Billboard’s first Dance Power Players list since 2019 finds the industry in a very different place. Seven years later, a new generation of producers is pushing prevailing sounds forward and setting new precedents of scale, while new managers, events and labels continue expanding the way the genre looks, feels, sounds and does business. Meanwhile, many of the scene’s original architects remain involved, creating a cross-generational space with a thriving exchange of ideas and strategies. The honorees on this list reflect the innovation, resilience and cultural relevance of a genre some of the biggest artists in the world turn to for inspiration — one driven by a passionate community that understands it’s not just a business, but a lifestyle.
Eric Nguyen
Senior VP of Global Corporate Development and Mergers and Acquisition
Create Music Group
“The past year marked a major moment for CMG’s dance business as we deepened our investment in the genre and welcomed several iconic labels and catalogs into the CMG family, including mau5trap and deadmau5, Monstercat, Enhanced, !K7 and DJ-Kicks, CR2, and Night Bass and AC Slater.”
Andre Benz Co-Founder/CEO,
Brandon De Oliveira Co-Founder/COO
Broke Records
“Broke reasserted its Trap Nation roots and closed the year with a bang: three tracks in the top 25 on U.S. dance radio simultaneously and ‘I Run’ dominating globally across platforms. In 2026, we intend to invest significantly in dance/electronic and are actively building a division with key partners.” —De Oliveira
Tom Nieuweboer, Managing Director
!K7 Music
“For DJ-Kicks’ 30th anniversary, we paired releases like DJ-Kicks from Modeselektor and Eris Drew with moments like the DJ-Kicks 30th-anniversary show at London’s Drumsheds and programming at ADE. DJ-Kicks has helped define the DJ mix as an album format, bringing club culture into deep listening and shaping how audiences discover scenes, selectors and sounds.”