Showing posts with label IMS 2025. Show all posts
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02:43:00

 



The first wave of talks have been announced for IMS Ibiza 2026, presented in partnership with AlphaTheta.

35 Years of Nervous Records will celebrate one of the most influential imprints in dance music history, Market Focus - Brasil: From Identity to Impact, will explore one of the fastest-growing and most culturally influential countries for electronic music markets in the world. Plus, the program will feature Keynote Interviews with Maykel Piron, CEO of Armada Music Group and Yann Pissenem, Owner, Founder, & CEO of The Night League & Ushuaïa Entertainment.


Meet The Team: Josh Baker and The Future of Sónar - Meet The New Team will spotlight the people behind two dynamic forces shaping today’s scene, while Eastern Europe on the Rise: New Voices, New Futures presented by Telekom Electronic Beats, will highlight the artists and innovators pushing the region to the forefront.

This year’s theme, Reclaim the Dancefloor, sits at the centre of the programme, a call to reconnect with the culture, community, and shared experiences that define electronic music




Reclaim The Dancefloor: Inside the Theme Shaping IMS Ibiza 2026

The theme of IMS Ibiza 2026 is Reclaim The Dancefloor, a response to a pivotal moment for the global electronic music community, as its culture and foundations are increasingly shaped by forces beyond the dancefloor.

As private investment, consolidation, the acceleration of AI, shifting audience behaviours, and rapid digital innovation redefine how music is created, distributed, experienced, and monetised, IMS Ibiza will bring together artists, industry leaders, and cultural custodians to examine what is being gained, what is being lost, and what must be protected.

Across the Summit, the programme will explore how the values that once defined electronic music can survive scale without dilution, how digital distraction is reshaping the shared rituals of the dancefloor, and how the community can reclaim agency over its culture in an ever-evolving industry.

As always, IMS Ibiza 2026 is being built as an ambitious and carefully curated programme, shaped by the conversations the industry needs to be having right now. With each edition, demand continues to grow, and 2026 is no exception. Delegate badge prices are set to increase as the Summit nears and official partner hotels are already seeing rooms booking up. Those planning to join the global electronic music community in Ibiza this April are encouraged to secure their place early, as availability across badges and accommodation is expected to sell out as the summit approaches.

If you or someone you know reflects the diversity, creativity, and responsibility of our global electronic music community, and should be part of shaping this conversation on the IMS Ibiza 2026 stage, we want to hear from you. Submit yourself or a recommendation via the Speaker & Session Form here.







IMS Ibiza, presented in partnership with AlphaTheta, is proud to announce Yann Pissenem as the headline Keynote Speaker of the 2026 summit and also the recipient of the IMS Legends Award 2026.
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A pioneering figure in global nightlife and music entertainment, Yann Pissenem is Owner, Founder and CEO of The Night League and Ushuaïa Entertainment and creative visionary behind some of the world’s most iconic and influential venues, including Ushuaïa Ibiza, Hï Ibiza, [UNVRS], and Ushuaïa Dubai Harbour Experience. With more than 30 years of experience, he has played a defining role in transforming Ibiza into the global epicentre of electronic music and club culture. A dynamic innovator, his work has consistently pushed the boundaries of what nightlife can be by combining music, design, technology and human connection to create immersive, world-class experiences.

Driven by a relentless passion for innovation, creativity and excellence, Yann continues to shape the modern nightlife landscape one groundbreaking venue at a time. Today, The Night League welcomes over two million guests annually, setting new standards for scale, quality and cultural impact, while Yann remains at the forefront of redefining the future of global nightlife and music entertainment. Following a Keynote Interview with IMS co-founder Pete Tong delving into one of the most fascinating careers in the music industry, Yann will be formally presented with the IMS Legends Award 2026 during a celebratory dinner held during IMS Ibiza.

Yann Pissenem, Owner, Founder and CEO of The Night League and Ushuaïa Entertainment, says:

“I am truly honoured to receive this recognition from IMS. Ibiza has been my home and my inspiration for many years, and the island, with its unique spirit, creativity and freedom, has shaped not only my work, but also my entire understanding of nightlife and electronic music culture.

Looking back on this journey, I am above all filled with gratitude. To my partners, whose trust and shared vision have been essential from the very beginning, and to my brother, with whom I have shared every step of this adventure. Thank you all for believing, for constantly pushing further, and for walking this path together.

Along the way, I have been fortunate to cross paths with artists at various stages of their careers. Some joined us as emerging talents and have since become defining figures of our industry; others were already established artists who believed in our vision from the very first moment, and who, decades later, still consider our venues their home.

I also wish to express my deepest thanks to the bookers, managers, agents, promoters, creative partners and the wider music industry that surrounds and supports our work everyday. What began as professional collaboration has, over the years, grown into a true extended family built on trust, respect and shared values. And most of all, to the extraordinary teams behind the scenes across every department, and to all staff members whose passion, dedication and tireless work bring our venues to life.

Seeing our three venues, Hï Ibiza, Ushuaïa Ibiza and [UNVRS], recognised among the best in the world is not an end in itself, but a reflection of our shared passion: the desire to continually push boundaries, to pursue excellence without compromise, and to believe that nightlife can create unforgettable moments that transcend the ordinary.

This award belongs to everyone who has been part of that vision. It would not be possible without the loyalty and trust of our audience. To see more than two million people choose our dancefloors in the past year alone, is both deeply humbling and a great responsibility. I feel immense pride for what we have built together, and sincere appreciation for all those who continue to make this journey possible.”
The IMS organisation states:
“We are very proud to honour the career of Yann Pissenem at the 17th edition of IMS Ibiza. As this year’s recipient of the IMS Legends Award, there can be nobody more deserving from the nightlife world. He has transformed the island of Ibiza on countless occasions, from his first events on the sand, breaking DJ residency rules when opening Ushuaïa, launching Hï to a new generation, right up to the launch of [UNVRS] last year. He leads an incredible team of people at The Night League, assisted by his brother Romain’s pioneering production company High Scream. A true visionary, he’s changed the rules again and again, and one wonders what the next move will be.”
The IMS Legends Award dinner will take place on Wednesday 22 April as part of IMS Ibiza. With a very limited number of tickets to be released, those wishing to attend are invited to sign up for further information and to register their interest in purchasing tickets.


Additional info:


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06:56:00

 


Annually, IMS Ibiza presents a snapshot not only of the current state of the industry but also of the broader world, which is undergoing unprecedented rapid change. Two early sessions today witnessed esteemed industry leaders grappling with this transformation and attempting to establish new rules of engagement. The most noteworthy highlights of the second day are presented here.

First, AFEM’s session on Generative AI advocated for a new way to deal with what’s certainly been the most hyped new development in the world at large recently.

While the speakers were at pains to make it clear they weren’t enemies of AI as a tool for creativity, perhaps Alistair Webber, son of the composer Andrew Lloyd, summed it up: 

“Over the last six months, in the UK and other territories, governments want to give AI companies carte blanche to scrape copyrighted music to train their models – by amending hundreds of years of copyright law. It’s completely outrageous.” 

The session outlined not just the complexities of unpicking who’s owed what, but looked to chart a course forward, whether via AFEM’s forthcoming AI Principles or Inder Phull of KOR Protocol’s work with artists to innovate new – and equitable – ways for fans to engage with their music.

A few moments later in The Brave Space presented by HE.SHE.THEY. in partnership with One Of Us, we heard about another attempt to chart a course to a better and fairer industry. The Trans Inclusion Charter session featured cultural dynamos like HE.SHE.THEY.’s Sophia Kearney, Sashkia Menendez (driving force, with AFEM, behind the charter), and Boudica founder Samantha Tonghi – and it felt both vital and urgent, particularly the heartbreaking plea from artist softchaos. 

“There are trans artists who are DJs being detained for doing their jobs because they were brave enough to change their gender markers,” they said. “They aren’t safe doing jobs that most people wouldn’t think twice about. What can we – you – in the music business, do to protect them?”

The day began on the Summit Stage - Indoor, with the management, and agency teams behind the rise of phenomenon John Summit’s rise to selling out Madison Square Garden; speakers Ben Shprits and Daisy Hoffman (Wasserman Music) and Holt Harmon and Parker Cohen (Metatone Management), delivered a masterclass in artist momentum and steering an extraordinary talent.

Later, in a fascinating recap of his new book, Selling The Night, author and creative Andy Crysell talked us through the history of brands involved in electronic music from Fiorucci in disco (and Ibiza) in the 70s, to Absolut joining the dots between queer and club culture, the dawn of youth marketing in the 90s, to the Red Bull Music Academy, to ‘Colonel Sanders’ playing a DJ set at a festival in Miami – before a chat with Ralf Lülsdorf of Deutsche Telekom / Electronic Beats, who have been backing electronic music culture now for 25 years.

Blessed by quite stunning weather, more and more delegates have been taking advantage of the new outdoor big screen to watch events in the Summit Stage - Indoor, while another new addition, the Favela Bar, has brought a carnival vibe to poolside, framed perfectly by the view over Cala Llonga Bay.

For sheer, reckless charisma, few speakers come close to Fat Tony. His contribution to the Crash and Burn, The Price of Success session had all the laughter and scandalous stories that you’d expect – but was also shot through with compassionate advice for artists and indeed anyone in the industry struggling to keep the candle burning at both ends.

The Silent Epidemic: Tinnitus, Hearing Loss & Listening Responsibly was another The Art of Areté session that struck a chord across the different generations of the industry. Beginning with moderator Seb Wheeler describing his own sudden hearing loss and accompanying tinnitus, and Āliyah Husna outlining her own struggle with an ear condition, the speakers not only outlined the immense scale of the issue, but practical steps that we can take to protect our hearing, from EMT surgeon Dr. James Schuster-Bruce and Jenine Civil from Ultimate Ears Pro.

Just how valuable our ears are was later fully demonstrated at From Stereo to 360 – New Immersive Experiences in Electronic Music, presented by L-Acoustics. L-Acoustics also presented today’s Networking Drinks, with DJ Hugo Heathcote.

The final session of the day on the Summit Stage: Indoor paired the unstoppable SHERELLE with DJ Flight for an intergenerational exchange that was full of insight and mutual respect – and of course touched on another huge theme of the Summit, Four Decades of Jungle and Drum ’n’ Bass. The first woman to host a national drum ’n’ bass show, Flight started DJing in 1997, when SHERELLE was six years old – and at times it felt like there were three generations represented, as Flight referenced her close connection with her first inspiration: OGs Kemistry and Storm. A conversation that ranged from Flight’s work on Windrush stories to their shared experience of the world of radio, and respecting and referencing the lineage of the music that has come before when producing their own music.

So it was a day that looked both backwards and forwards, that looked to the past to inform the future. 

As Andy Crysell said: “Everyone now looks to their community to learn. Once you would never hear education mentioned in the same sentence as club culture. ‘Knowledge is power’ seems more relevant now than ever.”


QUOTES OF THE DAY

“There’s this idea that trans folk are somehow ‘new’. Nobody at this conference would have a job without the contributions of trans people to this industry; without people like Wendy Carlos, or the communities in Detroit and Chicago where queer and trans people first accepted this innovative new sound.” softchaos

“I’ve not yet heard a track created completely from scratch with AI that’s not utter shite. I find that quite reassuring.” Alastair Webber, CEO & Co-Founder, The Other Songs

“When I was really young I had VH1 and MTV to watch. I was enamoured, but also scared, of The Prodigy’s Firestarter, and I genuinely thought Daft Punk were a cartoon.”  SHERELLE

“Brands have been involved in club culture for a long time. Back in the 1940s, Pepsi was sponsoring jazz dance parties in Harlem. In the late 70s and the disco boom, though, things really stepped up a level. Andy Crysell

“Have you ever heard an artist win an award and thank the publisher? No, but that’s not why we do it. We do it to help songwriters create and make a living out of it.” David Ventura, President / Co-Managing Director, Sony Music Publishing

“Music is the best drug in the world. You don’t need anything else as a DJ. Just get up there and do your job. I’ve played clean and been gurning away like a loon with excitement.” Fat Tony

“With the current political climate, it’s more important than ever that allies [of the trans community] are vocal. Being silent, being neutral, is not an option anymore.” Samantha Togni, Founder, Boudica

“The audience for drum ‘n’ bass is very different to everyone else. The enthusiasm of the people who love the music; they buy tickets so quickly, they love the music so much. It’s huge – but still so DIY and independent.” Duncan King, Head of Festivals and Partnerships, Skiddle

“When I first arrived in Ibiza as a young promoter, the thing that struck me was the spirit of the island. I arrived in ’79 and saw in the clubs something I’d never seen before. You could be a millionaire or a poor person sharing the dancefloor and feeling the spirit of the island." Pino Saglioco, Live Nation Spain President

“Authenticity will always win in the long run. Deviation [Benji’s club night], I think we had 70 people at the first one and we were happy if we made 100 quid a party in the first year, but now it’s grown to be something that’s influential and totally looks after itself. Authenticity and staying true to yourself always wins the long game.” Benji B

“It’s so important to respect the origins and foundations. Without those people doing what they were doing, we wouldn’t be doing what we are doing. Support new music and innovations – but pay homage to what came before.” DJ Flight

 



Summary: The second day of IMS Ibiza highlighted key industry discussions, including AFEM’s session on Generative AI, where concerns were raised about copyright laws and AI’s impact on creativity, with Alastair Webber criticizing governments’ leniency towards AI companies. The Trans Inclusion Charter session, led by HE.SHE.THEY. and One Of Us, emphasized the urgent need for industry support for trans artists facing discrimination. Insights into artist growth were shared through the journey of John Summit’s rise, while Andy Crysell explored the deep-rooted relationship between brands and electronic music. Mental health and wellbeing were addressed in "Crash and Burn" with Fat Tony offering candid advice, and "The Silent Epidemic" focused on hearing health across generations. The day culminated in an intergenerational dialogue between SHERELLE and DJ Flight, celebrating four decades of jungle and drum 'n' bass, underscoring the importance of respecting musical heritage while embracing future innovations.



Additional info:
https://www.internationalmusicsummit.com/
https://x.com/imsibiza
https://www.facebook.com/InternationalMusicSummit
https://instagram.com/internationalmusicsummit/


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06:32:00

 




Lets take a closer look on the day one of the 16th edition of IMS Ibiza, presented in partnership with AlphaTheta.

The tone was set by Elijah, who didn’t just introduce this year’s theme of Intergenerational Exchange, but, as always, added his own provocations and inversions — and with accompanying yellow boxes for each. 

“The bond across generations is principles and ethics,” he said, as he looked for the shared values that link countries, ages and scenes. “What are you doing to expand the possibilities of electronic music?” he asked the audience. “That’s how we pass the torch to new generations.”
The IMS Business Report carried echoes of the same sentiment. MIDiA Research’s Mark Mulligan stressed that in 2025 it’s about looking beyond the numbers to the cultural impact, to remember that what happens in real-life spaces is what drives this business. There were plenty of encouraging numbers, from a market value for the electronic music industry that grew 6% year-on-year in 2024, reaching a $12.9 billion global valuation. But… “the numbers follow from the culture,” he reminded us.

Afro house is a big strand of that global culture, and across IMS Ibiza this year. In a way, its meteoric success has become a prism through which to view electronic music culture as a whole — as a regional sound that has captured the mainstream, with all the questions about ownership and authenticity that brings up. In a great session moderated by Dare Balogun, Jackie Queens, Zakes Batwini and Shimza struck an optimistic note, clearly excited by the huge opportunities that its popularity has opened up, and a defiant yet somehow inclusive refusal to let outsiders pigeonhole or set rules on that growth. But Jackie also reminded us of the spirit that has fuelled the sound this far: “spirituality, joy, dancing, and music rooted in Black lived experience. That’s the kind of afro house that moves me.”

Indeed, there was a truly global feel to the program today — with afro house, with a session on the opportunities in the Middle East — and MDLBeast Radio broadcasting live in the Lobby — with The Brave Space exploring the rise of South Asia as a force in electronic music, the market focus on Spain — both in live and in recorded music — and the simple fact that there are delegates here from over 50 countries.

It’s a global culture, but as Mark Mulligan pointed out in the Business Report session, electronic music is no longer a monolith; every country, even cities, have their own demarcated scenes and cultures. Looking for the values that connect them, the ideas that can be exchanged, and the opportunities for evolution and growth in different ways and spaces, is the key.

But it’s never just all about grand themes and global movements. It was quite literally standing room only at the How Managers Break Artists panel, where managers David De Valera (Mochakk) and Guga Trevisani (Vintage Culture) were in conversation with HE.SHE.THEY.’s Sophia Kearney. This was IMS Ibiza at its most practical, nuts-and-bolts career-focused, with all three giving actionable advice for artists and managers in their Q&A — from building up a bank of music to grinding out gigs as a selector, even to creating a ‘fake’ management team to handle those awkward negotiations.

Across IMS Ibiza’s four spaces, every session today seemed to find its crowd, especially the calm and secluded The Art of Areté area, where Patrick Mason’s emotional, personal chat with Chloe Lula and choreographer Cecilia Bengolea was a moving testimony to his own biography and self-discovery through movement and dance. Particularly the revelation that a ‘secret’ relative had been part of the voguing scene back in 80s NYC, a revelation which came after Patrick himself decided to come out as queer after moving to Berlin. An intergenerational exchange that transcended time, space and even death. When Cecilia started dancing — demonstrating how interior emotion was so essential to external movement and sensation — it was a privilege to witness, and a unique IMS Ibiza moment.

Back in the big room, in the relaxed yet fascinating conversation between long-time Fatboy Slim manager and founder of Anglo Management, Garry Blackburn, and Black Coffee’s manager, Alegria Agency’s Cristiana Votta, there was also a real feeling of intergenerational exchange in action — “the youth will learn from the older generation and vice versa”, as IMS co-founder Ben Turner had hoped in the introductions that started the day. “There’s no such thing as an average day in this business, that’s what I love the most about the job,” said Votta, with Blackburn in full agreement.

The same applies to IMS Ibiza. If day two is as insightful, inspiring — and surprising — as day one, we’re in for quite a ride.




QUOTES OF THE DAY
“Every initiative that makes it easier to live also makes it easier to create. A lot of government creative policy is focused on the arts, but if rent is too high, that will have a negative impact on creativity.” Elijah
“People talk about the gatekeepers having all gone. They haven’t, they’ve just been replaced by a new gatekeeper: the algorithm.” Mark Mulligan, MIDiA Research
“I owe my entire career as a DJ to radio. It goes beyond just the broadcasting. It provides this bridge between the real world and the online world. It provides connection.” Jaguar
“Afro house means I get to express myself in my most authentic way to the world: without changing myself.” Shimza
“I think many Spanish artists have been lazy. They haven’t taken the risk to go outside of their own country and push their careers. It’s all about attitude and networking. That’s why Paco Osuna has done so well — because he was focused.” Brian Cross, Live Nation Spain
“As artists we’re sponges. Wherever I’m lucky enough to travel, I make sure I go to local club nights, local record shops, try and meet local DJs in the studio, and that broadens my sound and my curation skills. I take inspiration from the noise and find the thing I want to share in the noise.” Chloé Caillet
“People want to buy an experience now rather than just a line-up. A brand like Elrow has shown you can create a brand and experience that’s not about a headliner.” Alex Montoya, Agent & Promoter, Analog Agency
“I think the next generation has to have its own ambition. They need to focus on the music and stick to their guns. They need to worry less about Instagram numbers and what everyone already likes, and push forward with the sounds that they believe in.” Martín Ferrer Vega, Amnesia
“I saw how successful Mochakk was on TikTok and Instagram. But when he then sent me 50 tracks, I knew that we had something real.” David De Valera, Founder & CEO / Director, Spike Management / Circulate
“You learn a lot being a manager about things you never thought you would… geography, immigration, divorce law!” Cristiana Votta, Manager, Alegria Agency
“I think a revelation for me was realising that I wasn't actually the boss in the relationship. All the best artists I’ve worked with know exactly what they want. They might be wrong… but you have to trust them while still having a voice and giving support.” Garry Blackburn, Founder/CEO, Anglo Management
“We’re the pioneers of this thing, we are the voice of this thing. Why would someone else tell us how this sound can be? We have the leverage to dictate where the sound is going. For us to limit where that sound would go is wrong. The canvas is clear: we can explore as much as we can without any fear or doubt.” Shimza




MS Ibiza 2025 - Day One Summary

The 16th edition of IMS Ibiza, in partnership with AlphaTheta, kicked off with a dynamic blend of thought-provoking discussions, cultural insights, and practical advice for the electronic music industry.

Setting the Tone:

Elijah opened the event, introducing the theme of Intergenerational Exchange. His thought-provoking address emphasized the importance of shared values—principles and ethics—that transcend generations. He challenged attendees to consider how they expand the possibilities of electronic music, highlighting the role of cultural continuity in passing the torch to future artists.

Business Insights:

Mark Mulligan of MIDiA Research presented the IMS Business Report, underscoring the growing global market value of electronic music, which reached $12.9 billion in 2024—a 6% year-on-year growth. However, he stressed that beyond numbers, it's the cultural impact and real-life experiences that truly drive the industry forward.

Global Cultural Highlights:

Afro house featured prominently, with industry leaders like Jackie Queens, Zakes Batwini, and Shimza sharing their optimism about its global rise. They celebrated the genre’s roots in Black lived experience, emphasizing spirituality, joy, and authenticity. The event also spotlighted the Middle East’s growing electronic scene, South Asia’s emerging influence, and Spain’s evolving live and recorded music market, reflecting IMS Ibiza’s truly global reach with delegates from over 50 countries.

Practical Industry Advice:

A packed session on How Managers Break Artists provided actionable tips from David De Valera (Mochakk), Guga Trevisani (Vintage Culture), and Sophia Kearney (HE.SHE.THEY.). Their advice ranged from strategic music releases to innovative management approaches.

Personal Stories and Emotional Moments:

In The Art of Areté area, Patrick Mason’s heartfelt conversation with Chloe Lula and Cecilia Bengolea delved into his personal journey of self-discovery through dance, culminating in a moving revelation about his family’s hidden connection to the voguing scene of 1980s NYC.

Intergenerational Wisdom:

The dialogue between Garry Blackburn (Fatboy Slim’s manager) and Cristiana Votta (Black Coffee’s manager) exemplified the day’s theme, showcasing how mutual learning between generations fosters industry growth.

Key Quotes:

“The bond across generations is principles and ethics.” — Elijah

“The numbers follow from the culture.” — Mark Mulligan

“Afro house means I get to express myself in my most authentic way.” — Shimza

“We’re the pioneers of this thing. We have the leverage to dictate where the sound is going.” — Shimza

Looking Ahead:

Day one set a high bar, blending grand cultural themes with practical industry insights. If day two matches its depth and inspiration, IMS Ibiza 2025 promises to be an unforgettable journey.

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06:09:00


 

IMS Ibiza unveiled during its first day the IMS Business Report 2025. Presented live at IMS Ibiza, the report returns for its eleventh edition, authored for the third year by MIDiA Research’s Mark Mulligan.

The report offers the definitive snapshot of the global electronic music economy, examining both its cultural resonance and commercial realities. With many key financial, economic and cultural findings in this year’s analys is broken down in detail highlighting major emerging themes which can help to guide and inform the industry.

MIDiA Research is a leading provider of research, analysis and data for the digital entertainment business, with a team of analysts and consultants focused on everything related to where tech and entertainment meet.
“Global music industry revenue grew again in 2024, though at a slower rate than in 2023 due to maturing streaming revenues and the post-covid live resurgence lessening. Electronic music however, continued to increase its share of both revenues and culture. Driven by the rise of new genres like Afro House, a renaissance for genres like Drum & Bass, and the rise of a new generation of fans, creators and scenes remaking electronic music in their own image, electronic music finds itself at the start of a brave new era of culture resonance.” MIDiA Research’s Mark Mulligan.
The global electronic music industry expanded to $12.9 billion in 2024, marking a 6% rise from 2023. While slightly slower than the previous year’s 9% growth, the gains reflect a maturing and resilient sector. Festivals and clubs remain the largest revenue source, but strong growth in publishing and hardware/software underline the industry’s multifaceted strength.
“The IMS Business Report continues to evolve each year, with more robust data and the benefit of over a decade of compilation — allowing us to truly compare and contrast the state of the electronic music industry. Our annual health check this year reflects continued growth and major developments: the Superstruct acquisition reshaping live, rising momentum in key genres like Afro House and Drum & Bass, ongoing catalogue acquisitions, and unprecedented engagement with the genre on cultural platforms such as TikTok.” IMS Co-Founder Ben Turner.
For the fifth consecutive year, independent labels increased market share, reaching 30% of global label revenues. While major labels remain dominant, regional and digitally native players in the global south are gaining ground, carving out space with localised scenes and culturally attuned content strategies.

Genres including Drum & Bass, Jungle, and UK Garage are undergoing a creative revival, particularly among younger audiences. Beatport data shows Afro House leapt from 23rd to 4th most searched genre, while SoundCloud saw a 100% increase in UK Garage uploads.

With 566 million new electronic music fans added across Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook in2024, the electronic music genre continues to outperform rivals like rock and indie. The format of fandom isshifting too — SoundCloud saw a 14% rise in plays across electronic genres, particularly in re-emerging micro-scenes such as UK Garage. 

Mexico, India, and Brazil drove subscriber and listener growth on Spotify, with Mexico’s listener base surging 60%year-on-year. Meanwhile, African genres including Afro House and Amapiano made significant strides, reflecting an electronic culture that is truly global, decentralised, and diverse.

Clearly demonstrating that Ibiza remains a global heartbeat of electronic music and unrivalled cultural touchstone for the global dance music community Ibiza club ticketing revenue reached €150 million. (This figure reflects ticketing only and does not include VIP sales, so the total value created for the local economy was even higher). This represents a 6% increase for the Balearic island despite a dip in event volumes, as ticket prices rose and demand for high-value experiences held strong.

The presence of electronic acts on global festival lineups hit 18%, up from 13% in 2021. Superstruct’s $1.4 billion acquisition highlighted the category’s commercial heat. Meanwhile, gender representation is shifting slowly but steadily: AlphaTheta’s registered female user base grew again in 2024, now at 16%.

2024 was also a breakout year for music AI, with 60 million users engaging music creation apps and 10% of consumers reporting having used generative AI to create music or lyrics. As a result, the line between fan and creator is becoming ever more fluid as AI, audio tools continue to democratise music creation.




Summary: The IMS Business Report 2025, authored by Mark Mulligan, highlights the global electronic music industry’s growth to $12.9 billion in 2024. The report underscores the industry’s resilience, driven by emerging genres, a resurgence in live events, and increased engagement on cultural platforms. Despite a slower growth rate compared to 2023, the industry’s expansion reflects its multifaceted strength and evolving landscape.


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