Image via Complex Original
Even if the art of releasing an album isn't really viable for EDM artists (or any artist in general), the need to have a strong label behind you is key, whether it's your imprint or an established entity. There's brand recognition, their track record, and just the awesomeness of a great talent having tunes picked up by the best in the business right now. Some labels might consistently hit you with content, while others are more choosy, dropping gems at their leisure while not trying to flood the market. Whatever their strategies, these are the labels that are running the EDM game in 2013... so far.
Firepower Records
Notable Releases: MUST DIE! - "Caffeine" / Mayhem & Antiserum - "Bangladesh"
Datsik's imprint might only have just celebrated a year in existence, but they definitely know how to drop monstrous bass music for fans of dubstep, drumstep, and trap (among other genres). Their releases have featured names like Mayhem and MUST DIE!, but we also get introduced to rising talents like Getter, Protohype, and Rise At Night, and DAD is always impressed at how dedicated the label is at maintaining their level of quality for a sound that many dismiss.
Dirtybird Records
Notable Releases: Justin Martin & Eats Everything - "The Gettup" / dirtybird Players
For Claude VonStroke's dirtybird imprint, it's definitely quality over quantity. They might have only dropped eight releases in 2013 (so far), what they've dropped has been solid gold. Forging ahead in their own "dirty" style of house music, dirtybird boasts immense talents like Justin Martin, Eats Everything, Kill Frenzy, Catz N' Dogz, and Shadow Child, and is on the forefront of the current house revitalization.
Big Beat
Notable Releases: Arty & Chris James - "Together We Are" / Knife Party - "Haunted House" / Flux Pavilion - "Blow the Roof"
Sure, Big Beat is seen like the priviliged son of the major labels, but they are affiliated with a number of solid releases. The latest EPs from Knife Party and Flux Pavilion have come out under the Big Beat umbrella, but they've also released huge tunes on their own, like Arty's "Together We Are," or the latest EP from Icona Pop. Add releases from John Dahlback, Walden, and Chuckie, and you have a label that has the loot to operate on a higher level, but an ear to the cream of the EDM crop.
Spinnin' Records
Notable Releases: Martin Garrix - "Animals" / Showtek & Noisecontrollers - "Get Loose (Tiesto Remix)" / Hard Rock Sofa & Dirty Shade - "Collapsar"
Spinnin' is another imprint that drops a solid release every week, and they net some bangers. We were amazed recently by the release of the heavily-anticipated "Animals," especially since no one knew it was a Martin Garrix record. Spinnin' pride themselves in putting out some of the biggest records from the brightest stars, both known and new, with records from Dyro, Quintino, UMEK, Showtek and others being just an everyday thing for the imprint.
Mad Decent
Notable Releases: Dillon Francis - "Messages" / Zeds Dead - "Hot Sauce"
Diplo's imprint hasn't made huge waves in 2013, but they've had some great releases. Dillon Francis is always a win, and the multi-faceted EP from Zeds Dead was solid. Mad Decent made sure to drop tunes from promising acts like LIZ, Kennedy Jones, and Foxsky too. However, bombastic projects like the "Express Yourself" Remix EP, or the various Jeffree's releases really show how dialed in the house that Diplo built is to the evolving dance music scene. And with "Harlem Shake" admittedly giving Diplo's imprint new life, we're hoping the label takes more chances and drops more intriguing music on the masses this year.
Ram Records
Notable Releases: Sub Focus - "Endorphins" / Wilkinson - "Take You Higher" / Loadstar - "Refuse to Love"
In terms of drum & bass imprints, there's Ram, and then there's damn near everyone else. They run shit when it comes to consistently putting out quality dnb in many different forms. Sure, their "main" roster features the likes of Loadstar, who recently released the brilliant Future Perfect album... but they also dropped Rene LaVice's Insidious. And don't forget that an album from Wilkinson is on the way! They're also signing new acts, like Chords and the acclaimed June Miller, and have put out a heavier piece of tech-infused dnb from Gridlok and Prolix. And one of the bigger singles of the year, Sub Focus' "Endorphins," is Ram-affiliated as well, so don't be shocked when we tell you that Ram is one label you need to keep an eye out on, even if you're not the biggest dnb head.
Fool's Gold
Notable Releases: Flosstradamus & DJ Sliink - "CROWD CTRL" / Oliver - "Mechanical" / Sleepy Tom - "The Currency"
A-Trak always stocks quality releases on Fool's Gold, but DAD was truly inspired by the beautiful Mechanical EP from Oliver, which got 2013 off to a lovely start. A-Trak's got everyone from Q-Bert to Jack Beats to remix tracks from his Tuna Melt EP, and the lovers of trap got to dig into the Flosstradamus & Sliink EP Nomads. Future flavors for all persuasions.
Dim Mak
Notable Releases: Clockwork - "Surge" / Keys N Krates - "Treat Me Right" / Infected Mushroom - "Friends On Mushrooms, Vol 1"
Steve Aoki's imprint just doesn't know how to stop, do they? Aoki might be known as one of the current kings of EDM, and definitely gets a lot of hate for his antics and sets, but dude knows how to curate a proper imprint. Clockwork's "Surge" was a massive piece of electro house, something that set the year off right. Somehow, this label also put out the multi-sound release from Infected Mushroom and the infectious trap anthem "Treat Me Right" by Keys N Krates, as well as stellar releases from Mightyfools, Dirtyphonics, BOT, and others. Solid track record, especially when you consider their 2013 has already seen 51 releases dropping.
Ultra Music
Notable Releases: Tiesto, Alvaro, and Quintino - "United" / Wolfgang Gartner - "Overdose" / TOKiMONSTA - "Half Shadows"
Even if deadmau5 is waiting for his Ultra contract to expire, the EDM powerhouse will always have great artists to fall back on. While Laidback Luke, Steve Aoki, and other stars in the scene have their own imprints, Ultra is the label dropping their material. 2013 alone has seen Ultra release bits from Bondax, David Morales, Benny Benassi, and Fedde Le Grand, as well as dropping LPs from TOKiMONSTA and DJ Muggs. Their name is a huge brand in the dance music scene, and will carry weight long after the fad of EDM dies down.
OWSLA
Notable Releases: The M Machine - "Metropolis Pt. II" / David Heartbreak - "The Foundation" / Phonat - "Identity Theft"
Skrillex has spent the last few years putting out solid material from many walks of EDM on OWSLA, but 2013 feels like the year that the imprint is truly branching out. Many are too ignorant to see past his previous productions, and might assume that his label is just mirroring what he's done as an artist, but OWSLA is about so much more. Their roster is stacked with diverse sounds, from Phonat and David Heartbreak to Alvin Risk and The M Machine. For being seen as the true leader in the EDM scene, his label releases electronic music that's as diverse as we've been telling you that EDM is.