Ultra Records

Ultra Records is an American electronic music record label established in New York City in 1995 by Patrick Moxey, a former executive associated with PolyGram and Virgin Records. The label developed during the expansion of electronic dance music from specialist club culture into a broad international commercial market, and built its identity around dance singles, remixes, albums, and artist-led electronic projects. The label's catalogue has included work by prominent DJs, producers, and electronic-pop artists such as Armin van Buuren, David Guetta, Calvin Harris, deadmau5, Tiësto, Benny Benassi, Deorro, Lost Frequencies, Sofi Tukker, Steve Aoki, Kygo, and others. Its releases have generally occupied the space between club music and mainstream pop, covering house, progressive house, electro house, dance-pop, crossover Latin dance, and related forms. Ultra has also been involved in licensing, distribution, artist development, remix releases, and international music partnerships rather than functioning only as a traditional album label. The Ultra name became the subject of a long-running dispute with the Miami-based Ultra Music Festival, whose corporate operator was known as Ultra Enterprises, Inc. Ultra Records began litigation in 1999 and sought to restrict the festival's use of the name. The conflict continued after the record label adopted a new logo and increasingly used the name Ultra Music. In 2012, the parties litigated the matter in a federal trial in the Southern District of New York before resolving the dispute through an out-of-court settlement. Ultra expanded its relationship with Sony Music through a global partnership announced in 2013. The arrangement gave the label access to Sony's international infrastructure while allowing Ultra to continue operating as a recognizable electronic-music imprint. In December 2021, Sony Music completed its acquisition of Ultra Records from Patrick Moxey, making the label part of Sony Music Group's wider portfolio. David Waxman, who had previously served as Ultra's head of A&R and general manager, became president in January 2022. Beyond recorded music, Ultra has participated in audiovisual and live-music projects. It produced the 2016 Steve Aoki documentary I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead and has been associated with planned or developing concert-documentary projects involving Kygo and Deorro. Ultra Records has also collaborated with Ultra Music Festival on international electronic-music festivals, although the label and festival are distinct businesses. The label's commercial reach is reflected in the international certifications earned by its releases. By 2017, Ultra Music reported Diamond, Platinum, and Gold records across multiple territories. Examples include OMI's “Cheerleader” in the Felix Jaehn remix, Imany's “Don't Be So Shy” in the Filatov & Karas remix, Deorro's “Five More Hours” with Chris Brown, Lost Frequencies' “Are You with Me,” Sofi Tukker's “Drinkee,” and collaborations involving Steve Aoki, Louis Tomlinson, Benny Benassi, Chris Brown, Era Istrefi, SNBRN, and Klingande. The label has also received recognition from the International Dance Music Awards and has been connected with Grammy-winning or Grammy-nominated recordings and remixes. Today, Ultra Records operates as an active Sony-owned electronic music label with a global release and partnership footprint.

Ultra Records was founded in New York City in 1995 by Patrick Moxey, who had previously worked as an executive connected with PolyGram and Virgin Records. The label emerged as electronic dance music was moving from specialist club scenes toward international radio, festival, and digital markets. Its early and continuing strategy centered on electronic artists, DJs, producers, dance singles, remixes, and albums that could circulate across territories and formats. Over time, Ultra became associated with a wide range of internationally recognized electronic and crossover artists, including Armin van Buuren, David Guetta, Calvin Harris, deadmau5, Tiësto, Benny Benassi, Deorro, Lost Frequencies, Sofi Tukker, Steve Aoki, and others. Its catalogue covered multiple forms of dance music and frequently connected club production with pop vocalists and artists from adjacent genres. Releases involving Chris Brown, Louis Tomlinson, OMI, Imany, Era Istrefi, and other non-specialist pop performers helped demonstrate the label's crossover approach. The company became involved in a trademark and naming conflict with Ultra Music Festival. In 1999, Ultra Records began litigation against the festival's operator, seeking limitations on the festival's use of the word Ultra in Florida. The dispute intensified after Ultra Records introduced a new logo and used the name Ultra Music. In 2012, the matter proceeded to a two-week federal jury trial in the Southern District of New York between Ultra Records and Ultra Enterprises, Inc., the festival operator. The parties ultimately reached an out-of-court settlement. Ultra's relationship with Sony Music developed into a global partnership in 2013. This gave the independent-origin label a connection to a major international music company while preserving Ultra's distinct identity in electronic music. In December 2021, Sony Music fully acquired Ultra Records from Patrick Moxey. The acquisition placed Ultra within Sony Music Group and formalized a corporate relationship that had previously operated as a partnership. In January 2022, David Waxman was appointed president. Waxman had previously been Ultra's head of A&R and general manager, giving him continuity with the label's artist-signing and repertoire functions. Under Sony ownership, Ultra remains an active electronic music imprint with international distribution and partnerships. Ultra has also extended its activities beyond recorded releases. It produced Steve Aoki's 2016 documentary I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead and has been associated with concert-documentary projects involving Kygo and Deorro. The label has collaborated with Ultra Music Festival on international electronic-music festivals, even though the record label and festival are separate entities. The label's catalogue has generated substantial international certification activity. Reported examples include the Felix Jaehn remix of OMI's “Cheerleader,” Imany's “Don't Be So Shy” remix by Filatov & Karas, Deorro's “Bailar” with Elvis Crespo, Deorro and Chris Brown's “Five More Hours,” Benny Benassi and Chris Brown's “Paradise,” Lost Frequencies' “Are You with Me,” Era Istrefi's “BonBon,” SNBRN's “Gangsta Walk,” Klingande's “Somewhere New,” and Sofi Tukker's “Drinkee.” Ultra-related releases have also received Grammy wins, nominations, and repeated International Dance Music Awards recognition.

• 2022

  David Waxman becomes president

  [1]Ultra Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  David Waxman was appointed president after serving in A&R and general management roles.

• 2021

  Sony Music acquisition completed

  [1]Ultra Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Sony Music fully acquired Ultra Records from Patrick Moxey.

• 2016

  Steve Aoki documentary released

  [1]Ultra Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Ultra produced the documentary I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead about Steve Aoki.

• 2013

  Global Sony Music partnership

  [1]Ultra Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Ultra entered a global partnership with Sony Music.

• 2012

  Federal trial over the Ultra name

  [1]Ultra Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The naming dispute with Ultra Enterprises reached a two-week federal jury trial before being settled out of court.

• 2012

  Skrillex remix receives Grammy recognition

  [1]Ultra Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Skrillex's remix of Benny Benassi's “Cinema” received a Grammy Award.

• 2008

  Grammy-winning remix recognition

  [1]Ultra Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Benny Benassi's remix of Public Enemy's “Bring the Noise,” associated with Ultra, received a Grammy Award.

• 1999

  Naming dispute with Ultra Music Festival begins

  [1]Ultra Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Ultra Records commenced litigation concerning the Ultra name used by the Miami-based festival and its operator.

• 1995

  Ultra Records founded

  [1]Ultra Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Patrick Moxey established Ultra Records in New York City as an electronic music label.

A globally oriented electronic dance music label positioned between specialist club culture and mainstream pop, with emphasis on DJs, producers, remixes, and internationally scalable dance releases.

• Recorded music · 1995

  Electronic dance music recordings

  Ultra's core output consists of singles, EPs, albums, and artist catalogues in electronic dance music. Releases span house, progressive house, electro house, dance-pop, remix culture, and other club-oriented styles, often pairing producer-led arrangements with vocalists and pop collaborators.

• Digital music · 1995

  Remixes and crossover singles

  The label has released and distributed remix-driven recordings that translate club tracks into international radio and streaming formats. Examples include the Felix Jaehn version of OMI's “Cheerleader,” the Filatov & Karas remix of Imany's “Don't Be So Shy,” and other producer-led collaborations.

• Audiovisual entertainment · 2016

  Music documentaries

  Ultra has participated in documentary projects extending its electronic-music brand into film and artist storytelling. Its documented production work includes Steve Aoki's I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, released in 2016, with additional concert-documentary projects associated with Kygo and Deorro.

• 2012

  Ultra name dispute with Ultra Music Festival

  Ultra Records pursued litigation against Ultra Enterprises, the operator of Ultra Music Festival, over use of the Ultra name. The dispute reached a federal jury trial and was resolved through an out-of-court settlement.

  Source

Read more

• 2016I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead

  Global

  Ultra produced a documentary focused on Steve Aoki's career, creative work, and public persona, extending the label's role from recorded music into artist-centered audiovisual content.

  Outcome. The documentary became a notable audiovisual project associated with Ultra's electronic-music portfolio.

  Source
• International festival collaboration

  Global

  Ultra Records has collaborated with Ultra Music Festival on international electronic-music festivals, connecting the label's artist and release ecosystem with live events.

  Outcome. The collaboration supported international visibility for Ultra-associated electronic music and artists.

  Source

• 2022

  Appoint David Waxman as presidentStrategy

  Background

  Following Sony Music's acquisition, the label required leadership for its continuing A&R and operating activities.

  Action taken

  David Waxman was appointed president after serving as head of A&R and general manager.

  Aftermath

  The appointment provided leadership continuity across the ownership transition.

  Source

• 2021

  Sony Music acquires Ultra RecordsM&A

  Background

  After the global partnership announced in 2013, Sony Music moved to bring Ultra Records fully into Sony Music Group.

  Action taken

  Sony Music acquired Ultra Records from Patrick Moxey in December 2021.

  Aftermath

  Ultra continued as a Sony-owned electronic music label, with David Waxman appointed president the following month.

  Source

• 2013

  Enter a global partnership with Sony MusicStrategy

  Background

  Ultra sought international scale for its electronic-music catalogue and artist operations while retaining its label identity.

  Action taken

  The label formed a global partnership with Sony Music.

  Aftermath

  The relationship preceded Sony Music's full acquisition of Ultra Records in 2021.

  Source

1. 1Ultra Recordsen.wikipedia.org