Strategy, talent, and a new headquarters to conquer the world of electronic music. Toolroom Records, the independent label founded twenty-two years ago by brothers Mark and Stuart Knight, has officially inaugurated its new operational base in the heart of Shoreditch, London, leaving behind its previous headquarters in Kent. This move is not a simple corporate relocation, but a precise and ambitious statement of intent. The new facility, a customized recording studio hub, will become the focal point of all operations, from the renowned record label to the Toolroom Academy, the platform dedicated to the training and development of emerging artists. Mark Knight describes the project as the realization of an original concept: a veritable “music factory.”
Stuart Knight explains how the exponential growth of the company made this move to the capital inevitable, a nerve center for the UK’s club culture and beyond. The stated goal is to find, nurture, and develop talent, while simultaneously strengthening the foundations of the British music scene. Toolroom, which won the title of best-selling label on Beatport in 2023 and 2024, boasts a catalog of international hits like Weiss’s “Feel My Needs,” with over 750,000 copies sold. The business model is based on an articulated ecosystem: a constellation of internal sub-labels and a label services division for imprints like those of Danny Howard and Martin Ikin, complemented by a solid artist management arm. Musical director George Ankrett emphasizes the concrete approach to A&R and artistic development, a commitment that now finds physical space in the new London studios.
With twenty-two full-time employees and leadership that includes COO Miles Shackleton, the company is betting everything on its Academy, described as a driver for growth and a unique offering in the label landscape. This is where the future protagonists of club music are trained, and they will now have access to cutting-edge technologies and the guidance of talented sound engineers. The vision, Stuart Knight concludes, has remained unchanged: to create extraordinary records for DJs, knowing exactly what their sound is. An obsessive mission that, from a small office in Kent, has led them to build their dream factory in the heart of London.
