Hosting a summit in Ibiza where the main focus is getting ‘back to
business’ may seem like a contradiction in terms but where better to
discuss and plan for the future of the electronic industry than in the
very place it is enjoyed most? In the two short years that the IMS has
been running it has become one of the most important meeting of minds in
the calendar. Essential Ibiza caught up with founding partner Simeon
Friend to get the low-down on IMS 2010.
The IMS has become one of the years most important dance music related
events; to what would you attribute this immediate success?
A gap in the international market for a pioneering and forward thinking
music conference; its unique geographical location, cutting edge content
and its calendar timing.
The ethos of the IMS is ‘Back To Business’, is this a reflection on other
conferences becoming more night time led or a realisation that we need to
take the future of our industry more seriously?
A bit of both. All partners felt that the industry was in a bad way and
that too much focus was on the partying side rather than focusing on the
potential business that we knew was still possible. The conference
addresses major topics that affect everyone in the business from how to
monetise online to licensing tracks for commercial use in advertising,
film and television.
What have been the major developments to emerge from IMS to date?
The IMS vote, which allows delegates to instantly vote on the key issues
being discussed, has allowed us to monitor the changes in the industry
over a period of several months, which in turn has helped shape the debate
the following year. To feel we are influencing the industry in a business
sense is a wonderful development we’re all very proud of.
Closer to home, last years Grand Finale saw Dalt Vila play host to the
first dance music event ever hosted in Ibiza Old Town, made possible by
our relationship with the Consell. Since then our relationship with the
government has strengthened further and IMS are an integral part of the
Ibiza Music Cluster initiative directed by central government in Madrid.
Encouraging the authorities to recognise the business credentials of the
music industry in Ibiza has been perhaps the most rewarding development of
IMS so far.�
What can attendees expect from IMS Ibiza 2010?
Increased delegate attendance, a major announcement regarding polling
charts, inspiring keynote speech and Grand Finale performance from Mark
Ronson and Ghetto tech band Buraka Somma Sistema rocking Ibiza old town to
its foundations!