IMS Ibiza 2018 day 1 has featured important discussions and positive thinking briefly summarized below before video keynote release in the near future.
PETE TONG’S TRIBUTE ON AVICII’S DEATH
IMS Ibiza 2018 kicked off the eleventh edition of the summit with a day of important discussions and positive thinking, starting with an emotional and incredibly poignant tribute from IMS Co-Founder Pete Tong MBE to Tim Bergling, otherwise known as global superstar Avicii you can read here. He reflected on the life of the man behind the brand, his impact, his legacy and the importance of self-care for all.
SAFE FROM HARM – OUR DUTY OF CARE
This led meaningfully into the first panel discussion and possibly one of the most important of the summit where the assembled industry experts agreed that the role of the manager is paramount in helping artists to find that all important balance and to provide a vital support role, you can read more here.
IMS BUSINESS REPORT 2018
Then came the turn of the much-anticipated annual business report, presented by Kevin Watson (Author of IMS Business Report, UK) who revealed statistics that pointed to a slowdown in the global electronic music industry value, observed for the first time in recent years.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN DJ CULTURE
IMS Ibiza has never been afraid to bring important issues into the spotlight even if the subject matter is difficult to confront. Day one of the summit witnesses a frank and open discussion on the issue of sexual harassment in dance music and what can be done to tackle it, , you can know more here.
THE SCEPTICS GUIDE TO BELIEVING IN BLOCKCHAIN FOR MUSIC AND MEDIA
The attention of the day then turned to Blockchain, Benji Rogers (dotBlockchain Media, CEO & Co-Founder, USA) dissected and explained this emerging technology stating that “You only have to say you’re a Blockchain company in the Bay Area right now and you’ll receive a multi-million dollar investment”. In the follow on session BLOCKCHAIN 101 the panel gave an essential guide for anyone wanting to learn more on this complicated subject, but acknowledged no-one can predict if this current boom will continue, especially considering the environmental impact of storing blockchain data “I wouldn’t be surprised if streaming is a flash in the pan and in 12 years’ time we’re sitting here on this stage and wondering what went wrong?” Alexander Holland (Deezer, Chief Content and Product Officer, France)
15 YEARS OF ARMADA RECORDS – SAILING INTO THE FUTURE
Armada Music co-Founder & CEO Maykel Piron gave a fascinating insight into the inner workings of his hugely successful record label. The secret of his success?
“ Do everything from the heart with your own vision and your own passion and it will work. Don’t copy or try and replicate anything or anyone ”.
– Maykel Piron (Armada Music, Co-Founder/CEO, Netherlands)
HOW TO SLEEP BETTER
Tom Middleton (Sound Architect/Designer, Psychoacoustics R&D, UK) had the room on their feet in an energetic and engaging session, delivering a fast paced and fascinating insight to the world of sleep, a pastime we surprisingly only average for 6.5 hours from 24. Tom informed the audience that depriving our body of this ritual leaves a surprisingly devastating impact and is linked heavily with mood instability and anxiety. He however equipped the audience with breathing techniques and tips to make sleep better, instructing us to “make the bedroom a sleep sanctuary”.
TODD TERRY KEYNOTE
In the final hours, a much-anticipated interview with Todd ‘The God’ Terry (DJ/Producer, USA) led by Pete Tong (BBC Radio 1/IMS, Artist, UK) rounded off an exciting day in the IMS Summit Suite. A funny, warm and engaging interview subject, he had delegates enthralled with stories from his days back in NYC “We were sampling anything back in the day, just to change the records up” and his experience with none other than the Thin White Duke himself “I sent the track to David Bowie, he was like “This is a disgrace. You chopped up my vocals…I was like… Yo! Dave, chill! Do you know what I do? The kids wanna hear vocals and a hard beat!”
IMS Ibiza then moved to the Hard Rock Hotel rooftop and an alfresco sunset rooftop live stream hosted by DJ Mag and featuring house music legend David Morales.
Leading onto the night’s main attraction continuing into the early hours, the IMS Legends Dinner in Honour of Underworld, the genre defining iconic electronic music act, hosted on leading island venue Heart Ibiza, an exceptional high octane event and hot ticket of the summit. The band later performed a one off special intimate live performance to an excited and hyped up crowd, who partied late into the night with special guest artists Sven Vath, Pete Tong and Mark Knight.