Dance music panels and conferences are more important than ever

And while you might expect the guy who runs one of the world’s most renowned music conferences to highlight their importance, it’s hard to argue with the notion that they can potentially be a real catalyst for progress and change. Just take a glance at the jam-packed programme for this year’s ADE: among the countless label showcases and parties taking place across an astonishing 100+ venues, there’s a chance for students interested in getting involved in the dance music industry to learn more about a world that can often seem impenetrable from the outside, at ADE University. At IMS this year, Erick Morillo candidly opened up about his problems with drug addiction, an issue that can face many people in dance music but which gets overlooked in a world where excess is often considered the norm. The main reason he gave was that he wanted to warn the next generation of the potential pitfalls they might face in this industry.

While, as Ed Karney puts it, sitting in on a panel discussion “isn’t exactly going to reopen Fabric”, a few days of taking stock
of what’s happening in dance music and thinking about how we can make positive changes can only be a good thing.

“There’s a fine line between sitting on a panel and saying ‘Oh, isn’t it awful, I wish things would change” and actually doing something,” he explains. “But at IMS this year there was a panel where B.Traits met Fiona Measham (of charity The Loop, which promotes drug safety) and that’s what led to on-site drug testing at Secret Garden Party this year. That shows how these things can be a real catalyst for change.”

So if you’re heading to any conferences or summits in future, try and hit up the panels alongside the parties. Or just go clubbing for a week and watch them back on YouTube. It’s the thought that counts.

Sean Griffiths is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow him on Twitter

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