IMS Co-Founder, Ben Turner, Honoured At Ibiza DJ Awards
Ibiza 29th September 2010 – Cementing a successful year that saw the Ibiza International Music Summit he co-founded double in size, Ben Turner was last night presented with the award for Outstanding Dedication at the Ibiza DJ Awards. The award is recognition of the pivotal role Turner has played in shaping, nurturing and influencing the electronic music scene over the past two decades.Starting his career at weekly music paper Melody Maker, Turner soon made a name for himself launching the influential dance music magazine Muzik in 1995, aged just 21. Today Turner owns music and media company Graphite, which represents the likes of Richie Hawtin Rob da Bank and Tom Middleton and acts as a broker between the music industry and some of the world’s leading consumer brands.In 2008 he co-founded the Ibiza International Music Summit with a number of partners including Pete Tong, an annual event that has swiftly established itself as the must attend event for the dance music community. It's been dubbed "the Ted (conference) for electronic music". Held in May, IMS’s three days of debates, panels, workshops and label showcases has become the de-facto launch of the Ibiza season.A director of Rob da Bank's Bestival and Camp Bestival festivals, one of the UK’s leading independent music festivals, in 2008 Turner co-founded and is deputy chair of the UK’sAssociation of Independent Festivals, whose members include Creamfields, Get Loaded in the Park, WOMAD, Green Man and Field Day. Turner also works closely with influential music properties such as the aspirational global clubbing institution Pacha and youth lifestyle brand Let's Go Crazy.Said Ben Turner “I’m honoured to receive this award for Outstanding Dedication from my peers in the electronic music industry. I've attended this event for many years, and run electronic awards shows myself over the years, so its an honour to be on the receiving end. It's 20 years in 2010 since I first worked at Melody Maker, so it's a special year for me to get this when you also consider all that is happening to electronic music culture around the world."Now in its 13th year The DJ Awards was created to recognise and celebrate both the world’s best DJs and those behind the scenes who have contributed to the continued success of the electronic dance music scene. This annual event is the only international DJ awards ceremony to be held in Ibiza which, during the summer months, is the dance music capital of the world.