Draft:Decoded Magazine

Decoded Magazine is a London-based digital publication dedicated to underground electronic music and its surrounding culture. Known for its long-form journalism, ethical editorial stance, and in-depth features, the magazine covers genres such as techno, house, progressive house, drum and bass, dub techno, electronica, and ambient music. It is considered one of the most respected publications within the global electronic music industry.

History Decoded Magazine was originally founded in 2013 under the name This Is Progressive by a collective of electronic music professionals: Mick Finucane, Daz Pearson, Simon Huxtable, Damion Pell, Ian French, and Jaap Ligthart. The platform initially focused on progressive house and featured radio shows, DJ mixes, and editorial content exploring the depth and emotion of the genre.

In the summer of 2014, following a creative retreat to Ibiza, co-founder Damion Pell led the transition to a broader platform and the rebranding of the publication to Decoded Magazine. The name change reflected a shift toward a more comprehensive, genre-spanning vision and an emphasis on journalistic integrity and intelligent storytelling.

In April 2025, Decoded Magazine announced a merger with Mixmag, wherein Decoded would assume responsibility for underground electronic music coverage, while Mixmag would focus on EDM and mainstream festival culture. Decoded Magazine

Editorial Focus Decoded Magazine is committed to thoughtful, ethical, and long-form journalism. It distinguishes itself from commercial outlets through its avoidance of clickbait, shallow reporting, or mass-market EDM coverage. Instead, the magazine seeks to elevate underground music and its culture through insightful content, aiming to tell the full story behind the music, the people, and the industry.

Its editorial content spans:

Artist interviews and profiles

Label spotlights and retrospectives

Cultural commentary and opinion pieces

Event and festival coverage

Music technology reviews

Travel, lifestyle, food, and fashion features

Music production tutorials and gear walkthroughs Decoded Magazine Subcode +1 Decoded Magazine +1

The magazine supports a wide array of genres, including:

Techno

House

Progressive House

Deep House

Minimal

Dub Techno

Breaks

Drum and Bass

Ambient

Indie Electronic

Electronica Decoded Magazine +9 Decoded Magazine +9 Subcode +9

Decoded’s audience is typically aged 25+, internationally based, and composed of DJs, producers, clubbers, and music professionals. Its readership has a strong interest in music culture, technology, and experiences that extend beyond the dancefloor.

The publication’s contributors include journalists, artists, label heads, promoters, and designers — all with deep roots in the global underground scene.

Interviews and Features Decoded Magazine is widely regarded as one of the most respected editorial voices in the global underground music industry. Known for its high journalistic standards, long-form content, and curated approach to storytelling, the magazine has built a reputation as a trusted source for DJs, producers, promoters, label owners, and serious music fans alike.

Unlike many contemporary platforms driven by algorithms and virality, Decoded Magazine filters its editorial and artist selections based on artistic merit, emotional depth, and innovation. It supports music that inspires and evokes, rather than disposes — aiming to serve both a new generation of underground fans and seasoned clubbers looking for substance over spectacle.

The publication’s ethos is encapsulated in its mission to “tell the full story” in an age of mass media noise. It offers readers ethical, intellectual, and occasionally humorous content across its core verticals: music, fashion, lifestyle, travel, technology, and food. Features are designed to provoke thought, spark dialogue, and elevate lesser-heard voices in the electronic music world.

As a collective of journalists, DJs, promoters, label owners, and creatives, Decoded Magazine is more than a magazine, it is a cultural movement. With contributors and editors embedded in local scenes around the globe, the magazine brings regional insights to a global readership while maintaining a strong editorial voice.

In line with its editorial mission, Decoded has also become a key platform for nurturing new talent, providing exposure for emerging DJs, producers, visual artists, and innovators within the electronic arts. It frequently publishes artist features, studio interviews, label profiles, production tips, and gear reviews, alongside cultural commentary and opinion pieces.

Looking ahead to 2025, the magazine has announced a renewed focus on independent artists, underground events, music technology, and lifestyle content. This includes expanded coverage of music production tutorials, consumer tech reviews, fashion for creative professionals, and travel and food culture connected to the global music experience. Decoded Magazine

Over the years, Decoded Magazine has conducted extensive interviews with many of the most influential and groundbreaking artists in electronic music, as well as rising talent and unsung heroes pushing boundaries behind the scenes.

Events and Partnerships Decoded Magazine is also known for its global footprint through event partnerships, media sponsorships, and curated showcases. Over the years, it has been a media partner or event collaborator with:

Amsterdam Dance Event (Netherlands)

Diynamic Festival (Netherlands)

Brighton Music Conference (UK)

Free Your Mind Festival (Netherlands)

Gramiosa Festival (Netherlands)

The Social / Winter Social (UK)

The Ibiza DJ Awards (Ibiza)

Toolroom Academy (UK)

Ministry of Sound (UK)

Beach Fest (Mauritius)

CTRL ALT DANCE (India)

By The Pier (Mumbai)

Capulet / Seadeck / Goodbar / La’Ruche (Australia)

Decoded has also hosted its own branded events in Amsterdam, Australia, the United Kingdom, and beyond — featuring global DJs, producers, and panel discussions.

Decoded Radio Between 2016 and 2020, Decoded Magazine produced Decoded Radio, a globally syndicated radio show hosted by Luke Brancaccio and broadcast on Pioneer DJ Radio. The show attracted an estimated one million listeners per month, featuring exclusive mixes, live interviews, and special episodes from internationally acclaimed DJs.

Leadership Following the departure of original co-founders Ian French and Daz Pearson in 2023, Damion Pell assumed full ownership and editorial control of Decoded Magazine.

Pell is a critically acclaimed underground electronic music artist, international DJ, label owner, and event promoter with over 30 years in the industry. He has performed across Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia and is a regular speaker at music conferences such as Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) and Brighton Music Conference (BMC).

Pell also has a background as a global marketing director in the hospitality and lifestyle sectors, having worked with numerous high-end restaurant, fashion, and alcohol brands.

Audience and Reach Decoded Magazine serves a mature, global audience of music professionals, educated creatives, and passionate fans. Its demographic includes:

Ages 25+

Mid-level disposable income

Interest in music production, technology, fashion, food, travel

Preference for non-commercial electronic and alternative music

Social media-active and English language-fluent

Social Media Reach (as of 2025): Facebook: 87,000+ likes / 102,900 followers | Avg. daily reach: 2.1 million (peak: 21M)

SoundCloud: 27,000 followers | 10.8 million plays

Instagram: 5,800+ followers

See Also List of electronic music publications

Music journalism

Underground music culture

Long-form journalism in digital media

External Links Official Website

Facebook Page

SoundCloud

Instagram