IMS Ibiza 2026 expands its Focus on AI Impact on Music Industry
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IMS Ibiza 2026 expands its Focus on AI Impact on Music Industry
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IMS Ibiza 2026 expands its Focus on AI Impact on Music Industry

BY

Alexandre Trochut

·
0 min. read
0 min. read

IMS ibiza attendees at Mondrian hotel Ibiza, 2024. Credits: Alexandre Trochut

IMS ibiza attendees at Mondrian hotel Ibiza

IMS ibiza attendees at Mondrian hotel Ibiza, 2024. Credits: Alexandre Trochut

IMS Ibiza 2026 expands its Focus on AI Impact on Music Industry

Artificial intelligence will take center stage at IMS Ibiza 2026 with additional talks and sessions on authorship, ownership electronic music' future.

0 min. read

By Alexandre Trochut

Alexandre Trochut

Archived Content

This article is part of BPM Magazine’s archives, preserved to document the evolution of electronic music culture. It may reflect the context, trends, and information available at the time of publication.

Artificial intelligence will take center stage at IMS Ibiza 2026 with additional talks and sessions on authorship, ownership electronic music' future.

A Structural Shift at the Heart of the Industry

As IMS Ibiza continues to unveil its 2026 programme, the spotlight turns to one of the most decisive transformations shaping contemporary music: artificial intelligence. No longer confined to speculative discourse, AI is now embedded across the entire value chain — from production workflows to distribution models and audience engagement.

In partnership with AlphaTheta, the summit introduces a series of sessions designed to move beyond abstraction and examine how these changes are already redefining authorship, ownership and creative identity. The objective is not to frame AI as disruption alone, but to understand how the industry can integrate it without losing its cultural foundations.

Redefining Authenticity in the Age of AI

Among the headline sessions, Maria Garrido, Chief Marketing Officer at Deezer, will deliver a keynote addressing one of the most pressing questions facing the industry: what does authenticity mean in an era of synthetic content?

As AI-generated music and voices become increasingly indistinguishable from human creations, the relationship between artists and audiences is undergoing a subtle but profound shift. Garrido’s session will explore how listener perception is evolving, and how platforms and creators can maintain trust in an environment where the notion of “real” is no longer self-evident.

Artificial intelligence will take center stage at IMS Ibiza 2026 with additional talks and sessions on authorship, ownership electronic music' future.

A Structural Shift at the Heart of the Industry

As IMS Ibiza continues to unveil its 2026 programme, the spotlight turns to one of the most decisive transformations shaping contemporary music: artificial intelligence. No longer confined to speculative discourse, AI is now embedded across the entire value chain — from production workflows to distribution models and audience engagement.

In partnership with AlphaTheta, the summit introduces a series of sessions designed to move beyond abstraction and examine how these changes are already redefining authorship, ownership and creative identity. The objective is not to frame AI as disruption alone, but to understand how the industry can integrate it without losing its cultural foundations.

Redefining Authenticity in the Age of AI

Among the headline sessions, Maria Garrido, Chief Marketing Officer at Deezer, will deliver a keynote addressing one of the most pressing questions facing the industry: what does authenticity mean in an era of synthetic content?

As AI-generated music and voices become increasingly indistinguishable from human creations, the relationship between artists and audiences is undergoing a subtle but profound shift. Garrido’s session will explore how listener perception is evolving, and how platforms and creators can maintain trust in an environment where the notion of “real” is no longer self-evident.

A Moral and Creative Recalibration

This reflection extends into a broader ethical debate, notably through the session led by the Association for Electronic Music. Bringing together voices from across the ecosystem — including Bandcamp, Voice-Swap and artist representatives — the discussion frames AI as both an accelerant of creativity and a destabilising force for traditional definitions of authorship.

The challenge is no longer technological capability, but governance. As generative tools become more accessible, the industry is confronted with the need to define clear boundaries: what should be protected, what can be shared, and how to ensure that human creativity remains central within increasingly automated systems.

From Concept to Cultural Experience

Beyond policy and theory, IMS Ibiza 2026 also examines how AI is entering the cultural sphere. Italian duo Mathame present NEO, a project that seeks to translate artificial intelligence into a tangible, collective experience.

Positioned as a large-scale artistic framework rather than a purely technological demonstration, NEO reflects a broader shift in how AI is being understood — not only as a tool, but as a subject of cultural interpretation. In this context, the dancefloor becomes a space where abstract technological questions are explored through sound, narrative and physical immersion.

A Moral and Creative Recalibration

This reflection extends into a broader ethical debate, notably through the session led by the Association for Electronic Music. Bringing together voices from across the ecosystem — including Bandcamp, Voice-Swap and artist representatives — the discussion frames AI as both an accelerant of creativity and a destabilising force for traditional definitions of authorship.

The challenge is no longer technological capability, but governance. As generative tools become more accessible, the industry is confronted with the need to define clear boundaries: what should be protected, what can be shared, and how to ensure that human creativity remains central within increasingly automated systems.

From Concept to Cultural Experience

Beyond policy and theory, IMS Ibiza 2026 also examines how AI is entering the cultural sphere. Italian duo Mathame present NEO, a project that seeks to translate artificial intelligence into a tangible, collective experience.

Positioned as a large-scale artistic framework rather than a purely technological demonstration, NEO reflects a broader shift in how AI is being understood — not only as a tool, but as a subject of cultural interpretation. In this context, the dancefloor becomes a space where abstract technological questions are explored through sound, narrative and physical immersion.

Ownership, Rights and New Economic Models

Alongside questions of identity and ethics, the programme addresses the economic implications of AI. Sessions led by industry figures such as Ralph Böege explore the emergence of new licensing infrastructures designed to regulate the use of music within AI systems.

These frameworks aim to establish consent-based models where recordings, compositions and metadata can be used transparently, ensuring attribution and compensation for creators. The ambition is to move toward a system where innovation and rights protection are not in opposition, but part of the same architecture.

A parallel focus is placed on voice technology, with Voice-Swap presenting tools that allow artists to license and monetise their vocal identity. As voice models become commercially viable, the industry faces a new reality in which an artist’s voice itself becomes a distinct asset — one that must be protected, managed and negotiated.

A New Balance Between Innovation and Control

Across these sessions, a consistent narrative emerges: artificial intelligence is not simply another technological evolution, but a structural reconfiguration of the music industry.

For artists, it expands creative possibilities while introducing new forms of exposure and risk. For the industry, it demands updated legal and economic frameworks. For audiences, it challenges long-held assumptions about authenticity and connection.

By placing these questions at the centre of its programme, IMS Ibiza 2026 positions itself not as an observer of change, but as an active space where its implications are examined, debated and, ultimately, shaped.

TAGS :

IBIZA SS26

IBIZA SS26

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Season Highlights

IMS Ibiza 2026, International Music Summit, Reclaim the Dancefloor,

Ownership, Rights and New Economic Models

Alongside questions of identity and ethics, the programme addresses the economic implications of AI. Sessions led by industry figures such as Ralph Böege explore the emergence of new licensing infrastructures designed to regulate the use of music within AI systems.

These frameworks aim to establish consent-based models where recordings, compositions and metadata can be used transparently, ensuring attribution and compensation for creators. The ambition is to move toward a system where innovation and rights protection are not in opposition, but part of the same architecture.

A parallel focus is placed on voice technology, with Voice-Swap presenting tools that allow artists to license and monetise their vocal identity. As voice models become commercially viable, the industry faces a new reality in which an artist’s voice itself becomes a distinct asset — one that must be protected, managed and negotiated.

A New Balance Between Innovation and Control

Across these sessions, a consistent narrative emerges: artificial intelligence is not simply another technological evolution, but a structural reconfiguration of the music industry.

For artists, it expands creative possibilities while introducing new forms of exposure and risk. For the industry, it demands updated legal and economic frameworks. For audiences, it challenges long-held assumptions about authenticity and connection.

By placing these questions at the centre of its programme, IMS Ibiza 2026 positions itself not as an observer of change, but as an active space where its implications are examined, debated and, ultimately, shaped.

TAGS :

IBIZA SS26

IMS Ibiza 2026, International Music Summit, Reclaim the Dancefloor,

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IMS Ibiza 2026 expands its Focus on AI Impact on Music Industry

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IMS Ibiza 2026 expands its Focus on AI Impact on Music Industry