Defected Records is a multi-award-winning independent British record label specialising in house music recordings, playlists, internationally syndicated radio shows, events and festivals, publishing, artist booking, artist management, promotions and more. Established in 1999 and now resembling more of a music media group with the label as its epicentre, the recipe for Defected Records’ success over the last 25 years has been its ability to evolve and adapt within the industry, while maintaining robust cultural values and musical identity. One of the longest running independent labels of its kind, Defected continues to advocate tirelessly for the cultural impact of house music in the UK and remains a well-respected constant in the music industry as it enters its next 25 years in business.
With an online community of over 12 million, Defected was one of the first house labels to embrace digital technologies and continues to be at the forefront of digital innovations, while cultivating a uniquely engaged audience, by far the largest of its kind. 2024 saw Defected expand its offerings with the collaborative Together series, ambitious livestreams, a world tour and limited-edition merch including ‘Defected: 25 Years In The House’, a 320-page hardback offering a “refreshingly candid insight into the moments that have defined the label’s history” - Clash Magazine. Appointed in 2022, Defected CEO and co-owner Wez Saunders describes the company’s mission as ultimately “to service our community while helping artists build longer lasting, more impactful, and more profitable careers”.
Established in 1999 by Simon Dunmore, Defected's first release was Soulsearcher's ‘Can't Get Enough’, which reached No. 5 in the UK singles chart. This early success was followed up with Roger Sanchez's ‘Another Chance’, which hit No. 1 in the UK singles chart in 2001. As well as a number of sister labels including DFTD, Glitterbox Recordings, Classic Music Company, Soulfuric, 4 To The Floor and Stay True Sounds, Defected also owns and manages artist projects and several catalogues of heritage house imprints.
Defected’s catalogue includes the work of artists such as Masters At Work, Honey Dijon, Inner City, Idris Elba, Dennis Ferrer, Marc Kinchen (MK), Sam Divine, Jamie Jones, John Summit, Love Regenerator (Calvin Harris), The Martinez Brothers, Hannah Wants, Duck Sauce, Gorgon City, Girls of the Internet, Peggy Gou and many more. In 2017, CamelPhat & Elderbrook’s ‘Cola’ was nominated for ‘Best Dance Recording’ at the Grammys, as well as at the Ivor Novello awards and is now multi-platinum. Endor’s ‘Pump It Up’ reached #8 in the UK OCC in 2019 and went multi-platinum, both unprecedented successes for an independent house music label in the UK. Grammy nods have since come for Honey Dijon, Luke Solomon and various Defected Music-published writers for Beyoncé’s Renaissance in 2023.
Most recently, in its 25th anniversary year, Defected paired talent from the label’s storied past with stars of its future as artists like Todd Edwards, Shermanology, Rudimental, TSHA, Mochakk, Kings Of Tomorrow, Julie McKnight, David Guetta and THEMBA, with many more appearing throughout the extra collaborative series Together. The label also continued to release genre-defining successes including Purple Disco Machine, Oden & Fatzo and delivering a multi-single deal with British icon Idris Elba as IDRIS.
Defected runs events globally, from standalone club nights and festival stages to its many Ibiza residencies since 2003; summer of 2024 saw Defected, Glitterbox and D4 D4NCE hold three lengthy residencies at Ushuaïa Ibiza, Hï Ibiza and O Beach Ibiza respectively. The group’s festival portfolio includes Defected Croatia, a flagship event that draws more than 5,000 people from all over the world annually, as well as Defected Malta and various other large capacity events and new ventures into Dubai. Defected’s event offering has continued to grow in recent years, including sold out shows at world-renowned venues such as London’s Printworks, DRUMSHEDS and Studio 338, Manchester’s The Warehouse Project, House of Yes in NYC, stages at Glastonbury and more for its 25th anniversary World Tour, with 2024 seeing the brand debut in Argentina, Canada, Cyprus, Italy, Poland and continue to expand in familiar territories.
