As May draws ever closer, electronic music industry professionals all over the world are turning their thoughts to Ibiza as all roads lead to the IMS 2012. May 23 – 25 sees clubland head to Ibiza for three days of interesting, thought provoking panels and networking that has seen the IMS become one of the most important gatherings on the calendar in a very short period of time.
Having already announced details of the Grand Finale Festival, which will take place on May 24 and May 25 and include the likes of David Guetta, Seth Troxler, Carl Cox, Loco Dice and Pete Tong, IMS recently revealed the first set of speakers. IMS celebrates its fifth year with a heavyweight list of speaker executives from the likes of Twitter, You Tube, Vice, Foursquare, Creamfields, Metropolis, PRS, VUE Cinemas as well as a keynote interview with Nile Rodgers. As always, there is also a strong artists representation with Diplo, Carl Cox, Loco Dice, Paul Oakenfold and Francoise Kevorkian lined up to make an appearance.
As the packing for IMS 2012 begins, Essentialibiza caught up with Danny Whittle, one of the men behind the Summit, to get his thoughts on the upcoming event…
What are you most looking forward to from IMS 2012?
Catching up with so many friends and making new acquaintances. IMS is such an intimate affair and I love that. Also Nile Rogers attending, for me Chic just set a very high standard when it came to dance floor music.
How has the conference evolved since its inception?
It just keeps getting bigger but at the same time it still feels like we know everyone. I think Ben and Pete do an amazing job with the content of the panels and I always find them very interesting and entertaining. We are now looking at hosting one in America and the IMS attended Cochella this year, where Ben and Pete hosted a symposium.
The night time programme seems to be increasing year on year, is there a worry that it could, like so many other conferences, overshadow the serious business that goes on during the day?
To be honest it’s about how attractive the panels and networking side is. This is what makes people behave themselves for three days to get the best out of what we offer, then from Friday afternoon, when the business ends, people can go crazy.
IMS usually delivers an interesting, if not unusual, speaker/ guest at some point during the conference, who have you got planned for us this year?
Well that’s a little secret for now but it will become obvious soon.
If you could have any guest, dead or alive, speak at IMS who would it be?
Jesus and he would speak about how pissed off he is with religions using his name for their own ends! No seriously, Stevie Wonder, he is a hero of mine and just to listen to him talk about how he overcame so many obstacles to become one the musical legends of all time.
