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Defected Records, or simply Defected, is a British independent record label specialising in house music recordings, compilation albums, events, publishing, artist bookings and management.
Defected is one of the longest running independent labels in the United Kingdom. Established in 1999 by Simon Dunmore in London, the label has played a significant role in the promotion and development of house music.
In late 2016, Defected hit its 500th release, a catalogue that has included singles from artists such as Bob Sinclar, Kings of Tomorrow, Masters at Work, Inner City, Dennis Ferrer, Lenny Fontana, Roy Davis Jr., DJ Gregory, Mr G, MK and more recently Franky Rizardo, Purple Disco Machine, Amine Edge & Dance, Peggy Gou and many more.
In 2019, Defected celebrated its 20th anniversary, announcing a series of special events. Simon Dunmore mixed 2019's first edition of Essential Mix on 4 January 2019 that, in Dunmore's own words, provided "an insight into the music I love and that continues to influence everything we aspire to achieve at Defected Records".
In September 2022, Simon Dunmore sold Defected to investor Stephen Devonshire alongside the Chief Executive of the company Wez Saunders, through their takeover vehicle Optimum Defected Holdings Limited.
To celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2024, Defected Records announced a series of major events and releases. This includes a world tour with 25 residencies in 25 countries, a new podcast series, a special playlist, and a unique "Together" series featuring 25 new collaborative productions. This also involved moving its Ibiza residency to Ushuaïa.
In 2001, Roger Sanchez released "Another Chance" on the label, which went on to be an international hit, achieving Number 1 in the UK singles chart. Defected went on to celebrate further commercial success when Kings of Tomorrow released "Finally" in 2002. This was voted the 31st best track of 2000–2010 by electronic dance music portal Resident Advisor.
Swiss duo Shakedown's "At Night" reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart in 2002, and No. 1 on the UK Dance Chart.
The Defected in the House compilation launched in 2003 with Jay-J & Miguel Migs and has since featured artists such as Loco Dice, Gilles Peterson, the Shapeshifters, Louie Vega and Tensnake, as well as annual compilations dedicated to Ibiza and Miami, Croatia and other notable clubbing destinations.
Bob Sinclar's 2005 track "Love Generation" reached No. 12 in the UK and was a hit all over Europe and in Australia, achieving one of the longest runs of all time in the German singles charts and going on to sell over one million copies worldwide. The Irish duo Fish Go Deep also had success with their hit "Cure and the Cause" which stayed in the Beatport top 100 for almost a year.
During Defected's 10th year, the label found success with underground hits like Dennis Ferrer's "Hey Hey". In addition, they have released a number of underground hits from both seminal recordings artists and up and coming DJs and producers, including Inner City's "Future", Intruder feat. Jai's "Amame", Flashmob's "Need in Me", Pirupa's "Party Non Stop", Candi Staton's "Hallelujah Anyway", Noir & Haze's "Around", FCL's "It's You", Kings of Tomorrow feat. April's "Fall for You", Rachel Row's "Follow the Step" and Storm Queen's "Look Right Through", many of which have won awards or gone on to be some of the biggest club records of the year.
In 2019, Defected celebrated its 20th anniversary. During the year, Defected released Roberto Surace's "Joys", which became the Italian producer's first No. 1 on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart and joint ventured Shazam Ibiza dance charts (in its 12 October and 30 September 2019 issues, respectively).
In September 2019, the label released Endor's "Pump It Up!", Brighton producer Dan Hardingham's debut track with Defected. This track would reach No. 1 on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart and would also reach number 8 on the UK Singles Chart with 18 weeks spent within the Official Charts Company's Top 75. Nowadays, Defected is considered for many as the most notable house music label in the UK.
It was announced on 20 April 2023 that the label will host a residency at Bali's Savaya Club from 7 to 28 July.
After Space Ibiza closed, Glitterbox transitioned to Hï Ibiza (the newly build club in place of Space) in 2017, where it continues to host flamboyant Sunday night parties.
Since 2023, Glitterbox has partnered with Radio 1 Dance to license their Radio 1 Dance X brand for the event at the start of August, as part of the Radio 1 Dance Weekend.
From 2006, Defected held a residency at Pacha Ibiza for 7 years, with 2012 being the last season at the club. In 2013, Defected took up residency at the Cipriani-owned Booom!, at which was the most successful night over the summer season. This ended after the 2014 season, following an ownership lawsuit which Booom! lost. The club subsequently closed down.
In 2015, Defected partnered with Together to host a residency every Tuesday at Amnesia from 9 June for 16 weeks.
The label announced in 2016 that it would take a hiatus from the island, instead concentrating on a new venture, Defected Croatia, taking place at the Garden Resort in Tisno, Croatia.
From the 2017 to 2023 seasons, Defected moved to Eden in San Antonio, holding a 20+ week residency there every Friday, along with hosting Café Mambo on Sundays.
For the 2024 season, Defected moved to Ushuaïa in Playa d'en Bossa, taking up a 22-event residency every Tuesday at the beach hotel to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
The festival draws a crowd of 3,000 from across the world to experience the four-day event. Artists on the lineup have included Eats Everything, Sam Divine, Marc Kinchen, Kenny Dope, Franky Rizardo, Derrick Carter, Roger Sanchez, Claptone and Basement Jaxx.
The festival includes three stages onsite, boat parties and afterparties.
Founder of the label, Simon Dunmore talks of London's music scene, "The cultural and musical diversity in our city grows ever stronger and we are proud to bring people together through music. With it being our 20th anniversary this year, it just felt like the right moment to do our first London festival".
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