K7 Label Founder Horst Weidenmüller Passes Away at 60: “His Legacy Will Forever Inspire Us”

Horst Weidenmüller passes away

Horst Weidenmüller, the visionary founder of the renowned German dance label K7 Records, has sadly passed away at the age of 60.

The company confirmed this heartbreaking news on Monday (February 10) in a statement to Billboard. The statement read, “After a serious illness, Horst Weidenmüller left us too early at the age of 60. His vision, passion, and dedication have shaped K7 since its inception in 1985, and his legacy will continue to inspire us.”

The cause of death was not disclosed.

“Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and everyone whose lives he touched,” added the label. “We will honor his memory by promoting the work and values that he instilled in us. K7 remains committed to upholding his vision with the same passion and integrity that he exemplified.”

Tributes and legacy

We are deeply saddened by learning about the passage of Horst Weidenmüller. Our thoughts go to everyone at K7, his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/wh2caqtqhf

– Warp Records (@Warpercords) 11 February 2025

Weidenmüller founded K7 in Berlin in 1985 after moving to the German capital from the countryside at the age of 21. Initially focused on producing music videos, he collaborated with artists including Nick Cave and Mudhoney. It was in the 90s that K7 became deeply associated with dance and techno music.

In the early 90s, K7 pioneered the X-Mix Video and DJ Mix series, featuring producers like Laurent Garnier and Richie Hawtin, and later launched DJ-Kicks, the iconic compilation series in 1995.

Early entries in the DJ-Kicks series featured legendary Detroit techno artist Carl Craig, trip-hop group Smith & Mighty, and the American duo The Verve. The series continues to thrive today, with its 83rd and most recent volume mixed by Stephen Julien, released in November 2024.

K7 was initially named after the company’s original Berlin address, Kaiserdamm 7, and has since expanded its presence to New York and London.

Recently, Weidenmüller was honored for his outstanding contributions at a ceremony organized by the Association of Independent Music Companies, where he held the role of board member and president.