Warner Music Italy has signed Simone Benussi, the Milan-based producer known professionally as MACE, as the label expands its presence in Italy’s hip-hop market.
MACE has produced tracks for Italian rappers including Fabri Fibra, Gemitaiz, Gué, Ghali, Marracash, Noyz Narcos, and Salmo over two decades in the industry.
His production credits span different genres, such as rap, indie, pop, electronic music, winning multiple platinum-certified releases. His debut album, OBE, achieved triple-platinum, while his follow-up album MAYA earned platinum. His track La canzone nostra topped the local singles chart for seven straight weeks and is certified six-times Platinum.
“Pico [Cibelli] and his team are the best in the business and truly understand my vision. They’ll empower me to create new projects that fans old and new will love, so I’m excited to get started on this new chapter of my career and create some world-class music.”
MACE
MACE started creating beats in 1999. He formed the duo La Crème with Jack the Smoker in 2013, releasing L’Alba.
MACE co-founded RESET! in 2007, initially as a Milan club night that evolved into a collective encompassing promoters, DJs, and producers. The group released music through labels including Cheap Thrills, Southern Fried, Dim Mak, and Ministry Of Sound Australia.
Commenting on the deal, MACE said: “Pico [Cibelli] and his team are the best in the business and truly understand my vision. They’ll empower me to create new projects that fans old and new will love, so I’m excited to get started on this new chapter of my career and create some world-class music.”
“MACE’s beats have been the backbone for many artists in the Italian hip-hop and electronic scene for decades, so it’s a joy to announce that he’s signed with Warner Music Italy.”
Pico Cibelli, Warner Music Italy
Pico Cibelli, President, Warner Music Italy, added: “MACE’s beats have been the backbone for many artists in the Italian hip-hop and electronic scene for decades, so it’s a joy to announce that he’s signed with Warner Music Italy. We’re going to hit the ground running in building on his successful artist career and take his music to the world stage.”
The signing further expands Warner Music Group’s presence in Italy after the company acquired Italo disco label DWA Records and its publishing arm Extravaganza in January 2025, bringing more than 250 master recordings of iconic Italo disco tracks under the WMG umbrella including The Rhythm of the Night, performed by Corona and written by Francesco Bontempi; Happy and Uh La La performed by Alexia; and Baila, performed by Zucchero and written by Roberto Zanetti. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Other deals by WMG in Italy in recent years include ADA Worldwide’s expansion into Italy in 2021, with headquarters in Milan. In 2018, WMG sold Italian live promotion company Vivo Concerti to its MD, Clemente Zard. The company acquired the business in 2011.
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