mau5trap is a Canadian electronic dance music label founded in 2007 by Joel Zimmerman (deadmau5) in Toronto. It is home to deadmau5 and a roster of progressive house, techno, and electronic producers. The label's 2026 releases include deadmau5 and Rinzen's "Not Exactly (Rinzen Remix)", 7 Minutes Dead's "SWEET OUTSIDE", Ricey's "Years", Lamorn's "Dead Internet Theory", Mountain and B-Line's "Pressure", and Low Mileage's "Say It". mau5trap is one of the most recognized progressive house and techno labels in the electronic music world.
mau5trap built its reputation on deadmau5's global success as a progressive house and techno producer. deadmau5's albums (Random Album Title, For Lack of a Better Name, 4x4=12, while(1<2)) defined the progressive house sound of the late 2000s and 2010s. The label has since expanded its roster to include a new generation of electronic producers (Rinzen, Lamorn, Mountain) who share deadmau5's emphasis on melodic progressive electronic music. The label's 2026 release schedule shows continued investment in its core roster.
Notable Artists and Releases
mau5trap's catalog is built around deadmau5's chart-topping albums and singles. Here are the label's most notable releases with chart positions:
- deadmau5 - Random Album Title (2008) - UK Albums Chart #31, US Top Dance Albums #13. Certified Gold in the UK (100,000 copies) and Canada (40,000 copies).
- deadmau5 - For Lack of a Better Name (2009) - UK Albums Chart #19, US Top Dance Albums #11, Canadian Albums Chart #62, Australian Albums Chart #49.
- deadmau5 - 4x4=12 (2010) - Canadian Albums Chart #7, US Billboard 200 #47, US Top Dance Albums #2, UK Albums Chart #48. Spent 66 weeks on the Billboard 200.
- deadmau5 - > album title goes here < (2012) - Canadian Albums Chart #2, Australian Albums Chart #16, UK Albums Chart #37.
- deadmau5 - while(1<2) (2014) - US Billboard 200 #9, US Top Dance Albums #1, UK Albums Chart #14, UK Dance Albums #1, Canadian Albums Chart #5, Australian Albums Chart #9.
- deadmau5 - W:/2016ALBUM/ (2016) - Released on mau5trap. The label's first album after deadmau5 regained full independence.
- deadmau5 feat. Rob Swire - "Ghosts N Stuff" (2008) - Certified 2x Platinum. One of the most recognized progressive house singles of all time.
- deadmau5 feat. Gerard Way - "Professional Griefers" (2012) - US Alternative Chart #39. The music video cost over $1 million to produce.
- deadmau5 - "Strobe" (2009) - Widely considered one of the greatest electronic music tracks ever produced. Over 15 million Spotify streams.
- Rinzen - "Not Exactly (Rinzen Remix)" (2026) - A rework of the deadmau5 classic, representing the label's new generation.
Official Music Videos
Deal Structures
mau5trap offers traditional recording deals for its roster artists. The label was founded by deadmau5 (Joel Zimmerman) specifically to own his masters. "I wanted to own my music as much as I could and one way to manage that is through your own label," Zimmerman said in 2024. The label signs both album deals and single-track deals. Deals include digital distribution, marketing through deadmau5's global fanbase, and access to mau5trap's livestream audience. The label retains master ownership for full deals. mau5trap does not offer 360 deals. Artists retain merchandising and touring income. The label's deal terms reflect its founder-led, independent status. Advances are smaller than major labels. The label compensates through credibility in the progressive house community and direct access to deadmau5's audience. mau5trap operates its own mau5trap.tv platform for direct-to-fan content and livestreams.
How Artists Get Signed
mau5trap does not accept unsolicited demos. The label is founder-led and signs through personal relationships and A&R scouting. deadmau5 discovers artists through several channels. First, his "mau5trap Monday" livestream series, where fans submit music for consideration. Composer Gregory Reveret was discovered this way. Second, personal connections within the electronic music community. Third, artists who share deadmau5's progressive electronic aesthetic. Rinzen, Lamorn, and Mountain were all signed because their sound aligned with the mau5trap aesthetic. The label is highly selective. It signs only a few artists per year. The process from initial contact to signing can take months. deadmau5 personally evaluates every signing. The label prioritizes artists who can sustain long-term development within the progressive electronic space.
How mau5trap Operates
mau5trap runs dedicated A&R under founder deadmau5 (Joel Zimmerman) from its Toronto headquarters. The label is highly selective and signs electronic producers with a distinct progressive house, techno, or electro identity. Its model is built around deadmau5's brand and his curatorial taste. The label's strength is its credibility in the progressive house and techno community and its direct connection to deadmau5's global fanbase.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
If you make progressive house, techno, or melodic electronic music, mau5trap is one of the most recognized labels in that space, founded by one of the genre's defining artists. Its connection to deadmau5's global fanbase gives any signing immediate exposure. Its track record of signing producers who share deadmau5's aesthetic (Rinzen, Lamorn) shows it can develop artists within the progressive electronic space.
Drawbacks and Things to Consider
- Founder-led: mau5trap is built around deadmau5's brand and curatorial taste. New signings benefit from but also live in that shadow.
- No unsolicited demos: mau5trap does not accept cold submissions.
- Genre focus: mau5trap signs progressive house, techno, and melodic electronic music. Artists in other electronic subgenres should look elsewhere.
- Aesthetic expectations: The label has a distinct progressive electronic sound. Music outside that aesthetic will not fit.
Related Resources
- Record Label Contracts Explained - What a mau5trap deal contains
- Independent Labels vs Major Labels - The artist-founded electronic label model
- How to Get a Record Deal in 2026 - Building a progressive house profile
- Anjunabeats - A related electronic label
- Hospital Records - Another independent electronic label
- Spinnin' Records - A major dance label
- mau5trap Official Site - Roster and releases
