ADE Lab On Track · Closing session · ADE 2026
Live A&R Listening Room
Calling all producers who want to get their music heard, and get the chance to become a ‘Pro’ in 2027! Put your track directly in front of A&Rs from Armada Music, Hotmeal Records, Sony Music and Defected, and hear it played through a proper PA system.
- A&Rs from
- Armada Music, Hotmeal Records, Sony Music, Defected
- Session
- Friday 23 October · 15:00–16:15
- Venue
- WestWeelde – The Boombox
- Deadline
- Wed 21 Oct · 13:00 (Amsterdam time)
- Prize
- ADE Pro Pass 2027 + the official ADE x NIKE 2026 bag
- You need
- An ADE Lab On Track ticket
Live A&R Listening Room
Send your demo · about 3 minutes to Live A&R Listening Room
Have ready: WAV or MP3 (max 190 MB), BPM, ADE order number
Free with an ADE Lab On Track ticket · No AI-generated music · You keep your rights
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01 / What it is
Heard by four labels
As part of the closing of ADE Lab On Track, this is your chance to put your track directly in front of A&Rs from Armada Music, Hotmeal Records, Sony Music and Defected, and hear your production played through a proper PA system. Selected demos are played live on stage, with the panel listening for the first time and sharing their feedback right there in the room.
Hear and learn what catches their attention, what makes them want to keep listening and what could take your track to the next level. Whether your demo gets selected or you’re listening from the audience, expect an inside look at how A&Rs discover new music and what makes a track stand out. And with A&Rs from four different labels in one room, you never know where one play might lead…
Got a track you believe in? Send it in and let’s hear it!
Who can enter
Producers with an unreleased, unsigned track and an ADE Lab On Track ticket. Finalists need to be in the room for their demo to be played.
Prize
- Prize
- ADE Pro Pass for 2027 + the official ADE x NIKE 2026 bag
02 / The labels
The A&Rs
One entry reaches the whole A&R panel. In step 1 of the form you tell us which label you think your music fits best.
-
Armada Music
Fits Armada Music -
Hotmeal Records
Fits Hotmeal Records -
Sony Music
Fits Sony Music -
Defected
Fits Defected
03 / How it works
From upload to the room
- 13 – 21 Oct
Enter
Submit your demo
One unreleased track, WAV or 320 kbps MP3 (max 190 MB), with the start of your 60-second fragment marked. Tell us which label you think it fits best.
No AI-generated music
AI-generated music is not allowed and entries can be checked for it. AI tools for mixing and mastering are fine.
- Wed 21 Oct · 13:00
Deadline
Submissions close
Demos need to be submitted before Wednesday 21 October at 13:00 (Amsterdam time).
- Thu 22 Oct
Finalists
Finalists selected
The finalists are selected on Thursday 22 October and informed by e-mail. They are also announced on the ADE Lab On Track Discord.
Be in the room
Finalists need to be present in the room for their demo to be played.
- Fri 23 Oct · 15:00 · The Boombox
Live A&R Listening Room
Played live
Selected demos are played live on stage. The panel listens for the first time and shares feedback right there in the room.
Wildcard
One unannounced wildcard is played from the received demos.
04 / Read before you upload
Rules and guidelines
- ADE Lab On Track ticketYou need an ADE Lab On Track ticket to enter, and finalists must be in the room at WestWeelde – The Boombox on Friday 23 October.
- DeadlineDemos need to be submitted via VIRPP before Wednesday 21 October at 13:00 (Amsterdam time).
- FinalistsThe finalists are selected on Thursday 22 October and informed by e-mail. They are also announced on the ADE Lab On Track Discord.
- Be in the roomFinalists need to be present in the room for their demo to be played.
- WildcardOne unannounced wildcard is played from the received demos.
- One unreleased demoOne demo per artist. Your track must be unsigned and unreleased, and you must own or control it, samples included.
- Full trackUpload the full track as WAV or 320 kbps MP3, max 190 MB, and mark where your best 60 seconds start.
- No AI-generated musicEntries can be checked for AI-generated music. AI tools for mixing or mastering are fine.
- Your rightsYou keep all your rights. The A&Rs only listen; any deal is between you and the label.
- Hype each other upThis is a place to learn from and inspire each other, so make sure to hype each other up, even if your demo isn’t selected. The feedback from the A&Rs can still teach you a lot and help you sharpen your future demos.
05 / Key dates
Key dates
- Submissions open
- 13 October 2026
- Deadline
- Wednesday 21 October, 13:00 (Amsterdam time)
- Finalists
- Thursday 22 October, by e-mail and on the ADE Lab On Track Discord
- Session
- Friday 23 October · 15:00–16:15 · WestWeelde – The Boombox
06 / Questions
FAQ
What is the Live A&R Listening Room?
The closing session of ADE Lab On Track: A&Rs from Armada Music, Hotmeal Records, Sony Music and Defected listen to selected demos live on stage at WestWeelde – The Boombox on Friday 23 October (15:00–16:15), and share their feedback in the room.
Which pass do I need?
You need an ADE Lab On Track ticket. Submitting is free. Finalists need to be in the room for their demo to be played.
When is the deadline?
Demos need to be submitted before Wednesday 21 October at 13:00 (Amsterdam time).
How do I know if my demo is selected?
The finalists are selected on Thursday 22 October and informed by e-mail. They are also announced on the ADE Lab On Track Discord. Finalists need to be present in the room for their demo to be played.
Is there a wildcard?
Yes. One unannounced wildcard is played from the received demos.
What can I win?
The prize is an ADE Pro Pass for 2027 and the official ADE x NIKE 2026 bag.
Do I have to choose a label?
One entry reaches the whole A&R panel. In the form you tell us which of the four labels you think your music fits best.
Do I keep the rights to my track?
Yes. You keep all your rights. The A&Rs only listen; any deal is between you and the label. Questions: [email protected].
07 / Your data
Privacy
Who is responsible. Stichting Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), Wilgenweg 6, 1031 HV Amsterdam, Chamber of Commerce (KvK) 34292016, is responsible for your personal data (the controller). VIRPP runs the submission platform on ADE’s behalf (the processor). ADE’s full privacy statement: amsterdam-dance-event.nl/en/privacy.
We collect only what we need to run the Live A&R Listening Room:
- Your e-mail address and mobile number, to contact you about your entry.
- Your legal name, artist name, country and ADE ticket, transaction or order number, to verify your pass with ADE. Only the organisers see your legal name.
- Your track and its details (title, genre, BPM, fragment start) and the label you think fits best, so the A&R panel can listen to it.
- Gender, only if you choose to share it, and only reported as anonymous totals of 10 or more.
We use this data only to run the session you entered, which you asked to take part in. The A&R panel sees your artist name and track, not your legal name or contact details. ADE sees anonymous statistics and, for selected artists, the details needed to run the session.
How long. Your data and audio are deleted automatically 90 days after the contest ends (25 October 2026). Technical logs are kept shorter; IP addresses are shortened after 30 days.
Service providers. VIRPP uses providers for hosting, network security (Cloudflare) and e-mail (Mailgun). Cloudflare and Mailgun are US companies, so some data may be processed outside the EU.
Cookies. These pages set no cookies and use no tracking or analytics. Only the staff login (jury and ADE) uses one strictly necessary session cookie.
Your rights. You can ask to see, correct or delete your data at any time: [email protected] (ADE) or [email protected] (VIRPP). You can also complain to the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens).