EMPIRE, the leading independent label, distributor and publisher, has announced the acquisition of dance record label, Dirtybird. The acquisition marks EMPIRE’s entrance into the dance music scene after building and working alongside some of the world’s top artists across Hip Hop, R&B, Latin, Country and Afrobeats.
Dirtybird was founded in San Francisco in 2005 by Barclay Crenshaw, better known as Claude VonStroke. The label has been at the forefront of the modern U.S. House Music scene for nearly two decades. Dirtybird has won “Label of the Decade” by Mixmag as well as Label of the Year twice at the International Dance Music Awards in Miami.
The acquisition brings together two of San Francisco’s most prominent and independent music companies and is inclusive of the formidable Dirtybird catalog of music, including artists such as Claude VonStroke, Nikki Nair, Walker & Royce, as well as the label’s clothing, publishing and web3 assets. Claude VonStroke will continue to own and run all of the Dirtybird live events and festival brands.
“I’m so excited to join another incredible independent Bay Area music company,” said Barclay Crenshaw, CEO and Founder of Dirtybird. “I will continue to A&R the Dirtybird label and direct the creative for the music and clothing, while EMPIRE has the capacity and resources to grow the brand globally. This is a dream come true.”
EMPIRE and Dirtybird Records plan to formally announce the new partnership at preeminent dance conference, Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), on October 20th at Space266. The event will be open to the public. For more details, visit empireatade.rsvpify.com.
