dmcworld.net/dmc-world/john-course/ |publisher=DMC World Magazine |access-date=2026-03-04}} Under his management, the label group also signed early works by future international stars, most notably Swedish producer [Avicii](/source/Avicii).{{cite web |last=Brandle |first=Lars |title=30 Years of Vicious: From Baby Steps to a Dance Music Empire |url=https://themusicnetwork.com/30-years-vicious-feature/ |publisher=The Music Network |date=2022-08-17}} === Media and radio === Course has maintained a significant presence in Australian media for over three decades: * '''Radio:''' He hosted the nationally syndicated ''NightBeat Australia'' in the 1990s and later co-hosted the ''Novanation'' show on the [Nova](/source/Nova_(radio_network)) network for over seven years, which was one of the highest-rated dance music programs in the country.{{cite web |title=Artist Profiles: John Course |url=https://tmrw.com.au/agency-artists/john-course/ |publisher=TMRW Music |access-date=2026-03-04}}{{cite web |title=Nova 100’s Novanation: The history of Australian dance radio |url=https://www.radioheritage.net/story/novanation-history/ |publisher=Radio Heritage Foundation |access-date=2026-03-04}} * '''Webcasting:''' In 2020, he launched the "Club Classics and Future Anthems" webcast, which ran for over 60 consecutive weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic, attracting a global audience of house music enthusiasts.{{cite web |title=John Course on 30 Years of Vicious and the success of 333 Sessions |url=https://flowmusic.one/john-course-presents-333-sessions/ |publisher=Flow Music |date=2021-09-15 |access-date=2026-03-04}} == Production and collaborations == Course has released music under his own name, as well as several collaborative projects and underground aliases. * '''Blackout''': A project with Andy Van and John Curtin. Their 1998 single "Gotta Have Hope" was a global club success, peaking at number 18 on the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart).{{cite web |title=Course: Full Official Chart History |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/2864/course/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=2026-03-04}} * '''Electro Funk Lovers''': A production duo with [Andy Van](/source/Andy_Van), focusing on house and nu-disco. * '''Solo Work and Aliases''': Course produces underground house under the alias '''J.A.C.''' His 2020 single "Just A Little" (a house cover of the [Liberty X](/source/Liberty_X) hit) reached number 1 on the Australian iTunes Dance Chart and number 2 on the overall chart within hours of release.{{cite web |title=John Course breathes new life into Liberty X's 'Just a Little' |url=https://www.outinperth.com/john-course-breathes-new-life-in-liberty-xs-just-a-little/ |publisher=OUTinPerth |date=2020-09-12 |access-date=2026-03-04}} * '''Collaborations with Sgt Slick''': Course has collaborated extensively with fellow Australian producer [Sgt Slick](/source/Sgt_Slick) on tracks including "Love Is" (2021) and "Love Vision" (2021), as well as providing a "Club Dub" for the Gold-accredited "[Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!](/source/Gimme!_Gimme!_Gimme!_(A_Man_After_Midnight))" (Sgt Slick's Melbourne Recut).{{cite web |title=Artist Profile: John Course |url=https://www.vicious.com.au/artist/john-course/ |publisher=Vicious Recordings |access-date=2026-03-04}} == Impact and awards == Course's impact on the Australian music industry is evidenced by his early technical achievements and his later success as an A&R and label executive. * '''[DMC Mixing Championships](/source/DMC_World_DJ_Championships)''': Victorian State Winner (1988, 1989). * '''[DJ Mag](/source/DJ_Mag) Top 100''': Ranked in the inaugural 1993 global poll. * '''[ARIA Music Awards](/source/ARIA_Music_Awards)''': As the co-founder and General Manager of Vicious Recordings, Course has overseen numerous ARIA Award-winning and nominated projects. Notable accolades for the label under his management include: ** [2000 ARIA Award for Best Breakthrough Artist – Single](/source/ARIA_Music_Awards_of_2000) (Won for [Madison Avenue](/source/Madison_Avenue_(band)), "[Don't Call Me Baby](/source/Don't_Call_Me_Baby)").{{cite web |title=ARIA Awards 2000 : History: Winners by Year |url=https://www.aria.com.au/awards/history/year/2000 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |access-date=2026-03-04}} ** [2006 ARIA Award for Best Dance Release](/source/ARIA_Music_Awards_of_2006) (Nominated for [Dirty South](/source/Dirty_South_(DJ)), "Sleazy").{{cite web |title=ARIA Awards 2006 : History: Winners by Year |url=https://www.aria.com.au/awards/history/year/2006 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |access-date=2026-03-04}} ** [2020 ARIA Award for Best Dance Release](/source/ARIA_Music_Awards_of_2020) (Nominated for [Sgt Slick](/source/Sgt_Slick), "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (Sgt Slick's Melbourne Recut)").{{cite web |title=2020 ARIA Awards nominees announced |url=https://www.aria.com.au/awards/news/2020-aria-awards-nominees-announced |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |date=2020-10-13 |access-date=2026-03-04}} * '''[WMC](/source/WMC) International Dance Music Awards''': Under Course's guidance, Vicious Recordings has received multiple nominations for "Best Global Record Label."{{cite web |title=Vicious Recordings: 30 Years of Dance Music |url=https://www.vicious.com.au/30-years/ |publisher=Vicious Recordings |access-date=2026-03-04}} ==References== {{reflist}} == External links == * [https://www.johncourse.com/ Official Website] * [https://open.spotify.com/artist/2v6LpDndyY8WwG3m8jTfLh John Course] on [Spotify](/source/Spotify) * [https://music.apple.com/au/artist/john-course/31209957 John Course] on [Apple Music](/source/Apple_Music) * [https://www.beatport.com/artist/john-course/14519 John Course] on [Beatport](/source/Beatport) * [https://www.discogs.com/artist/52103-John-Course John Course] at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) {{DEFAULTSORT:Course, John}} Category:Australian DJs Category:Australian record producers Category:Australian electronic musicians Category:House musicians Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Place of birth missing (living people) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [John Course](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Course) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Course?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.