Editor’s Note: EDM.com is pleased to present its annual year-end series, highlighting Industry Leaders, Performances & DJ Sets, Music Producers, and Tracks.
Typically, year-end reviews in the music industry focus on artists and performers. However, EDM.com takes a different approach by honoring the exceptional contributions of the industry’s unsung heroes and brands. Here, we highlight the top industry leaders of 2025.
Record Label: Black Book Records
In 2025, Chris Lake’s Black Book Records stood out by consistently delivering high-quality music with a significant cultural impact. The label’s unique blend of innovative ideas and dancefloor-ready grooves allowed artists to explore creatively while producing chart-topping hits. Black Book became a model for aspiring producers worldwide, with releases like MPH’s “Raw” and Discip’s “Raw Control” becoming global dancefloor favorites. Collaborations such as “LA NOCHE” with Lake, Skrillex, and ANITA B QUEEN, and “London’s On Fire” with Lake, Max Styler, and Audio Bullys, showcased the creative freedom at the label. Lake’s debut album, Chemistry, marked a pivotal moment in house music, reflecting the evolution of the genre by incorporating elements of UK garage and bass. Notable releases from Kyle Watson, Chris Lorenzo, Joshwa, Yolanda Be Cool, and others solidified Black Book’s status as a leading force in dance music.
Words by Rachel Freeman and Harrison Goldstein.
Honorable Mentions: Catch & Release | HEKATE Records | Experts Only
Club: [UNVRS]
In 2025, [UNVRS] truly redefined nightlife, unlike many venues that merely promise to do so. The new superclub in Ibiza, masterminded by The Night League, opened in May with an audiovisual grandeur reminiscent of a cinematic dream. Described as “part nightclub, part sculpture, part dream,” [UNVRS] created a unique experience with its 6,500-square-meter space, featuring a colossal main room, terraces, dancefloors, a burger joint, and a mini-club inside a bathroom. The venue combined traditional Ibizan aesthetics with sci-fi elements, offering mind-bending visuals and top-tier sound systems. [UNVRS] hosted an impressive lineup of DJs, including David Guetta, Carl Cox, FISHER, Anyma, and Sara Landry. It also exclusively featured Eric Prydz’s Holosphere 2.0, described as “the biggest show production ever undertaken in Ibiza,” according to Yann Pissenem, CEO of The Night League.
Words by Jason Heffler.
Honorable Mentions: Chinois Ibiza | The Concourse Project | TAO Beach
Event Organizer: DEF
DEF, a female-owned independent collective, made significant strides in 2025 by redefining community-focused raves. Known as Define Everything Future, DEF hosted a high-profile Miami Music Week showcase and various events in Atlanta, including a rare DJ set from Foster The People. Collaborations with SoundCloud and techno superstar Sara Landry, along with a special stage at Hulaween, highlighted their commitment to creating inclusive and electrifying spaces. DEF’s ethos of fostering freedom and connection on the dancefloor set them apart in 2025.
Words by Rachel Freeman.
Honorable Mentions: Excision Presents | Verknipt | Auris Presents
Music Photographer: Brittany Teuber
After a personal tragedy in 2015, Brittany Teuber found solace in photography, eventually becoming a prominent figure in the electronic music scene. In 2025, she captured significant events like the Experts Only Weekender in Vail and Pretty Lights’ Yahn Dawn festival. Her work at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, featuring artists like Madeon and Elderbrook, showcased her ability to convey the emotions of a moment through her lens. Teuber’s photography not only captured what events looked like but also what they felt like, establishing her as a compelling storyteller.
Words by Jason Heffler and Rachel Freeman.
Honorable Mentions: Rukes | Shutterklick | Cole Warner
Credit: Brittany Teuber
Visual Artist: Ray Elemento
Ray Elemento played a crucial role in shaping the visual identity of Subtronics in 2025. As the Creative Visual Director, he crafted imagery for the Fibonacci album rollout, translating complex mathematical concepts into stunning visuals. Elemento’s ability to make computational chaos appear organic allowed him to create immersive experiences for fans, expanding Subtronics’ universe into a tangible reality. His work in 2025 established a visual language where geometry defied its own rules, yet remained coherent.
Words by Harrison Goldstein and Jason Heffler.
Honorable Mentions: Liam Tomaszewski | HD-4884 | Cole Winters-McCabe
YouTube Channel: Flavour Trip
In 2025, Flavour Trip, led by Amii Watson and Jimmi Harvey, redefined the open-air DJ set by combining music, food, and travel. Their unique approach blended house music with culinary delights and scenic backdrops, creating a sensory experience. The duo’s sets, filmed in diverse locations like the Spanish Coast and the Swiss Alps, emphasized simplicity and genuine appreciation for music and food. Flavour Trip’s approach set them apart in a DJing landscape focused on grandiosity.
Words by Rachel Freeman and Cameron Sunkel.
Honorable Mentions: Sub Freqs | Q-dance | James Hype
Audio Engineer: Cassian Stewart-Kasimba
Cassian Stewart-Kasimba’s expertise was evident in some of the most ambitious electronic projects of 2025. As Music Director and lead engineer for Anyma’s Vegas Sphere residency, he adapted visual storytelling to the venue’s advanced technology. His work on the techno superstar’s collaboration with Ellie Goulding, “Hypnotized,” anchored one of the year’s major dance albums, The End of Genesys. Stewart-Kasimba also mixed RÜFÜS DU SOL’s Inhale / Exhale, earning a Grammy nomination, and worked on numerous other tracks, showcasing his precision and aesthetic depth.
Words by Ansh Talim and Cameron Sunkel.
Honorable Mentions: Aksel Arvid | Julia Borelli | Luca Pretolesi
Credit: Courtney Johnson
Music Entrepreneur: Myles Shear (Palm Tree Crew)
In 2025, Myles Shear expanded Palm Tree Crew into a comprehensive operation within electronic dance music. As Kygo’s manager and co-founder, Shear grew Palm Tree beyond its festival, label, and lifestyle divisions into a network of venues, opening new clubs in Las Vegas and Kansas City. The company also acquired a stake in Mary Lou’s, a popular nightlife spot in Palm Beach. These strategic moves aimed at owning the spaces where fan culture thrives, providing artists with unique leverage. The company was valued at $215 million after a successful funding round, with WME Group’s CEO describing it as “a cultural force.”
Words by Cameron Sunkel.
Honorable Mentions: Andreea Magdalina (shesaid.so) | Adam Lynn and Zach Ruben (Breakaway) | Justin Fenchel, Aimy Steadman, and Brad Schultz (BeatBox Beverages)
Music Publicity: MP3 PR
In 2025, MP3 PR emerged as a leading force in electronic dance music publicity, transforming from a small startup into a prolific firm. Under the leadership of founder Franz Hilberath, MP3 represented over 100 artists, labels, and festivals across four continents, including major names like Excision, GRiZ, and DJ Snake. Their clients received coverage in top media outlets like Rolling Stone and Forbes. Notable press hits included a Billboard profile on Zeds Dead and a PAPER Magazine feature on DJ Snake’s historic performance in France. Hilberath also led a panel at the Amsterdam Dance Event, discussing modern branding and media strategies.
Words by Harrison Goldstein.
Honorable Mentions: Falcon Publicity | JSloane Creative | PGM PR
Artist Management: Rare Breed
Rare Breed Artists made a significant impact in 2025 by transforming a curated roster into a defining force in the scene. The partnership between EDM.com Class alumni ISOxo and Knock2 culminated in the inaugural Niteharts festival at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium. Rare DJ sets from ISOxo b2b Skrillex and Knock2 b2b Zedd highlighted the rapid expansion of their vision. With imaginative producers like Eliminate, Rare Breed’s influence was evident across the year’s most notable sets. The upcoming release of PEEKABOO’s sophomore album is eagerly anticipated for 2026.
Words by Cameron Sunkel.
Honorable Mentions: MLennial | Midas Touch Management | Prodigy Artists
