The final day of IMS Ibiza 2024 presented in partnership with AlphaTheta. Beginning with a peloton of hardy cyclists taking off on a 107km pedal around the Island for Bridges for Music, it was a day of blazing sunshine, slightly bleary eyes all round, and an air of celebration – and determination.
The final day at IMS Ibiza tends to cement the themes that will dominate the industry’s agenda for the year, and today was no exception.
Get involved:
On the AFEM hosted Ask Me Anything: Meet the Bookers session, the main message was the importance of building sincere, honest relationships, whether as an artist or an aspiring booker, a refreshing take on an industry that sometimes seems to be led by social media numbers. AVA’s Sarah McBriar described getting involved in the scene in person at the start of her career, helping out at events, as her own first step to building those links and a community around her.
Smaller venues are vital:
At the AMA with leading agents, another recurring theme of the Summit was discussed: the existential importance of smaller grassroots venues to the electronic music ecosystem. When Alex Montoya (Analog Agency & Basement Club) described the blooming scene in Madrid, with new venues opening every week and the clear benefits to both bookings and tourism, the contrast with the scandalous situation in the UK right now was painfully obvious.
Change can come from the ground up:
The ‘Champions Of our Community’ session with Harry Gay (Queer House Party & Museum of Homelessness), Nadine Noor (Pxssy Palace), Sydney Blu (CHANGE THE BEAT), Steven Braines (HE.SHE.THEY.) and Jaguar proved one of the most powerful and inspirational events of the entire Summit. Hearing from the representatives of the communities who birthed electronic music culture in the first place – and yet are too often excluded from it – was a humbling reminder amid all the business. There are collectives all over the world who are changing the scene for the better, and doing it from the ground up. Let’s get behind them.
Self care = survival
All throughout IMS Ibiza, the expanded Art of Areté area, presented in partnership with AlphaTheta, has emphasised that in a late-night, fast-moving industry that depends on performance and creativity, looking after your health – mental and physical, is key. Today one of the hottest breakthrough stars of recent years, Mochakk, eloquently spelled it out once again. Health is wealth.
That community thing:
With Smokin’ Jo and DJ Paulette talking to Jaguar about how sisterhood can be a positive force in an industry that’s improving but still largely unrepresentative, and Cassö emphasising the importance of connecting with / building a support network of other artists via Soundcloud, there was a sense of symmetry to having the fascinating – and funny – Juan Atkins as this year’s IMS Ibiza closing keynote interview.
Nearly four decades on from his key role in the invention of techno, a sound that has since become a global juggernaut and a backbone of the entire industry, Juan described how the community in early Detroit days supported and facilitated that creation.
The last word:
Ben Turner, IMS Co-Founder
“Firstly, a big thanks to all our speakers, moderators, instructors, sponsors, partners, exhibitors, the fantastic Mondrian / Hyde Ibiza, our hosts Pete Tong and Jaguar and of course Katie Sallows and all the behind-the-scenes team at IMS Ibiza.
The fifteenth edition has been one of the most enjoyable and successful I’ve ever experienced, and really that’s down to you, the delegates.
The theme of this year’s Summit was Rebuilding Our Community, and it genuinely felt like we started that dialogue positively in the last few days.
Thank you for being part of it
Please take this sense of community back home with you; keep searching out and nurturing new talent, recognising the true originators of the scene, and supporting the organisations, collectives and people who enrich our shared culture.
We’re all so lucky to be part of an industry with the potential to really change lives. We hope IMS Ibiza 2024 has helped remind you of that once again.
We also hope to see you again next year!”
