The first iteration of Big Beat was founded as an Independent record label in 1986 by Craig Kallman who was, at the time, a 20-year-old deejay in New York City.

Soon after, Kallman began focusing on developing the record label, signing acts like Tara Kemp and Jomanda over the following three years.

Big Beat signed a variety of artists including Mad Skillz,[6] Changing Faces,[7] Robin S.,[8] Fat Joe, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Lil' Kim (both via the company's Undeas imprint),[9] Artifacts,[10] Art n' Soul,[11] Double X Posse,[12] Kenny Dope, Dawn Penn, Marshall Jefferson, Todd Terry,[13] Quad City DJs, Percee P, and numerous others.

[13][15] Artists on the label at the time of the relaunch included Skrillex,[16][17] Chromeo,[18] Wynter Gordon,[19] Martin Solveig,[20] Teddybears, and others.

[20][23] Skrillex's Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites EP, released in 2010, effectively charted the label's trajectory toward electronic music.

[25] In 2013, Big Beat signed Icona Pop, a Swedish electropop duo that would go on to release the 4× Platinum "I Love It" featuring Charli XCX.

[30] In December 2013, Big Beat's parent company, Warner Music Group, acquired Parlophone (a German-British record label).

[32][33] Liz Miller, Big Beat's General Manager in 2014, was named one of the "50 Most Important People in EDM" by Rolling Stone.