Dance music veteran David Dollimore has launched a new label called Disorder Records in partnership with US-based Geffen Records.
According to a press release announcing the news on Thursday (December 7), London-based Disorder will partner with and sign DJs, producers, artists, brands and labels who are “defining the global sound of tomorrow”.
Geffen says in the press statement that Dollimore “has a proven history in translating the nightlife experience into a megawatt brand” at legendary UK-born dance label Ministry of Sound.
His career at MoS, where he started as an intern and went on to lead the label, saw him guide the careers of Eric Prydz, Duke Dumont, Axwell, Benny Benassi, MK, and Avicii (Tim Berg), scoring several No.1 singles during that time.
After Ministry of Sound Recordings was acquired by Sony Music UK in 2016, Dollimore was named President of the RCA Label Group, becoming one of the longest-serving Presidents in the label group’s history, achieving success in the UK with the likes of CamelPhat, Cat Burns, Aitch, Fredo, London Grammar and Jade Thirlwall.
The new Disorder Records label arrives with news of its first partnership, forming an imprint called WHP Records with Manchester-based dance music events brand The Warehouse Project.
The Warehouse Project sells more than 300,000 tickets every winter season and “develops dozens of new acts, supporting festival-level headliners week in, week out” according to the announcement.
Amongst the acts to have performed at The Warehouse Project events include Fred Again, Peggy Gou, Interplanetary Criminal, Four Tet, LCD Soundsystem, Nia Archives and more.
Geffen says that The Warehouse Project’s founders, including Richard McGinnis and Sam Kandel, “have created one of the most vital platforms in the world” for dance music with their events.
According to the announcement on Thursday, the relationship between Dollimore and Geffen Records President Tom March “runs deep”, with March’s own career rooted in dance music.
March began his career in dance music PR, working acts including Fatboy Slim, Damian Lazarus and Royksopp. He’s also since worked with the likes of Avicci, Alesso, The Chemical Brothers, Tiesto, Deadmau5, Jax Jones, DJ Snake, Zedd, Meduza, Swedish House Mafia and Becky Hill and others.
March joined Geffen Records as President in July 2022, following a six-year tenure as Co-President of Universal’s London-based Polydor Records.
“Disorder will be an incubator for the future of dance music and redefine the landscape as we see it. This label will be a portal to the underground club world, distilling future trends for mass consumption.”
David Dollimore
David Dollimore said: “Disorder will be an incubator for the future of dance music and redefine the landscape as we see it. This label will be a portal to the underground club world, distilling future trends for mass consumption.
“We will be leading a generation forging alternative routes to the top, outside the confines of dated traditional structures.
“The Disorder artist will resonate in fashion, culture, lifestyle and entertainment, across multiple platforms, forming a newgen of future visionaries within the field.
“Together Tom March, Rich, Sam and the impressive team at The Warehouse Project and I, have the network, the platform and the global infrastructure with Universal to make this one of the most successful partnerships in dance music.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to partner with David as he heads back to what I consider him to be the best in the world at – signing and A&R-ing dance music.”
Tom March
Tom March added: “At Geffen we are always looking to partner with our industry’s most successful and innovative entrepreneurs.
“I couldn’t be more excited to partner with David as he heads back to what I consider him to be the best in the world at – signing and A&R-ing dance music.
“Between us, we have worked with many of the great names in the last twenty years of electronic music. I am so happy to be joining forces with him now.”
“Being able to work with artists in a whole new way, providing tangible support in the live space alongside equitable partnerships, with David and Tom who share our passion for this culture is an exciting new chapter for us.”
The Warehouse Project
The Warehouse Project said: “Having spent the last two decades dedicated to finding and breaking talent, we can’t believe it has taken us this long to make this jump but David was the one person we wanted do it with.
“Being able to work with artists in a whole new way, providing tangible support in the live space alongside equitable partnerships, with David and Tom who share our passion for this culture is an exciting new chapter for us.”
Geffen Records’ recent successes include releases such as Olivia Rodrigo’s second album GUTS, which debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
Geffen – part of Universal Music Group‘s Los Angeles-HQ’d Interscope-Geffen-A&M (IGA) label group – also has a partnership with HYBE, which has delivered hits for V, Jung Kook and others.
Meanwhile, the Rolling Stones’ new album Hackney Diamonds – signed via Universal’s UK-based Polydor Records and released in the US via Geffen – debuted at No.3 in the US and scored a No.1 in the UK.
Geffen also says that it “broke new ground” in recent months with Kali Uchis, whose Moonlight has more than a billion streams globally. This drove the singer to achieve her first Top 10 album in the US, with Red Moon In Venus charting at No.3.
Earlier this year, New Jeans had a No.1 Billboard album and JK and Jimin both had No.1 Hot 100 singles.
Additionally, the company notes that its HYBE x Geffen joint venture to establish a global girl group “has grabbed headlines around the world”.Music Business Worldwide
