Defected founder Simon Dunmore takes majority stake in House Culture

Simon Dunmore, the founder of Defected Records, has acquired a majority shareholding in House Culture, the independent dance music platform. The deal was announced on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, and its financial terms were not disclosed.

House Culture began as an Instagram page sharing records, artists and parties with house music fans. It was founded by Stephen Hedge and Richard Clark, who first met on a dance floor in Shoreditch, London, in 2012. The Instagram account is now approaching 100,000 followers, according to Music Business Worldwide.

Dunmore's link to the brand started in 2024, when he was a guest on the House Culture Podcast. The podcast launched in 2019 and is led by contributor Matt Rouse. Earlier guests have included Fatboy Slim, Danny Tenaglia and David Morales.

Since that first appearance, Dunmore has hosted episodes himself. They include a five-part takeover series and live onstage recordings in London. He has said he was invited onto the podcast when he felt he needed a sense of purpose, and that he had been premature in his retirement.

Dunmore built his name at Defected, which he founded and ran for years as a house label. In 2022 he stepped down as chief executive after a management buyout led by former managing director Wez Saunders, and moved into an A&R consultant role, the job of spotting and developing new music. Now he is returning to a more hands-on position, this time with House Culture.

Under the plans, the podcast and radio show will sit at the centre of a wider editorial operation. That includes original features, video, YouTube content, playlists, a newsletter and an archive. House Culture also plans events and music releases as it moves beyond social media and aims to become a lasting cultural resource for house music.

Dunmore will work alongside Stephen Hedge, Richard Clark, Matt Rouse, Nick Gordon Brown and Steve Banks.

For anyone who has followed the account, the change points to a bigger home base. A feed that started with links and flyers could become a magazine, radio show, video channel and archive, with live events and releases on top. The early steps will show how much of that plan arrives, and when.