When a powerhouse music fund like BEAT Music invests $500 million, including the acquisition of King Street Sounds, things tend to move quite quickly. The buzz is palpable—from the relaunch of this historic New York label to the highly anticipated documentary called House Music Royalty: The Story of King Street Sounds, (watch below). Exciting times are ahead for one of the biggest institutions in House Music.
King Street Sounds has been led by Hisa Ishioka for over 30 years, a pioneer in New York’s electronic scene. Under his leadership, the label built a solid catalogue featuring true legends like Kerri Chandler, Louie Vega, David Morales, and Dennis Ferrer, just to name a few.
Now, as part of BEAT Music, King Street Sounds will join Armada Music, the label established in 2003 by Armin van Buuren, Maykel Piron, and David Lewis (combine the first two letters of each name, and voilà, you have the label's name). They are revitalising the catalogue with a fresh rebrand, launching a remix series called King Street: Beat Match, and rolling out exciting new releases on the horizon.
But the good news for the New York label doesn’t stop there. House Music Royalty: The Story of King Street Sounds is set to be an audiovisual gem that explores how the label, founded in 1993 by Hisanao Ishioka, emerged as one of the most respected voices in the international house music scene. From its roots in New York to the Japanese influence of its founder, King Street has earned its place alongside other iconic labels from the Big Apple like Strictly Rhythm, Nervous Records, and Frankie Knuckles’ Def Mix Productions.
Filmed across New York, London, Manchester, and Ibiza, this 35-minute documentary features music from King Street’s greats like Dennis Ferrer and Mood II Swing, alongside exclusive interviews with Blaze, DJ Spinna, and Barbara Tucker. They share their insights from the label’s formative days at the legendary club Paradise Garage to its promising future under Armada Music’s leadership.
