Spinnin’ Records is a Dutch record label founded in 1999 by Eelko van Kooten and Roger de Graaf. Spinnin’ matured into one of the leading music labels in electronic dance music, claiming to be
the world’s leading record label.
EDM in recent years is no longer a niche, but a prominent genre in music.
Spinnin’ Records boasts an impressive roster of artists and sub-labels as well as a massive social media following numbering over 26 million, making it a prize in the eyes of the world’s largest music companies. Warner Music Group (WMG) rose victorious. WMG acquired Spinnin’ Records for 100+ million dollars, defeating Sony Records and Believe Digital.
Warner Music UK’s Chairman & CEO and soon to be named WMG’s CEO, Recorded Music, Max Lousada, was quoted,
Warner’s past, present, and future are all about creating an environment in which incredible artists and entrepreneurs thrive. That’s why I’m pleased to welcome Spinnin’ to our growing family of labels, each with its own cultural identity. Roger and the team aren’t just world leaders in dance music, but pioneers of new ways to break artists and build music brands. Together, we’ll nurture and expand Spinnin’s global community of hit-makers, DJs, producers, songwriters, and millions of passionate fans.
CEO & Co-Founder of Spinnin’ Records, Roger de Graaf will remain as the chief executive officer of Spinnin’ Records within WMG. His statement regarding the acquisition is,
Spinnin’ has found the perfect home at Warner Music. Max, Stu, Bart, and the team really believe in our culture and commitment to artist development. They share our vision for growing Spinnin’ by creating even bigger opportunities for our artists and their music. It’s been an incredible journey so far and, as we look to the future, everyone at Spinnin’ Records would like to thank our close friend Eelko for everything he’s done for our company, artists, and industry. His partnership and leadership mean he will forever be part of the Spinnin’ family.
Eelko van Kooten, Co-founder of Spinnin’ Records is leaving to pursue other interests. His statement about the acquisition is,
Each of the Spinnin’ companies has matured successfully which makes it a good moment for me to step down. With pride and joy I look back on 25 exciting years in the music industry and feel grateful to have worked with so many talented artists and an incredible team at Spinnin’. I want to thank them for their dedication and unlimited efforts. A special thank you to my business partner and best friend Roger de Graaf for all the laughs, the challenges and the success we’ve experienced together. As I look ahead at the next chapter in my life, I remain confident that the team will continue to accelerate and that Spinnin’ will enjoy continued success.
The aforementioned quotes were taken directly from Warner Music Group’s official statement of the acquisition.