Experiencing IMS Ibiza For The First Time

The International Music Summit is an important fixture on the dance music industry calendar and it marks the beginning of Ibiza’s summer clubbing season. The three-day conference provides debate, networking opportunities and a chance to learn more about issues surrounding dance music culture. This was my first IMS experience and it definitely won’t be the last.

Day one was an introduction into what IMS Ibiza is all about. The theme for this year’s edition was all about supporting a healthy industry and trying to break stigmas and behaviours that – although not specific to dance music – are creating a damaging environment. Club culture is unique, challenging and is hard to compare to anything else; it’s right we tackle these issues head first with a specific focus to this industry.

One of the first talks of the summit was with shesaid.so founder Andreea Magdalina, who shared her vision for empowering women in a male dominated industry. The three-day conference was full of inspiring talks by inspiring women – but the conclusion was that this isn’t enough. To create a better future for women in dance music, everyone has to work together.

The next important issue IMS took on was mental health. It’s a burning topic that is being addressed everywhere – and with good reason. Following the death of Avicii two years ago – and Keith Flint’s passing earlier this year – questions are being put forward about how the music industry can create a healthier environment for all those involved. Looking at why these suicides happened and how we can prevent it in the future, psychology experts and high-profile industry folk came together to challenge stigmas and look for solutions.

On day two, Avicii’s father Klas Bergling gave an important keynote speech, alongside Pete Tong, Sasha and Luciano, to name a few. This was a pivotal point of the summit where Klas gave a personal insight into how these tragedies happen. It’s clear to see that certain practices when it comes to touring and performing are damaging mental health. Loneliness, a rigorous tour routine, lack of sleep and substance use were just some of the issues raised. It’s clear that a lot has to change – and discussions like this are a step in the right direction.

The conference covered all kinds of topics and held discussions about everything from fashion, social media, environment, business, art and much more. There were even keynote speeches and interviews with DJs such as Adam Beyer, Ida Engberg, Joseph Capriati, Sven Väth and Charlotte de Witte. It was refreshing to see artists such as these sharing more about their successes and struggles in the industry, as well as sharing personal experiences about the themes addressed at IMS.

IMS will inspire, educate and entertain. If music is your passion, then IMS Ibiza is a must. It’s a worthwhile experience where you can meet so many like-minded people and learn about important issues – oh, did I mention the giant party filled with b2b sets of electronic music’s greatest and cutting-edge talent at Dalt Vila at the end? As well as all the other opening party madness during the week? Get IMS Ibiza on your bucket list!

Further Information Below

w: internationalmusicsummit.com
fb: facebook.com/InternationalMusicSummit