Graphite and IMS partner with W Hotels to provide music curation and brand association in electronic music

Graphite Media, partners in the Ibiza International Music Summit, have announced a strategic partnership with the W Hotels to facilitate credible and unique links to the music industry as part of the W Hotels brand's global entertainment and music strategy.Graphite will assist in delivering W Hotels as an iconic brand  on the edge of  the newest and  coolest music and to further its commitment to artist relationships. The first part of this deal will be an association with the Ibiza International Music Summit, the industry conference-cum-festival of which Graphite founder Ben Turner is a partner alongside Pete Tong.The partnership kicks off with a press launch at the opening party of the new poolside Wet Deck at the fabulous W Barcelona hotel. Heralding the start of this year’s International Music Summit in Ibiza the following day, W Barcelona welcomes dance music legends Pete Tong (an IMS partner) and Tom Middleton to kick-start the party, spinning one of the first sets of the summer.W hotels Global Music Director Michelangelo L’ Acqua, will present at IMS Ibiza 2010 (May 26-28), to a delegation of leaders in electronic music and supporting brands, under the banner: "Lifestyle hotel music direction and programming to global jetset”.The W Hotels brand is focused on music, design, architecture, fashion and entertainment as key “passion points”. These touch points regularly come to life within spectacular W Happenings – insider events charged by the brand’s passion for creating credible and unique links to leaders within these creative fields, which take place throughout their 36 global hotels.Ben Turner, Graphite founder and partner in IMS said: “This is a dream association for Graphite and IMS. Graphite and its clients represent the sophisticated end of electronic music, so to work with W Hotels so closely is a really inspiring scenario for me and my team. Electronic music has taken our scene to every corner of the globe, and hotels like W are an intrinsic part of our enjoyed experience. So much networking, creative thinking and socialising takes place in W Hotels, so we look forward to dreaming up unique music partnerships that complement both their hotel experience and our global industry.”Robyn Pratt, Vice President for Design and Luxury Brands for Starwood EAMEl said: We are delighted to work with IMS and Graphite on our Wet Deck opening event at W Barcelona to launch what will be the hot spot  over the summer season and playing host to a range of legendary figures in dance music.About Graphite Graphite is a management and music brand partnerships company, founded and owned by music industry pioneer Ben Turner. Formed in London in 2001, Graphite is a stamp of authority and quality in the music, brand and lifestyle world. It operates globally, managing artists and brand relationships worldwide. Turner has 20 years experience in music across all media, events and brand partnerships. Graphite have managed the career of Rob da Bank from his early days as a teaboy at Muzik Magazine, a publication Turner co-founded and edited. Graphite work across all his projects, including being directors of both Bestival and Camp Bestival, and also the Sunday Best Record label. Graphite also manage Tom Middleton and represent Richie Hawtin / Plastikman. Graphite are experts in the curation and delivery of brand and music partnerships, having worked closely with Smirnoff Experience, Orange, Sony Ericsson, Sony Playstation, Budweiser, Jack Daniels, Vauxhall Corsa and many others. Graphite are also partners in leading under-age brand Let’s Go Crazy, and the International Musc Summit in Ibiza.About W Hotels Worldwide®W Hotels is an innovative, contemporary, design-led lifestyle brand and the hotel category buster with 36 hotels and retreats in the most vibrant cities and exotic destinations around the world. Inspiring, iconic, innovative and influential, W Hotels provides the ultimate in insider access to a world of "Wow." Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design and passions around fashion, music and entertainment.  W Hotels offers a holistic lifestyle experience that is integrated into the brand's sensibility through contemporary restaurant concepts, glamorous nightlife experiences, stylish retail concepts and signature spas.  With more than 10 years of proven success, W Hotels is on track to more than double its footprint by 2011. W Hotels and W Retreats have been announced for Downtown New York, London, Paris, St. Petersburg, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Bali, Vieques Island, Koh Samui, and Verbier, among other international destinations. For more information, visit www.whotels.com