Steve Aoki Has Big Plans for Dim Mak Records' 20th Anniversary at Miami Music Week

Steve Aoki founded his independent record label Dim Mak in 1996, at the tender age of 19. His aim was to sign the best names in punk, indie, and electronic. Twenty years later, it's hard to imagine, sitting in his UCSB college apartment, he ever saw it getting this big.

In its two-decade lifespan, Dim Mak has morphed into one of the biggest names in dance music and evolved even further into a lifestyle brand and DIY philosophy that Aoki and all Dim Mak artists live by.

The label first struck gold with Bloc Party's 2005 release, Silent Alarm, then again in 2009 with the omnipresent electro anthem “Warp.” These days, Dim Mak's roster of artists could almost field a football team, with talent ranging from promising newcomers to established names.

Dim Mak is also a  mainstay during Miami Music Week, the yearly gathering of anything and everything important in the world of dance music. Last year, Aoki took over Nikki Beach with Benny Benassi, Borgore, and more during an all-day affair that lasted from noon to 5 a.m. The year before that, Dim Mak infiltrated the Raleigh Hotel with Clockwork, Chainsmokers, and Chocolate Puma.

But this year's different. Dim Mak will be celebrating an important milestone. 

"We have a long history of doing events in Miami, but this one is special — it's Dim Mak's 20th anniversary," Aoki says. "We are bringing out a crazy lineup full of classic Dim Mak favorites and legendary special guests. Miami New Times has supported us throughout the years, and we're stoked to unveil this year's party with them."

Aoki and Dim Mak aren't announcing the full lineup just yet, but rest assured, it will be special. Dim Mak is promising more than 25 artists and a slew of secret guests (which we will be announcing in the coming weeks).

This year's celebration will happen Thursday, March 17, at Nikki Beach, and go from noon to 5 a.m.

If you're already sold, tickets go on sale next Monday, January 18, via wantickets.com at 1 p.m. The early-bird deal will run you only $35.