Image Credit: Warner Music Italy
In a major move that could shape the future of Italian music, Warner Music Italy has signed Milanese producer and DJ, MACE. Known for crafting some of the most influential sounds in Italy’s hip-hop and electronic scenes, MACE real name Simone Benussi brings decades of boundary-pushing production to one of the world’s biggest record labels.
This isn’t just a new chapter for MACE. It’s a signal that Warner Music Italy is betting big on innovation, genre fluidity, and global impact.
A Career Built on Cross-Pollination
MACE has never played by the rules of genre. Since his early days producing beats in Milan, he’s made a name for himself by merging hip-hop with indie, pop, electronic, and even psychedelic influences. The result? A sound that’s as unpredictable as it is magnetic.
His 2021 debut album OBE went triple Platinum. The follow-up, MAYA, also earned Platinum status. But his biggest breakout hit remains La canzone nostra, which spent seven consecutive weeks at No.1 on the Italian singles chart and has since been certified six-times Platinum. That kind of consistency balancing critical acclaim and commercial firepower is rare.
“Pico and his team are the best in the business and truly understand my vision,” MACE said, reflecting on the new partnership. “They’ll empower me to create new projects that fans old and new will live, so I’m excited to get started on this new chapter of my career and create some world-class music.”
Why Warner Music Italy Wants MACE
Pico Cibelli, President of Warner Music Italy, is clear-eyed about what this partnership means.
“MACE’s beats have been the backbone for many artists in the Italian hip-hop and electronic scene for decades,” said Cibelli. “We’re going to hit the ground running in building on his successful artist career and take his music to the world stage.”
It’s not just about the numbers. MACE has been a foundational force behind the careers of artists like Fabri Fibra, Gué, Gemitaiz, Marracash, Noyz Narcos, Ghali, and Salmo. His signature style melodic, heavy on atmosphere, and packed with texture has quietly shaped Italy’s modern soundscape.
From Underground Milestones to Mainstream Acclaim
MACE started producing in 1999 but rose to prominence in the early 2000s as half of the duo La Crème alongside rapper Jack the Smoker. Their 2013 release L’Alba is still hailed as a cornerstone in Italian rap.
But MACE isn’t just a studio rat he’s a culture builder. In 2007, he co-founded RESET!, a Milan-based club night that evolved into a collective of producers, DJs, and promoters. RESET! released tracks on international labels like Cheap Thrills, Southern Fried, Dim Mak, and Ministry of Sound Australia, establishing a global footprint long before streaming erased borders.
RESET! wasn’t just a party it was a platform. It gave MACE room to experiment, connect with like-minded creators, and craft the kind of forward-thinking music that would eventually earn him industry-wide recognition.
What Comes Next
The deal with Warner Music Italy isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about scale.
With a team that includes industry veterans and creative collaborators Francesca Mauri, Gianluca Guido, Claudio Ferrante (MACE’s manager), Marco Masoli, Eleonora Rubini, Sara Daniele, Mario Canu, Filippo Pardini, Leonardo Luan, and Riccardo Primavera the infrastructure is there to take MACE’s vision global.
And the timing feels right. Streaming has made niche genres global. Italian music is gaining visibility outside its borders. And fans are increasingly drawn to artists who break molds instead of fitting into them.
MACE is already a master of that. Now he’s backed by a label with the power to amplify it.
Final Word
This isn’t just a record deal. It’s a convergence of creative ambition and corporate firepower. MACE has always made music that stretches the edges of what Italian music can sound like. Now, with Warner Music Italy in his corner, we may be witnessing the beginning of something much bigger not just for MACE, but for how Italian artists are perceived on the world stage.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when underground credibility meets major label muscle, keep an eye on what MACE does next.
