Dim Mak
Dim Mak is an independent, Los Angeles-based record label, events company, and lifestyle brand founded by Steve Aoki in 1996. It releases electronic dance music through its label and Latin-focused Dim Mak En Fuego imprint, hosts live events worldwide, and sells merchandise via Dim Mak Collection for a global base of EDM fans.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Dim Mak does
Dim Mak is an independent, Los Angeles-based entertainment company founded by Steve Aoki in 1996, operating three integrated business lines: a record label (Dim Mak Records), an events company, and a lifestyle/merchandise brand (Dim Mak Collection). The label is best classified as a music company providing event production and artist development services, with a roster of approximately 31 artists and a catalog spanning electronic dance music across multiple subgenres. The business historically launched global acts including The Chainsmokers, Bloc Party, The Bloody Beetroots, The Kills, and early releases from ZEDD and Diplo, and maintains ongoing high-profile collaborations such as 3 Are Legend with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike.
The core product surface is music release and distribution through major streaming platforms — Spotify, Apple Music, Beatport, and SoundCloud — supported by curated playlists (Dark, En Fuego, New Noise, A Good One) that function as both editorial and promotional tools. The Dim Mak En Fuego imprint, established in 2020, operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary focused on Latin electronic music. Merchandise is sold direct-to-consumer via dimmakcollection.com, with notable collaborations including A Bathing Ape and the Bruce Lee estate, and the 2024 DM30 drop illustrating continued product cadence. Live distribution occurs through festival appearances at Coachella, Tomorrowland, EDC Las Vegas, and Ultra Music Festival.
Revenue mechanics span licensing royalties on label releases, transaction-based income from live events, and hardware sales from the merchandise line. The company is privately held under Steve Aoki's sole ownership, with no institutional investors or funding rounds disclosed. GTM motion is event-driven and community-led: artist discovery is fueled by Steve Aoki's personal celebrity reach and demo submissions, while community engagement is sustained through streaming playlists, social channels (notably Instagram and TikTok), and an email newsletter. Customer segments are primarily consumer (electronic dance music fans) globally, with no enterprise or B2B channel disclosed.
Dim Mak firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dim Mak
- Legal name
- Dim Mak Records Inc.
- Website
- https://dimmak.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Dim Mak is an independent, Los Angeles-based record label, events company, and lifestyle brand founded by Steve Aoki in 1996. It releases electronic dance music through its label and Latin-focused Dim Mak En Fuego imprint, hosts live events worldwide, and sells merchandise via Dim Mak Collection for a global base of EDM fans.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dim Mak industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Music Label
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225), Record Production and Distribution (512250)
- SIC
- Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Record Labels (Major & Independent) (MPAIAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Music Aggregators & DIY Distribution Platforms (MPAIAAAD), Party DJ, Music & Audio Services (HSACACAI)
Keywords
Where Dim Mak is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Dim Mak business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Record Label Releases: Revenue from music releases, streaming royalties, and artist releases on the Dim Mak Records imprint. The label has launched global acts and continues to sign and release new artists.
- Events Company: Revenue from live events, festival appearances, and performances organized or associated with the Dim Mak brand.
- Dim Mak Collection (Merchandise): Lifestyle brand merchandise including clothing and accessories. Steve Aoki founded THE AOKI FOUNDATION and has pushed his clothing line Dim Mak Collection to new heights with original designs and collaborations with A Bathing Ape and the Bruce Lee estate.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Dim Mak product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dim Mak is an independent record label that signs, develops, and releases electronic dance music artists globally, with distribution across major streaming platforms. The company also operates an events division producing live performances and festival appearances, a lifestyle merchandise line (Dim Mak Collection), and the Dim Mak En Fuego Latin music imprint. Founded by Steve Aoki in 1996, it functions as an integrated music label, events company, and lifestyle brand.
Product overview
Dim Mak is an independent, Los Angeles-based record label, events company, and lifestyle brand founded by Steve Aoki in 1996. The core offering is Dim Mak Records, which releases electronic dance music and has launched global acts. The company operates multiple sub-brands including Dim Mak En Fuego (Latin music imprint launched in 2020), Dim Mak Collection (merchandise), and curators A GOOD ONE and NEW NOISE. The company also provides demo submission services for aspiring artists and operates an events division. All offerings are integrated under the 'By Any Means Necessary' brand philosophy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Dim Mak En Fuego: Latin music imprint launched by Steve Aoki in summer 2020 to focus on Latin music and break down musical and cultural boundaries.
- Dim Mak Collection
Products and services
- Dim Mak Records Independent Los Angeles-based record label founded by Steve Aoki in 1996 that signs, releases, and promotes electronic dance music artists globally. Has launched global acts including The Chainsmokers, Bloc Party, The Bloody Beetroots, and early releases from ZEDD and Diplo.
- Dim Mak En Fuego Latin music imprint launched by Steve Aoki in summer 2020 as a subdivision of Dim Mak Records, focusing on Latin electronic and dance music and signing artists like Los Padres and 2DEEP.
- Dim Mak Collection (Merchandise)
Quantifiable outcome
- Artists have achieved tens of millions of streams and major festival performances
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Dim Mak
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Dim Mak technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Dim Mak partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Dim Mak En FuegocoreDim Mak En Fuego is Steve Aoki's Latin music imprint launched in summer 2020, continuing to break down musical and cultural boundaries. The Latin label has signed artists like Los Padres and 2DEEP who contribute to the Latin sound.
- 3 Are Legendcore3 Are Legend is a collaboration supergroup consisting of Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike (brothers and Tomorrowland kings) and Dim Mak founder Steve Aoki. The trio collaborates on music productions and performances, first connecting on Aoki's iconic 2012 Deadmeat tour. They have released tracks including 'Phat Brahms' (2012), 'Feedback' (2014), 'We Are Legend' (2017), and remixes of 'Crowd Control' (2018).
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Dim Mak competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Spinnin' Records: Dutch independent electronic dance music label closely comparable to Dim Mak. Both operate as global EDM-focused independent imprints releasing electronic music across streaming platforms and supporting festival-circuit DJs.
- OWSLA: Skrillex's independent electronic music label, comparable to Dim Mak in operating as an artist-led imprint releasing electronic and dance music, supporting festival-circuit producers, and curating branded releases and showcases.
- Mad Decent: Independent electronic and dance music label founded by Diplo, who had early releases through Dim Mak. Both labels compete in signing and breaking EDM artists, releasing electronic music globally, and operating lifestyle/event-driven brand extensions.
- Insomniac Events: Electronic music event production company behind EDC and other festivals, comparable to Dim Mak's events business. Both produce large-scale EDM events, curate artist lineups, and operate lifestyle brands adjacent to the electronic music industry.
- Armada Music: Dutch independent electronic music label founded by Armin van Buuren, comparable to Dim Mak as a major independent imprint focused on dance music, festival-circuit artists, and global streaming distribution.
- Fool's Gold Records: Independent record label co-founded by A-Trak focused on electronic, hip-hop, and dance music. Like Dim Mak, it is a founder-led indie imprint releasing electronic music and cultivating artist rosters with global club and festival presence.
- mau5trap: Independent electronic music label founded by Deadmau5, comparable to Dim Mak as a DJ/artist-led imprint focused on electronic releases, artist development, and festival-aligned EDM. Both operate with strong founder-driven brand identity.
- Monstercat: Independent electronic music label releasing EDM, bass, and house music across streaming platforms. Comparable to Dim Mak in operating as a multi-channel independent label supporting diverse electronic subgenres and artist development.
Broad incumbents
- Big Beat Records: Electronic and dance music imprint under Atlantic Records (Warner Music Group). Comparable to Dim Mak as an electronic-music-focused label signing and developing EDM artists, but operates with major-label distribution and marketing scale.
- Interscope Geffen A&M: Major label under Universal Music Group with significant electronic and dance music roster. Comparable to Dim Mak in releasing electronic artists at scale, but operates as part of a major-label portfolio with vastly greater capital and distribution resources.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Dim Mak social profiles
Digital presenceDim Mak financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dim Mak leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Dim Mak subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Dim Mak funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dim Mak M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dim Mak
What does Dim Mak do?
Dim Mak is an independent record label that signs, develops, and releases electronic dance music artists globally, with distribution across major streaming platforms. The company also operates an events division producing live performances and festival appearances, a lifestyle merchandise line (Dim Mak Collection), and the Dim Mak En Fuego Latin music imprint. Founded by Steve Aoki in 1996, it functions as an integrated music label, events company, and lifestyle brand.
Is Dim Mak a public or private company?
Dim Mak is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Dim Mak founded?
Dim Mak was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Dim Mak based?
Dim Mak is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Dim Mak make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Record Label Releases are the primary driver. The others are events Company and dim Mak Collection (Merchandise).
Who are Dim Mak's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Spinnin' Records, OWSLA, Mad Decent, Insomniac Events, Armada Music, Fool's Gold Records, mau5trap and Monstercat. Broad incumbents are Big Beat Records and Interscope Geffen A&M.
Does Dim Mak have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dim Mak.
What industry is Dim Mak in?
Dim Mak's product category is Independent Music Label. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAAAA, Record Labels (Major & Independent), with a secondary code of MPAIAAAD, Music Aggregators & DIY Distribution Platforms. Its NAICS code is 51225 and its SIC code is 3652.