Dutch dance music hitmaker Afrojack is returning to Universal Music Group as part of a new dance music venture by the label.
The producer, along with his longstanding label Wall Recordings, has signed with UMG’s Virgin Records Germany and Universal Music Netherlands under a new partnership.
This is also the first collaborative signing under Universal Music Central Europe’s new dance and electronic music hub, an initiative that intends to support independent electronic artists and labels within Central Europe by providing access to UMG’s global resources and networks. The hub will identify new artists from across Europe and provide them with expertise in the pop-centric Central European markets, foster ing international cross collaborations to create strategy uniquely tailed to each artist.
“The new hub is exclusively dedicated to dance and electronic artists in Central Europe,” says Max Paproth, vice president of A&R Central Europe & international marketing Germany. “We’re joining forces here and enhancing our international approach. This helps us act faster and offer dance artists a European platform from the moment they sign with us. I’m delighted to be celebrating such an incredible debut with Afrojack.”
This signing marks Afrojack’s return to UMG, where he was also signed from 2013-2017. The first single released under this signing will be Afrojack’s “Day & Night,” a collaboration with Miami-based production duo Black V-Neck, featuring Muni Long, out Aug 12. The label will be providing a a pre-release campaign on TikTok, digital marketing, global club and radio campaigns and official video content.
“I’m very excited to have partnered up with Universal for all Afrojack Music and WALL,” said the producer born Nick van de Wall in a statement. “We have big plans for the future!”
Afrojack has been a huge hitmaker for more than a decade, producing and co-producing some of the dance music era’s biggest hits including “Take Over Control,” “No Beef” (with Steve Aoki), and “Titanium” and “Hey Mama” (both with David Guetta.) Van de Wall earned a 2022 Grammy nomination for his Guetta collab “Hero” and won the award for best remixed recording in 2011.
“The debut of our brand-new dance hub could hardly have been more spectacular,” Virgin Records Germany vp of marketing Alexander Neipp and Magnus Textor, vp of A&R & electronic / dance Central Europe, Virgin Records Germany, said in a joint statement. “In Afrojack, we’ve managed to convince one of the world’s biggest EDM artists of our expertise and capabilities. Our German and Dutch joint venture also combines the best service on a local level with maximum traction in global markets. We are delighted to join Afrojack on the next phase of his career.”
“I’m overjoyed to be able to welcome Afrojack back to the label,” added Kees van der Hoeven, CEO Universal Music Benelux. “Especially as we’re now working with him as part of a new international setup that will allow us to offer our artists even better service and more opportunities. Afrojack is a brilliant artist and an incredible addition to our roster. I can’t wait to start working with him again.”
UMG Central European Dance and Electronic Hub
