Emerging DJs believe clout is being favoured over craft in IMS survey

This year’s International Music Summit (IMS) has been in full force, taking place from 23rd to 25th April in Ibiza. Established in 2007, the conference invites faces from all corners of the electronic music industry for talks, insights, networking, and more. This year’s theme has been based around ‘Intergenerational Exchange’, focusing on mental health and examining perceived elitism in the industry. 

Yesterday, the results from a survey conducted by the Pete Tong DJ Academy were shared during a talk on ‘How The Next Generation Will Redefine The Scene’, hosted by Academy CEO Alex Tripi. With insights gathered from over 15,000 emerging artists, the survey uncovered concerns about the industry’s accessibility, its reliance on social media, and the mental wellbeing of those within it. 

Some of the main takeaways from the survey include the perception from 62% of emerging DJs and producers that “the electronic music industry is a closed club.” A popular sentiment from 61% of the artists queried was the dominance of social media in dance music, which has taken precedence over craftsmanship, expressing the view that “I feel today social media matters more than musical skill.” A 24-year-old DJ-producer from France echoed these remarks, lamenting that “Every post feels like a test. If it flops I feel like a failure.”

While the findings illustrate the need to improve mental health within the industry, with 52% those surveyed saying they suffered from anxiety or exhaustion and 31% having contemplated leaving the industry, there is still an undercurrent of resilience and optimism. Amidst the endless electronic music rat races and pressures to succeed, 35% believe that perseverance can still help rising artists carve out a career.

This year’s summit shows that work needs to be done, and can be done. Keep connected and join the conversation at International Music Summit’s website here. 

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