Mike Darlington and Ari Paunonen founded Monstercat in Waterloo, Canada, in 2011 after meeting at university. Online video and a growing electronic music audience shaped their plans for a digital label. Drum and bass was part of it from the launch week, when Feint’s Atlas appeared among its first releases.
Monstercat now releases through three brands. Uncaged covers drum and bass alongside dubstep, trap, and breaks; Instinct follows more melodic music, while Silk includes progressive house, chillout, and ambient. Its records also reach listeners through gaming partnerships, including Rocket League and Beat Saber. SoundScout makes music from the catalogue available for use in videos and livestreams.
Away from the releases, Monstercat runs Compound in Vancouver and presents artist mixes through Call of the Wild and Silk Showcase. The label uses non-exclusive recording agreements, with a 50/50 royalty split and monthly artist payments, allowing producers to release through Monstercat while continuing to work elsewhere.
