Roger De Graaf, co-founder of Spinnin’ Records, has officially retired after 25 years, stepping down from his role as President at Warner Music Group’s dance label. De Graaf, who co-founded Spinnin’ Records with Eelko Van Kooten in 1999, continued to lead the label even after its acquisition by Warner in 2017 for over $100 million. WMG confirmed De Graaf’s retirement on November 1, with plans to announce his successor soon.
Bart Cools, EVP of A&R and Marketing at WMG, praised De Graaf for his instrumental role in building both Spinnin’ Records and the global dance music scene. “Generations of talent owe him a debt of thanks for helping them turn their passion into a livelihood,” he said. De Graaf himself called his decision to step away “a huge one,” acknowledging the artists, teams, and Warner Music’s leadership for their support throughout his journey.
Spinnin’ Records is home to top-tier artists like Afrojack, Martin Garrix, Tiësto, and numerous artist-led sub-labels. The company’s massive online reach includes over 45 million global dance fans, more than 30 million YouTube subscribers, and over 8 million followers on Meta.
De Graaf’s retirement marks the end of an era for the label that transformed the dance music landscape.
