Mark Doyle on Hed Kandi, Ibiza, and building a global dance music brand

In this episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, I sit down with Mark Doyle, the creator and founder of Hed Kandi, to tell the full story of one of dance music’s most influential global brands. Hed Kandi was more than a record label. It became a cultural movement that soundtracked a generation, from instantly recognisable artwork to packed dancefloors across the world. For the first time, Mark shares a first-hand, unfiltered account of how the brand was built, the ambition behind its expansion, the realities of corporate pressure, and the legal battles that ultimately changed everything. We go right back to Mark’s early career at Jazz FM, the creation of New Cool, and the moment Jason Brooks’ artwork helped define a visual identity that became iconic. From there, we follow Hed Kandi’s rapid rise, international success, and its move to Ibiza, including the defining years at El Divino. This is not a highlight reel. It’s an honest conversation about creativity, control, ownership, mistakes, and legacy — and why the Hed Kandi story is not finished yet. If you lived through the era, danced to the compilations, or want to understand how a music brand really scales and fractures, this episode matters. 🎧 Take your time with this one. We talk about: 🎙️ Early career at Jazz FM 🎨 New Cool and the first Jason Brooks artwork 🎶 The birth of Hed Kandi 🌍 Global expansion and international success 📻 Radio promotion and early Hed Kandi parties 🏝️ Moving the brand to Ibiza 🪩 El Divino and the Hed Kandi Ibiza era 🏢 Corporate acquisition and internal conflict ⚖️ Legal battles and their aftermath 🔮 The future of Hed Kandi Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and early career at Jazz FM 15:00 Creating New Cool and the first Jason Brooks image 25:00 The birth of Hed Kandi 35:00 Global expansion 45:00 Early parties and radio promotion 55:00 Moving the brand to Ibiza 01:05 El Divino and Ibiza focus 01:10 Jazz FM acquisition and internal conflict 01:15 Legal struggles 01:18 The future of Hed Kandi Hed Kandi today Mark Doyle and Hed Kandi now present a weekly two-hour radio show across Mixcloud, DAB, and podcast platforms. ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/hedkandi 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @hedkandi For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter: [email protected]