The 6th International Music Summit in Ibiza, the electronic music platform which recently branched out with IMS Engage in Los Angeles, has reported its biggest year to date. The event has grown steadily throughout the last six years, but its turning point came last year with the huge interest in the genre from investors and large promoting companies. In 2013, IMS reached new heights, with tickets being taken off sale two days before the launch and the Ibiza Gran Hotel being sold out weeks in advance.

IMS 2013’s high points included keynotes from Jean Michel Jarre, Sven Vath, Nile Rodgers returning for a second year in a row “post Daft Punk” plus blogger Bob Lefsetz cut to the chase with two hard-hitting statements. Perhaps the biggest story to emerge from IMS was the news that the annual IMS Anthem, created each year by an artist nominated by the event partners, was to be auctioned off for charity. This was a reaction to it being created by Nile Rodgers and remixed by Eats Everything – two of the hottest names around at the moment, the former for producing Daft Punk. IMS will reveal full details this week about how to bid for the record – with the advance fee going to the cancer charity set-up by Rodgers.

Key highlights from the event were:

• IMS Business Report announced that the genre is now worth $4.5 billion a year globally. Vegas now contributes $600 million in direct revenues alone. And the industry has seen over $300 million in acquisition in the last 12 months from just Live Nation and SFX Entertainment, with more expected. USA digital track sales have grown to over three times that of other major genres

• Pioneer Jean Michel Jarre became the second ambassador for AFEM: Association for Electronic Music, created by IMS Partner Ben Turner with attorney Kurosh Nasseri. He joins Nile Rodgers, with the pair meeting on stage at IMS for the very first time

• Fatboy Slim being given the IMS Legends Award in a plush dinner at Cipriani – completed with video messages from Iggy Pop, David Byrne, Carl Cox and more. The dinner is held annually and is partnered with Nokia Music

• Long serving Def Mix agency / management company creator Judy Weinstein presented with the IMS Pioneer Award by her own artist David Morales plus industry rivals David Levy (WME) and Maria May (CAA) in an emotional moment on stage

Key quotes from IMS 2103 were:
 
Patrick Moxey, Ultra Records: “There is no bubble to burst, because everything you see (in electronic music) is organic.”

Marc Geiger, WME: “EDM is big money, and with big money comes the responsibility to grow up. You’re seeing the cultural plotting of electronic music all over the world. The ‘boom boom’ is just the beginning.”

Bob Lefsetz: “If you get offered the cheque, take the cheque!”  “If you’re watching TV and relaxing, you’ll never be successful. Don’t give me the excuse that you don’t have time to tweet.”

Paul Van Dyk: “There is no artist identity anymore. If you’re in front of the stage for five hours, you’re hearing all the same things.”

Stephen Greene, RockCorps: “Social responsibility in electronic music is about making ‘giving back’ part of youth culture.”

Valentino Barrioseta, Bridges for Music: “Kids will listen more to Skrillex than Obama. Electronic artists have a huge amount of influence and responsibility now.”

Fatboy Slim: “We all benefit (from commercialism), so we can’t afford to be sniffly about it.”