We have polled the EDM Sauce staff of writers, editors and management on several different best of categories for 2016. Every person in the poll was able to select their top three from each category. A first place vote got 3 points, a second place vote got 2 points and third place got 1 point. We then tallied up these quality points and had a beautiful list of the best of the best for this year. We will be releasing these lists from now culminating on New Year's Eve with artist of the year. Today we feature our list for best labels in 2016.
1. Foreign Family Collective – 18 Quality Points
Odesza has sculpted a masterful artist collective with Foreign Family. The label has achieved our top pick for label of the year. Even though the label's founders have been surprisingly quiet in 2016 with their diligent work on their sophomore effort, the artists they have selected to be a part of their collective have made 2016 the year of Foreign Family. Jai Wolf, Big Wild and lately Gold Features have all released monster tracks and are regular on festival line ups. We cannot wait to see what 2017 holds.
2. Monstercat – 16 Quality Points
Monstercat has taken the second place spot in our staff poll for 2016. The label is a fan favorite, having won best label as voted on by our fans in 2015. They have had their most successful year since their introduction in 2011. The Vancouver based label has a repertoire of artists that is as long as it is impressive. That being said featuring releases from 2016 superstar Marshmello has helped them in more ways than imaginable. We love Monstercat here at EDM Sauce and with rumors of new releases from Slushii starting their 2017 catelogue we cannot wait to see what comes next.
3. Future Classic – 12 Quality Points
Future Classic has stayed true to their name with a slew of releases that will no doubt be considered classic in years to come. Mainly their top artist Flume released his sophomore effort LP, ‘Skin' with massive success. Artists like Flight Facilities, Motez, and Kenton Slash Demon have kept things incredibly interesting with forward thinking, original releases. Most notable was KSD's ‘Peace' which turned their usual style on their head. Future Classic has a slew of new content coming in 2017 and we are sure things will be another blow out year.
4. Anjunabeats – 10 Quality Points
Of Course label heads Above & Beyond kept things moving in 2016 but the real progress has come from artists including Jason Ross, Ilan Bluestone and Genix who have continually pushed the label to the forefront of progressive house.
5. OWSLA – 9 Quality Points
2016 was a year of innovation for Skrillex's label. Exploring new genres outside of their usual bass centric ones OWSLA has continued to be a fan favorite.
6. Mau5trap – 6 Quality Points
Deadmau5 unleashed his new album, and while it was not his favorite effort it still topped Billboard‘s dance music charts. REZZ and ATTLAS also have made huge names for themselves both embarking on nation wide tours.
Take a peak at the rest of the labels who received votes in this year's poll who ended up tying for the last few spots on our top 10 poll.
7. Dirty Bird/Never Say Die – 4 Quality Points
8. FSOE/Drumcode/MAD Decent – 3 Quality Points
9. Spinnin/All Good/Suara – 2 Quality Points
10. Sweat It Out/Crosstown/Kannibalen/Viper/Thera Records – 1 Quality Point
Congratulations to all of the labels that received votes in this year's poll. Stay tuned during the last week of the year to see a new editors pick list every day. Tomorrow we will be coming to you with out favorite remixes of 2016.
