The inaugural International Music Summit in Ibiza has responded to the challenges facing the electronic music industry and marked the successful arrival of a new forum in the dance music calendar.
Attended by many of the most senior, proactive and heavyweight industry figures and artists in today’s scene, the future of the industry was fiercely debated over three days of intensely programmed panels and events. Legendary music producer and Key Note speaker Francois K exclaimed that the IMS was “The most amazing conference I’ve ever seen. I am looking forward to seeing what this grows into next year”. Simply, lots got done and lots got learnt!
Dubbed ‘back to business’; partying was far from most delegates minds, as they made the most of the intimate gatherings of fellow professionals. IMS was an invite-only affair, sold on its ability to put the major players in one area. Everybody took advantage of the networking opportunities, with many saying they had done more business in one morning then in an entire week at other conferences.
David Glick, founder of legal, investment and corporate finance boutique Edge Group, said: “The IMS has spotted a real need for a high quality, invitation-only event focusing on the top people in the electronic music market and has brought them together with a range of high quality speakers. I was delighted to be invited. I learned a lot and I had a great time. I came away with a fist-full of business cards I’m going to be following up on. A really first rate event.”
Not surprisingly, Digital was a key theme for delegates, inside and out of the panel discussions and representatives from flourishing and profitable dance music websites such as DJDownload.com and Beatport.com shared their visions for the future. Co-founder of IMS Ben Turner states: “The digital day highlighted how united electronic music culture is, and how in tune the key protagonists in our industry are with our music-buying audience. Note: music-buying!”
Andrew Keen, based in Silicone Valley and author of the controversial book ‘The Cult of the Amateur: How the Internet is Killing our culture’ led a debate on the challenges the digital age is bringing for creativity in the music industry at large. However, reflecting on the conference, Keen stated: “Whereas the traditional music industry is in the doldrums, electronica is experiencing a golden age. Electronica has much to teach the rest of the music world and mainstream labels need to take note of the club scene”. Indeed, as he articulated in his key note speech, the electronic world may be the “first example of an audience being so in tune with their artists that they would rather buy than steal” - the way forward…
The summit also took the opportunity to look closely at the domestic Ibiza music scene. The panel entitled ‘Ibiza – The Year of Change’ created history with representatives from every major club on the island sitting together publicly for the first time alongside a member of the Ibiza Council. IMS also made conference history by making the event ‘anthem’ in front of delegates, with electronic don Tom Middleton producing a track titled ‘Remember The Love’ for charity. The following day Soul Avengerz remixed the anthem, and on the closing day, Bruno Roussel, music editor on Six Feet Under, synchronised it to a movie. IMS are taking sealed bids for the record.
At a time of uncertainty in the music industry the International Music Summit left all attendees feeling refreshed, inspired and full of positivity for our beautiful dance music scene. Pete Tong states: “What happened in Ibiza last week will impact our future and the way the music industry moves forward. The response is overwhelming, people have walked away with ideas for the future, with new relationships forged from different aspects of electronica.”
IMS 2009 will take place on Wednesday May 27 to Friday May 29 inclusive. Visit www.internationalmusicsummit.com for information. Turner states: “IMS feels like dance music’s Web 2.0, and keeping the intimacy and the quality of delegate’s to the dealmakers is our ultimate goal.”
