The World Music Charts 2025:
20 TOP LABELS OF THE YEAR
Since we presented the first WOMEX Top Label Award back in 2006, the music industry has been on a rollercoaster of change — thrilling breakthroughs on one side, tough challenges on the other. And right now, the playing field has never been tougher. That’s why we believe the way forward is through openness, collaboration, and shining a light on the bigger picture.
When we marked our 25th Anniversary in 2019, we made a promise: to celebrate not just a single winner, but the entire independent ecosystem — the labels, the artists, and the media who make the music world thrive.
Together with our partners at World Music Charts Europe and the Transglobal World Music Chart — who bring together the voices of more than 100 journalists and broadcasters worldwide — we proudly present this year’s Top 20 Labels. The list reflects releases from August 2024 to July 2025.
How do we decide?
It’s all about creative impact. We track the work of independent labels and their A&R teams. If several labels operate under one company, their results are combined. But when teams run independently in different places, each gets its own recognition.
World Music Charts | Transglobal World Music Chart
Here are the 20 Top labels:
- Glitterbeat Records (Germany)
- One World Records (Denmark)
- Nordic Notes/CPL Music (Germany)
- Real World Records (UK)
- Galileo MC (Spain/Germany)
- Buda Musique (France)
- Segell Microscopi (Spain)
- ACT Music (Germany)
- Zephyrus Records (Belgium)
- Rockadillo Records (Finland)
- Mapamundi Música (Spain)
- Contre-Jour (Belgium)
- Bongo Joe (Switzerland)
- Ajabu! (Sweden/Germany)
- Ponderosa Music (Italy)
- Asphalt Tango Records (Germany)
- By Norse Music (Norway)
- Analog Africa (Germany)
- Fonó Records (Hungary)
- Outhere Records (Germany)