The 15th edition of Ibiza IMS 2024, represented a passion for mixing beats with inspiring keynotes and a majestic closing party.
Photo Credits: Juan Afanador / Tasya Menaker / FacundoBadini
Three full days of Summit sessions presented in partnership with AlphaTheta, started with hosts Pete Tong and Jaguar, before plunging into this year’s IMS Business Report, the most important annual insight by Mark Mulligan and MiDIA Research.
The global Dance Music industry grew by 17% in 2023 to reach a value of $11.8 billion. The popularity of electronic music continued to grow, outpacing other major genres and expanding its global reach. New entries in the electronic music market include Mexico, India, Brazil, and South Africa; also independent record labels have increased their market share for the fourth consecutive quarter, reaching 31%.
In cultural terms, there’s still work to be done to ensure that every part of our community is equal. ‘Rebuilding Our Community’ resonated throughout HE.SHE.THEY, Downtown, and FUGA.
AlphaTheta’s General Manager Mark Grotefeld opened with a passionate keynote about finding purpose as a company, accompanied by AFEM’s Georgia Taglietti, who looked especially to the lessons we’ve forgotten from the acid house era and applied them to corporate culture.
It also marked the apex of sessions featuring luminaries like Michiel Beers, who shared insights into the world of Tomorrowland, featuring bookers from Sziget Festival, Elrow, AVA, and The Warehouse Project.
Mochakk revealed his strategies for staying sane and healthy on the road. DJ Paulette and Smokin’ Jo, read extracts from their barn-burning recent books. Detroit’s own Juan Atkins discussed techno’s invention and the sound’s evolution.
Honoring Frankie Knuckles’s life & achievement this year’s program included a long list of guests including Fatboy Slim, Victor de la Serna from Elrow Family, Anna Gruszka, Rob McDaniels from Beatport, Maria May from CCA, Timothy Morton, DJ Pierre, Madame Gandhi, Pete Tong, Simon Dunmore from Defected, Adam Beyer from Drumcode, Ben Malone from Armada Music, Ralf Kollmann from I-AM-MGMT, Daniel Curpen from Anjunadeep, Jaguar, Sydney Blu from Change The Beat, Matt Black from Ninja Tune, Roneil Rumbus from Audius, Jessica Capaz from Pacha, Alex Montoya from Analog Agency, and many more.
The closing of IMS at Dalt Vila Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site with a seven-hour music celebration featuring performances by Róisín Murphy, Mochakk, Sarz back-to-back Kilimanjaro, Miss Monique, Pete Tong, Alex Wann, Jaguar back-to-back DJ Paulette, Sasha back-to-back Franky Wah, and Artche back-to-back Kalismã. Check Kalismã’s Instagram takeover here.
Building brands and careers, the theme of this year’s IMS Ibiza continued to resonate, as the founders of some of the most powerful and effective underground collectives explored how they champion diversity and outsider creativity – and how a collective really comes together.
The convergence of music and collaborative networks has served to democratize the industry, while an emphasis on mental and physical well-being propels the evolution of our collective musical landscape.
Resuming it, it’s the community – the people – that make our industry special, see you next year.
