Nick Halkes

Nick Halkes is a renowned British music industry figure, best known for his influential role as a record executive, music manager, and founder within the UK dance and electronic scene. Born and raised in England, Halkes emerged onto the music landscape in the early 1990s, co-founding the famed XL Recordings label and later founding the Positiva Records label under EMI. Throughout his career, Halkes played a pivotal role in launching and nurturing the careers of transformative acts such as The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, and Faithless, bringing underground dance music into the mainstream and shaping the trajectory of British electronic music.

His visionary approach and knack for identifying boundary-pushing talent made his labels synonymous with pioneering club anthems and crossover hits. Beyond his work as a label executive, Halkes has also contributed as an artist manager, music publisher, and industry mentor, continuing to influence the evolving dynamics of dance, electronic, and pop music in the UK and beyond.