IMS begins, Mike Pickering keynote

IMS 2010 kicked off with a business report by Kevin Watson - Saying that Dance DJs, producers are getting ever more popular. DJs like Guettas and Tiesto have almost as many internet searches as Black Eyed Peas and twice as many as kings of leon.Mike Pickering - Hacienda, Deconstruction - takes to the stage for opening keynote.  He's just relaunched deconstruction.   Talks about his days with Factory, New Order, Joy Division.  In the early / mid 80s, he put a 12" that got noticed by Larry Levan, so played at the Paradise Garage, Danceteria.  This helped create the blueprint for the Hacienda.  Mike DJ'd and booked the acts there for 11.5 years.  Factory never wanted to start a dance label, Tony saying at the time "darling, dance music will never happen"  Mike created another record, getting plays on Kiss and other pirate radio. but they couldn't get it signed.  So they started Deconstruction.  Cute story about M People's Heather Small singing on Ride on Time.  Also had hits by Lionrock, Felix and, er Kylie.Mike things it's all going to happen again. One the one hand, plenty of raves in East london, Coachella - Deadmau5, 2manyDJs, Hawtin, Etienne D'Crecy.  Chairman of Sony Ged Doherty approached Mike saying 'we have to have a dance label'.  He's given Mike carte blanche.  Says it's all about fair deals that work for the artist.  They've done deal with 360 (managers of Deadmau5, Calvin Harris).  Says it was a nightmare getting a major label to sell music to Beatportal.  And yet Sony spend 00 of £000s of pounds on remixes..  He's now getting the old catalogue re-released.  SIgned Axwell from Swedish House Mafia, also Retrograde - dirty italo house.  Says Merchandising is becoming an important new income stream - eg.  Deadmau5 iPod speakers.Announces that CALVIN HARRIS has become Mike's AnR man at Deconstruction!!!Mike's also taken a high level merchandiser aboard.  Has had meetings with Lacoste, Urban Outfitters...