Nicky Romero and Universal Music/Virgin Records Germany announce one of the most exciting brand partnerships in dance music and release the first single “Nights With You.” The Dutch heavyweight has been releasing some of dance’s biggest hits for over a decade, and now he is stepping into an incredible new chapter by joining Universal Music/Virgin Records Germany in a modern and hybrid approach to releasing Nicky Romero’s crossover material. With the additional support of Universal Music/Virgin Records Germany for his releases, Nicky will expand his reach and impact across the globe while maintaining his creative control. “The Universal team has been thoughtful and flexible in the way they look at artists in 2020, particularly in dance music. I feel like they understand me as an artist and don’t attempt to put a box around creativity. I’m really excited about this partnership between our brands and look forward to what I know we’ll accomplish together” - says Nicky Romero.
Daniel Schmidt, Vice President A&R, and Alexander Neipp, General Manager Marketing of Virgin Records Germany, also express their excitement about the new deal: “Nicky is one of the leading global dance music DJs for ages, and we’re super happy to welcome him within the Universal Music/Virgin Records Germany family. Moreover, we are hugely ambitious for what we, as a team, can achieve not only in Germany but around the world.” Protocol’s Jorik van de Pol, A&R Director, and Daniël van der Sluijs, Label Director, also add “Protocol is incredibly excited to partner with Universal in a hybrid approach where we can release Nicky Romero crossover material together. We see tremendous value in sharing resources and understanding across genres. This is a perfect moment to take steps to expand our reach globally. Universal is the perfect partner to help us achieve our goals with Nicky in this new collaboration between our companies.” Protocol Recordings, which has become a household name in electronic dance music since its inception 8 years ago, will continue to release music of Nicky Romero and other Protocol artists independently.
After taking the world by storm with early hits such as ‘Toulouse,’ ‘Legacy’ (with Krewella) and #1 single ‘I Could Be The One’ (with Avicii), Nicky Romero quickly proved that his talent is ever-evolving and here to stay. After launching his Protocol Recordings imprint in 2012, the renowned performer, producer, and label head continued his personal successes with a string of high-profile releases, ranging from collaborations with Armin van Buuren, David Guetta, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Taio Cruz, Cheat Codes, NERVO, Timmy Trumpet and Steve Aoki to remixes for the likes of Kygo, Rita Ora, Robin Schulz, Steve Aoki, Martin Garrix, Jess Glynne and more. While showcasing his label’s roster via his weekly Protocol Radio show, Nicky Romero continues to innovate and evolve during these unprecedented times in the music industry. He recently debuted his ultra-modern “Another World” live stream concept this summer, and launched the Monocule alter-ego. With the announcement of Nicky Romero and Protocol Recordings’ partnership with Universal Music/Virgin Records Germany, the sky’s the limit.