#IMSAsiaPacific: Pete Tong, The Face Of IMS

The International Music Summit (IMS) is a 3-day electronic dance music (EDM) conference that takes place in Ibiza, and who better to spearhead the summit but the influential Pete Tong? Of course, you also know him as the main man at BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix and Essential Selection, a globe-trotting DJ, a producer, and label owner. He has even been handed an MBE by the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William!

There are few individuals in the world of dance music who can claim the kind of influence Pete Tong has had over the last 20 years. As the voice of Radio 1’s prestigious dance programming, Pete has held a commanding presence over the industry for more than 2 decades. With an unparalleled ear for new talent, Tong has become the leading tastemaker of the electronic generation. While he’s known publicly as Pete Tong the DJ, behind the scenes, he’s an industry icon.

Also the driving force behind IMS.

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Now in its 7th year, Pete Tong describes IMS Ibiza’s annual electronic music conference as “an intense networking environment with the glamour and glitz of my favourite party island of Ibiza, but with a Back to Business ethos and leading into the official Ibiza opening party weekend”.

IMS Ibiza has since become an annual fixture (the 2012 summit was held in May). Interestingly, the first IMS in 2008 and was open to only 300 delegates. But in 2009, the number of delegate badges available was increased to 400, and saw the addition exhibition space for 30 companies.

Fast forward to 2014, IMS continues to pave the way in the electronic music industry. Described by many as “the TED of music conferences”, 3 IMS panels in 2013 were voted in the top 10 electronic music debates of all-time by Beatport. This year, for the first time ever, the world’s most influential electronic music summit will make its way to Asia in Singapore on 11th Dec.

A forum for music technology collaboration and creation, this is where the biggest minds in music come together to create new dance music apps, exclusive remixes, and music technology trials. IMS also showcases opportunities for the newest breakthrough artistes and record labels. And yes, his forum is just one of the many things attendees of the IMS Asia-Pacific should be looking forward to with great anticipation.

Now, who knew that setting up a mobile disco based in a transit van would’ve gotten Pete Tong this far, as far as becoming not just the face of IMS but also the global ambassador for electronic music? ;)

Watch the highlights from IMS Ibiza 2014 here: