The International Music Summit (IMS)

The International Music Summit (IMS) is set to return to Ibiza on May 27-29th 2009 after swiftly establishing itself as one of the most talked about music conferences of the year. Last year’s hugely successful inaugural summit brought together 300 of the most influential players at the cutting edge of the electronic music industry, marking the successful arrival of the key business and networking event in the dance music calendar.

Pete Tong, summit co-founder states "what happened in Ibiza [last year] will impact our future and the way the music industry moves forward. The response was overwhelming; people walked away with ideas for the future, with new relationships forged from different aspects of electronica and the film and brand industry. In 2009, we aim to build on this with some exciting new initiatives to be announced in Ibiza.”

The IMS has set a new standard for conference content, bringing together provocative thought leaders from in and beyond the music industry. With the fall out from the world economic crisis leaving few in the industry unscathed, IMS:09 will set the tone for how electronic culture responds to rapidly changing challenges. With no panel overlaps, delegates can attend each and every element of the experience curated by the IMS, creating a unique focus around the key topics on everyone’s agenda, whilst the luxurious surroundings of the new Ibiza Gran Hotel provide all with the space to network, think, and debate the future of their companies.

Co-founder and curator Ben Turner states: "Keeping the intimacy and quality of delegates to the dealmakers is of huge importance to us and those returning for a second year. We aim for the electronic industry to use these three days as a platform to debate but also unveil their plans and visions for the genre’s future. We have some special announcements to make on guest attendees, watch this space..."

Set again at a special location in Ibiza, the IMS's three intense days of business programming, networking and activity will lead straight into the official opening weekend of the Ibiza season. There will again be a very limited number of delegate badges available, increased in 2009 by 100 places to 400 due to the immense demand. Yes, the International Music Summit will continue to be the G8 of music conferences!

The IMS will mark the start of the Ibiza season with a spectacular outdoor finale, featuring the hottest live acts, DJs, and of course, Pete Tong. Ibiza’s Consell Insular (the local governing body), are working closely with IMS to create a spectacular stature event to end the summit.

IMS:09 will also see the introduction of an exhibition space for 30 companies only, all approved by the IMS board, as well as IMS: The Manual, a definitive guide for all registered delegates to take home. Central to the event is the exclusive five-star accommodation at the Ibiza Gran Hotel, for which the IMS has again secured an incredible discount price for all delegates.

What some of last year’s attendees thought…

David Glick, founder of Edge Group (investment):

“The IMS has spotted a real need for a high quality, invitation-only event focusing on the top people in the electronic music market and has brought them together with a range of high quality speakers. I was delighted to be invited. I learned a lot and I had a great time – hard not to in Ibiza! A really first rate event.”

Francois Kevorkian (artist):

“The best dance music conference I’ve ever attended.”

Randy Reed, Red Light, (management, Sasha, James Zabiela):

“To me IMS was a grand vision – actualised. Most of the delegates seem to have been in the business for at least 10 years, many spoke of 20 year benchmarks. And yet we all seemed to still be searching and striving to push the boundaries, to explore the edges, and to keep infusing electronic music and the business associated with it into fresh and exciting new territory. I’ll be back annually for this summit.”

Layo Paskin from Layo & Bushwacka! and The End (artist, club owner)

“I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the IMS, both as a participant and as part of the audience. It was refreshing and really interesting on many, many levels, I look very much forward to next year.”

Ralf Lulsdorf, T-Mobile (head of music):

“Honestly I had no big expectations when I got the invitation for the IMS, but it was really a big surprise. There are big opportunities to play an important role in the international music congress scene and Ibiza is a perfect spot to discuss the latest trends and developments in the music and club scene”

Adam Wolf, Pig Factory (synchronisation):

“An amazing success. The conference provided a unique environment where professionals from all capacities of the electronic music industry could network, learn, and plan for the future, in an ideal setting. I look forward to next year’s event.”

Rob Da Bank, Sunday Best and BBC Radio 1 (artist, DJ, festival owner, broadcaster):

“How refreshing to go to the original party island of Ibiza and meet so many intelligent creative dudes all fired up to sort out the music industry in so many ways.. I'll definitely be back!”

Simon Hart, Pioneer (technology, event partner):

“Just what the industry needed, lots of raw energy from people I never thought I'd see in the same room together, let alone on a panel board!”

INAUGURAL YEAR DELEGATE - EARLY BIRD DEALS:

Please visit our website www.internationalmusicsummit.com to view the special registration offers available to all the IMS:08 Delegates along with Early Bird deals, registration prices, packages and a general overview of the upcoming event.