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Virgin Records Germany Rebrands As Intercord Records
Universal Music Germany, a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), today announced that one of Europe’s most successful dance labels is stepping into a new era. Virgin Records Germany officially becomes Intercord Records – a bold, forward-looking rebrand that celebrates both heritage and evolution, marking the beginning of a powerful new chapter in the global electronic music landscape.
Building on years of international success and cultural influence, the label recognised the need for a name that reflects its evolution and individuality. The transition to Intercord Records gives the label a clear, unified identity – dynamic, international, and true to its dance roots.
“Intercord signals how far we’ve come and the next step in our evolution,” says Alexander Neipp, VP Marketing, Intercord Records. “We’ve built incredible momentum over the past seven years, and now we’re giving that success its own unmistakable identity – a brand that belongs to our artists, our community, and our future.”
While born from the Universal Music family, the Intercord name carries its own rich history. Originally founded in 1966, the brand helped bring electronic icons like Depeche Mode, Erasure, Yazoo, and Moby to German audiences. Intercord Records will continue to be a stronghold for dance and electronic music in Germany and Central Europe – while expanding its reach with a growing roster of genre-blending artists including Leony, Ray Dalton, Alle Farben and several new signings to be unveiled soon.
By reviving the Intercord name, the label is not only reclaiming an important part of Germany’s music history but also projecting it into the future. From licensing partnerships with Mute Records in the 1980s to shaping the Euro-dance sound of the 90s, Intercord’s influence on global dance culture runs deep. Now, under Universal Music Group, it’s poised to redefine what a 21st-century label can be – agile, artist-centric, and culture-driven.
The move comes after the label’s most successful year to date, achieving record-breaking chart-successes. Importantly, Intercord Records will continue to be powered by the same team – the dedicated A&Rs and product managers who champion every release.
With over 40 billion partner streams and a catalogue that defines modern dance music, the label’s influence runs through the core of the global electronic scene. From breaking out Mau P with “Drugs From Amsterdam”, to propelling on the world stage James Hype’s “Ferrari” and a successful string of chart-topping anthems like MEDUZA’s “Piece Of Your Heart”, HUGEL’s “I Adore You”, and Topic’s “Breaking Me”, their releases have shaped the sound of dance floors worldwide and helped launch the next generation of international talent.
“We built Virgin Records Germany into a powerhouse for electronic music. Now it’s time for the next step,” says Magnus Textor, VP A&R Intercord Records & VP A&R CE Dance Electronic. “Intercord is the name that matches our identity, our ambition, and our vision. The same team, the same drive – but with a name that reflects the success we’ve already built and the global impact we’re reaching for together with our artists.
Tom Bohne, President Music Domestic Universal Music Germany, says on the rebrand: “Intercord Records represents both evolution and continuity – a label deeply rooted in Germany’s musical heritage yet always pushing forward in sound and culture. This new chapter is a statement of confidence in our team, our artists, and the future of dance music in Europe and beyond.”
The new Intercord identity will take centre stage at Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) this October. The label will host its annual Intercord Mixer at Soho House / Cecconi’s – now a cornerstone of ADE’s industry calendar – featuring ten back-to-back performances from major DJs and rising stars, surprise guests, and a first look at the new visuals and branding.
With this new chapter unfolding, Intercord Records is focused on building long-term growth, international collaborations, and an even stronger presence across Europe, the UK, the US, and beyond.
Follow Intercord Records: Website
Dance music’s most thriving scene in Ibiza will host the much-awaited annual edition of IMS Dalt Vila on 26th April.
The seven-hour celebration, hosted by AlphaTheta (in synergy with Appetite), is going to kickstart the festive summer season awaiting the Balearic island, wrapping up the 17th edition of the three-day summit held at Mondrian and Hyde Ibiza hotels.
To be held at the 2,500-year-old former fort (and UNESCO World Heritage site) at the center of Ibiza’s old town, the event will unfold within the remarkable views of Catedral de Eivissa and the Mediterranean Sea.
Headliners and hottest newcomers alike will take charge of the dancefloor. British dance music sensation Faithless Sound System and illustrious BBC Radio 1 host Pete Tong will be spearheading this event, along with numerous in-demand aliases.
Irish creative Jazzy is joining the line-up, marking another milestone in her exciting rise in the dance music industry, making an indelible mark in the Afro house scene. Delilah is set to make an impressive debut at IMS Dalt Vila, offering a vibrant house soundset that ripples with energy and intensity.
French DJ/Producer Ankhoi will bring the dynamic, impactful house signature to the line-up. Prominent act DJ Locky is set to bring his well-honed experience from the UK underground. An upcoming name from the new generation of DJs, Olive F is a vinyl connoisseur and globally recognized DJ and producer. Elliot Schooling and Liam Palmer, co-founders of Appetite, will also bring their instinct for electrifying dancefloors, taking a genre-diverse approach.
IMS Dalt Vila Early Bird Tickets are on sale for a limited time, with General Admission available through Eventix. IMS Ibiza delegates can also take advantage of the discounted price with IMS Ibiza delegate badges. The tickets can be purchased here.
Tita Lau releases her first single of 2026, ‘Freaky’, a sample-based dancefloor record built around the iconic Jodeci vocal and her own signature production style.
Tita Lau steps into 2026 with her first release of the year, ‘Freaky’, arriving off the back of a month-long tour across Asia and the success of her collaboration with James Hype on ‘More Of The Same’, which has now surpassed one million streams. The new single marks a notable moment in her discography as her first ever sample-based record, drawing on the iconic Jodeci vocal from Freakn’ You and pairing it with her own signature vocals and precision dancefloor production.
Breaking Down the Sound of Freaky
Freaky is built for the dancefloor from the ground up. The track centres on a throbbing off-beat bass and thumping percussion, with infectious melodic leads weaving around the Jodeci sample throughout. Tita has added her own vocals to the record, sitting alongside the original in a way that feels personal rather than simply functional. The production draws influence from drum-heavy techno grooves while retaining the soulful, emotive qualities that have long defined her approach to house music. The result is a track that bridges the raw energy of the club with the emotional pull of a vocal that has resonated with audiences for decades.
Speaking about the release, Tita said: “I grew up on the iconic original and always wanted to put my signature on it to play in my sets. It always goes off.”
Tita Lau’s 2025-2026 Momentum
The release of Freaky follows a particularly strong stretch for Tita Lau. Her collaboration with James Hype, More Of The Same, broke through the one million streams mark and introduced her to a significantly wider audience ahead of her Asia tour. That run of dates across the continent further cemented her reputation as a consistently high-energy live performer, with the momentum from both carrying directly into this new chapter of her 2026 output. With Freaky now out, it signals the beginning of what looks set to be a busy and musically adventurous year.
In an era where internet culture can elevate songs to global audiences overnight, few collaborations represent the intersection of different music worlds quite like “FAVELA,” the record bringing together producer MXZI and UK artist Deno.
Released in November 2025, the track arrived through an unprecedented partnership between two powerful music platforms: NoCopyrightSounds (NCS) and Mixtape Madness.
A Rare Meeting of Two Music Giants
Both platforms involved in the release bring enormous audiences.
NoCopyrightSounds, founded in 2011, has become one of the most influential electronic music outlets on YouTube, boasting over 34 million subscribers and more than 12 billion total video views.
The label built its reputation by releasing copyright-free electronic music that creators can use in videos, making it one of the most widely used music sources across YouTube, Twitch, and gaming culture.
Meanwhile Mixtape Madness has established itself as one of the UK’s most influential rap platforms, with its YouTube channel attracting around 1.8 million subscribers and producing viral freestyle series like Next Up and Mad About Bars.
While both brands dominate their own lanes NCS in electronic music and Mixtape Madness in UK rap collaborations between the two remain rare. That made “FAVELA” stand out immediately.
The track marked a joint release between the two brands, merging their audiences and creating a bridge between phonk-driven electronic production and melodic UK rap vocals.
MXZI at the Center of the Collaboration
At the heart of the record is “dominic balog” (known as MXZI), whose rise over the past few years has turned him into one of the most streamed producers emerging from the modern Brazilian Phonk movement.
The London-based producer now attracts over 16 million monthly listeners on Spotify, while his catalog has generated billions of streams across platforms. His breakout “Montagem” series including tracks like Montagem Xonada and Montagem Tomada has collectively accumulated hundreds of millions of plays.
Those numbers have positioned MXZI as one of the producers shaping the high-energy montagem-style wave of phonk, a sound built for viral edits.
The collaboration with Deno represents another expansion of his influence.
Rather than staying within purely electronic circles, MXZI stepped directly into the UK rap scene bringing his production style into a space traditionally dominated by grime, afroswing, and melodic drill.
The Deno Factor
For Deno Michael Mebrahtu, the collaboration added another chapter to an already successful career.
Born in Brixton, London, the British-Eritrean singer and rapper first gained attention through viral freestyles posted online before collaborating with major UK artists.
His breakout single “Advice” with Cadet became a major UK hit, reaching No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart and earning BPI Gold certification.
Over the years, Deno has accumulated hundreds of millions of streams, with his catalog surpassing 586 million total Spotify plays and attracting a global fanbase.
A Song Built for the Internet Era
Like much of MXZI’s catalog, “FAVELA” was built with the creator and short-form content in mind..
The track runs just over two minutes, maintains a fast 130 BPM, and features tightly structured drops designed to work seamlessly in montage edits and short-form content. This structure has become a defining characteristic of the modern phonk wave music.
With NCS’s creator-driven distribution model and Mixtape Madness’s deep connection to UK rap audiences, the collaboration effectively placed the track in front of millions of listeners across multiple communities at once.
MXZI, Deno – FAVELA | Funk | NCS x Mixtape Madness – Copyright Free Music
A Symbol of MXZI’s Growing Influence
The release of “FAVELA” highlights MXZI’s expanding influence across different corners of the music industry.
Few producers move seamlessly between electronic music platforms and established UK rap outlets but MXZI’s viral reach has positioned him as a bridge between those worlds.
For MXZI, bringing together powerhouse names in this unprecedented collaboration demonstrates the growing influence he now carries within the industry.
FOLLOW MXZI:
Instagram: @mxziofc
TikTok: @mxziofc
Official YouTube: @MXZIOFC
YouTube Music: MXZI Artist Page
FOLLOW DENO:
Instagram: @denodriz
TikTok: @denodriz
X (Twitter): @denodriz
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