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With his 'Azuli presents Miami' mix compilation celebrating its tenth edition this month, it might seem like business as usual for UK house pioneer Dave Piccioni, though ask him whether Azuli and any other independent dance labels will still exist in 2015 and he's characteristically blunt.

"The only ones that will be left in five years time will be essentially 'bedroom businesses' run from home by one or two people," he predicts, singling out podcasts as just one of the reasons established labels are so under threat.

"Funny you should mention free podcasts, I think they have done more damage to the dance CD compilation market than any other new formats. Considering that normally hardly any royalties are paid to artists I think they are criminal," Dave continues, "Getting music free may sound like 'giving it back to the people' etc, but if no money goes to artists, then creative, inspired people go elsewhere. I think that has definitely happened in dance music."

Making his name in New York in the 80s as one of Manhattan's first big name house DJs, the Huddersfield born Brit returned to London in 1989 and started his record selling career flogging boxes of 12 inch vinyl out of the back of a van. Taking over Soho's Blackmarket Records in 1990 and launching Azuli in 1991, he built the fledgling label release by release breaking through to the mainstream in 1998 courtesy of David Morales' massive pop hit Needing U.

Going on to release over 200 more singles (As well as compilation series including Made In Italy and 'Space: Ibiza' Azuli has since thrived though chatting to Skrufff.com in 2005, Dave admitted times were already changing.

'You can't survive on passion and energy alone', he suggested when quizzed

about the differences in running Azuli then compared to1991 while today (comparing the present to 2005)he's even bleaker.

"You need a helpful bank manager," he sighs.

"Labels and releases are about marketing today, singles are tools now to get DJs gigs," he explains, "Part of the reason for this is because of the problems with compilations I mentioned," he says. "Though as far as marketing myself is concerned I have stopped DJing for a long period because I have severe tinnitus, so for me making albums and keeping in touch Is just something I enjoy."

Label issues aside, he's remarkably upbeat about both his latest Miami compilation and the prospect of attending yet another Winter Music Conference despite suggesting previously that 'it's just about big clubs and big promoters and it seems like it's just another ruthless way to make money'.

"Jesus, you must a have a whole file on me," he laughs.

"I must have been in a bad mood that day. It has become a business now, yes, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun. I suppose I used to remember it when it felt like the dance music community getting together, sharing ideas and networking and stuff and yes, there's no vibe like that anymore. You can still go there and have a great time though, just make sure you have money in your pocket!" he laughs.

Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff):  The new compilation CD is called 'Miami the Underground sound': how much does Miami still possess a genuine 'underground' ethos?

Dave Piccioni: "Underground is a pretty vague term, I agree, but I think Miami does and doesn't. There are so many strains and genres of music there that there is underground scene certainly. You can go hear David Guettta at FMIF or you can go hear LocoDice at a Circo loco party."

Skrufff: What does the term mean to you?  What makes David Guetta and Deadmau5  (both included on the compilation) more 'underground' than say Jedward?

Dave Piccioni: "Well I prefer to listen to the tracks than look at the names and labels. The David Guetta track is for me an underground track, and very unusual for him, and not something you are going to hear in Hollywoods in Romford. I can't hear the Deadmaus track on Radio 1 or Capital either so I'd include that I suppose."

Skrufff: Keeping with the conference, bouncers In Miami are notoriously aggressive: have you had any encounters over the years? Is getting into clubs there still a problem?

Dave Piccioni: "As I'm such a charming, well dressed, good looking guy I have no problems with bouncers there at all, definitely not (chuckling). Actually yes, one time I was trying to get into the Def Mix party, who are all really close friends of mine, so I climbed over the sacred velvet rope instead of waiting to be 'chosen'. The bouncers barred me for the night."

Skrufff: Tommie Sunshine told us the other week "There is NO room for dance music in America. It will never happen. Not real dance music, anyway": how much do you agree? (if so, why?)

Dave Piccioni: "That depends on what he means by 'room'. I think he means it will never be the big business that R&B and hip-hop is, which is what the American music industry always compares things to. In that respect he is right, dance music doesn't create great artists (apart from a few rare exceptions). It's still huge though. Loads of people go out and go to dance clubs in the US, and there are a million and one DJs; it's just that no one actually goes out and buys the music."

Skrufff: You grew up in Huddersfield in the North of England, how often do you got back and how much do you still feel at home there?

Dave Piccioni: "I still have family there so I go quite a lot. I love going back up there, but then I also love leaving too."

Skrufff: How much have you stayed in contact with any old school friends? Your first girlfriend? (How are you perceived with the path you've chosen?)

Dave Piccioni: "I keep in touch, and still support Huddersfield Town so see friends at the games. My first ever proper girlfriend just contacted me on Facebook actually, and reminded me that I was an hyperactive fool way back then. People usually say that I've 'done well', meaning materially, but there's more to life than that and in other ways many of them have 'done well' too."

Skrufff: Have you had any more encounters with jellyfish? (Dave was seriously stung after swimming into jellyfish off Beniras in Ibiza in 2004)

Dave Piccioni: "No I'm more careful now, I still have the scars though, which I'm quite proud off, the ladies seems to be impressed with my jellyfish scars. No, now I specialize in falling off my motorbike, which doesn't make for such interesting stories."

Azuli Presents Miami 10: The Underground Sound of the 2010 Miami Music Conference is out now.

http://www.azuli.com

Jonty Skrufff (http://skrufff.com): Follow Jonty on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jontyskrufff