ARMADA MUSIC HONORED WITH STOMP’S INDEPENDENT OF THE YEAR AWARD 2023

November 2, 2023 – On account of its unmistakable success within dance music over the past twenty years, Armada Music has been awarded the Independent of the Year Award 2023 by STOMP. The Dutch foundation of independent record labels annually issues the award to honor a remarkable performance within the independent music industry, and now recognizes the Amsterdam-, New York-, and London-based label for the major part it has played in popularizing dance music on a global scale.

“We can’t thank STOMP enough for choosing us as this year’s recipient of the Independent of the Year Award,” says Maykel Piron, the CEO and co-founder of Armada Music. “Just like every other indie out there, we’re doing our utmost to make our mark on the global music industry, and we’re proud to see that our continued efforts over the past two decades are being recognized and valued. With this year marking our twentieth anniversary, I can’t think of a better time to celebrate with this amazing award.”

Armada Music is the biggest independent dance music label in the world. Founded by Armin van Buuren, Maykel Piron (CEO) and David Lewis, the label manages an ever-growing catalog of over 40,000 tracks and represents artists such as Armin van Buuren, ARTY, D.O.D, Eelke Kleijn, Jan Blomqvist, Loud Luxury, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Tensnake, THEMBA and Yulia Niko. Chiefly based in Amsterdam, the label also opened offices in London, New York and Laren (NL), and has been conquering the dance music industry with a workforce of, currently, approximately 120 employees.

“Besides and beyond its impressive catalog of dance hits, Armada Music has played an important role in the development of electronic music in the Netherlands and abroad,” say the voting members of STOMP. “They’ve paved the way for countless artists and DJs, and have massively contributed to the worldwide success of Dutch dance music. Armada shows how versatile a record label can be; they make radio, host live shows, run their own studios and share knowledge with emerging professionals through Armada University. The launch of BEAT Music Fund, its investment company, earlier this year echoes its boundless ambition. Over the past twenty years, and under the management of CEO Maykel Piron, Armada Music has been an inspiration for independent labels in the Netherlands and far beyond. Like no other, they deserve the STOMP Independent of the Year Award 2023.”

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About the STOMP Independent of the Year Award

The STOMP board has created the Independent of the Year Award with the aim of recognizing the work of a person or organization within the independent music industry. The STOMP board decides every year who can receive the award. Previous winners of the STOMP Independent of the Year Award include Rotterdam Airlines (2017), Helen Smith (IMPALA, 2018), Charles Caldas (Merlin, 2019), Excelsior Recordings (2020) Cloud 9 Music (2021) and 8ball Music (2022).

About the STOMP Young Achievement Award

The STOMP Young Achievement Award was introduced in 2020. This award was created to recognize a recent special achievement by a relatively new company (or person) for the independent music sector in the Netherlands. The Young Achievement Award is presented by the STOMP Development Team. Previous winners of the STOMP Young Achievement Award are Chillhop Music (2020), Tim van der Zalm (DI-RECT, 2021) and Excited About Music (2022).

About STOMP

STOMP is the trade organization for independent record labels in the Netherlands. The organization represents, unites and promotes Dutch independents. STOMP is the independent platform of NVPI.

For more information about STOMP and the STOMP Awards, please take a look at www.stichtingomp.nl or contact Koen Beerkens by emailing secretariaat@stichtingomp.nl or calling +31645719202.