Simon Dunmore Partners with Armada Music to Launch New Label, NBT Records

London – Tuesday, 20 October, 2025 – Acclaimed industry figure Simon Dunmore and Armada Music, the world’s biggest independent dance music label, have partnered to launch NBT Records – a brand-new label dedicated to soulful, dancefloor-driven records.

Formed through a new joint venture between Simon Dunmore and Armada Music, NBT Records will combine Dunmore’s A&R vision and creative leadership with Armada’s global infrastructure, namely across distribution, marketing and promotion. The collaboration underscores Armada’s ongoing commitment to expanding its footprint across the dance music landscape.

NBT Records will operate out of Armada’s new London creative hub, a 7,000-square-foot facility opened last month, that will serve as the label’s primary base for creative development, artist collaboration, and operations. The hub houses state-of-the-art recording studios, A&R listening rooms, office space, providing an integrated environment for the label’s roster and team to work side by side.

“Songs have always been at the core of everything I love about dance culture. My objective is to fully immerse myself in the vibrant global soul scene that’s continually evolving, and to help champion the next generation of artists, singers, and songwriters,” said Dunmore. “Having known Maykel for over 25 years, I can say with confidence that he’s a true music man and that our values are aligned. Armada has consistently demonstrated its ability to deliver exceptional records, making it the perfect partner for this new venture.”

“After more than two decades of knowing each other, it’s a true pleasure to finally partner with Simon – a visionary whose work I’ve long admired,” said Maykel Piron, CEO and co-founder of Armada Music. “I have great respect for Simon’s approach to creativity and business, and I’m excited to see what we can achieve by combining his ear with Armada’s passion and expertise.”

The first releases from NBT Records are expected in 2026.

About Simon Dunmore

Simon Dunmore is one of the most influential figures in modern dance music. As founder of Defected Records, he transformed a fledgling label launched in 1999 into the world’s leading house music brand - a global community spanning record releases, events, and festivals from London to Ibiza and beyond. Under his leadership, Defected became a model for artist-led, community-driven success in the digital age, while his creation of Glitterbox helped revive disco’s inclusive spirit for a new generation.

Having stepped down from Defected in 2022, Dunmore continues to champion creativity and artist development. In 2025, he joined Arcade Talent as Head of Artist Development, bringing over four decades of experience to nurture the next wave of talent - still driven by the same belief that music has the power to unite people and build communities.

About Armada Music

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 50,000 tracks built up across twenty-plus years of specialized dance music exploitation.

Representing artists such as Armin van Buuren, ARTY, D.O.D, Eelke Kleijn, Jan Blomqvist, Joris Voorn, KI/KI, Lilly Palmer, Loud Luxury, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, THEMBA and Yulia Niko, Armada Music amasses more than one billion streams per month, airplay on leading radio outlets such as BBC Radio 1 and Sirius XM, and top positions in the world’s most notable charts. Significant label milestones include Armin van Buuren's Grammy nomination for 'This Is What It Feels Like' and two tracks surpassing one billion streams on Spotify: Loud Luxury and Brando’s ‘Body’ and Lost Frequencies’ ‘Are You With Me’. 

Across offices in Amsterdam (HQ), New York, London and Laren (NL), Armada Music offers a global appeal to its growing roster. The label has its own club, radio studio and multiple production studios, and hosts various live formats. Producer platform Armada University, which offers educational products and opportunities, shows the label’s sustained effort to nurture the next wave of talent. For more information, visit www.armadamusic.com, @armadamusic on Instagram and @armada on X.