Ministry of Sound started out as a nightclub in London, but has since diversified into a multimedia entertainment business. In addition to the nightclub, it is an independent record label and worldwide events brand with a radio station and other media outlets. Ministry of Sound began as the brainchild of Justin Berkmann. Inspired by New York’s Paradise Garage, Berkmann set out to create London’s first club devoted to the American house music scenes of 1980s New York, Chicago and Detroit, with a room purely dedicated to sound. Berkmann stated: “My concept for Ministry was purely this: 100% sound system first, lights second, design third (in that order); the reverse of everyone else’s idea.”Berkmann partnered with James Palumbo and Humphrey Waterhouse to realise the concept and a site, a disused bus garage was located in Elephant & Castle in Southwark, London. The club opened on 21 September 1991. With opening sets from American house DJs such as Larry Levan, David Morales, Roger Sanchez and Tony Humphries, Ministry of Sound quickly grew in popularity as a clubbing venue. It now attracts around 300,000 clubbers per year and has hosted sets from popular DJs including: Tiesto, David Guetta, Sasha, Pete Tong and Armin Van Buuren. The nightclub was recently ranked seventh in the 2013 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll and has won the IDMA ‘World’s Best Sound System’ award four years in a row. Ministry of Sound is owned by Ministry of Sound Group Limited, which also owns the Hed Kandi music and events brand. James Palumbo is Chairman of the Group. In 2008, he handed over the day-to-day running of the business to current Chief Executive Officer Lohan Presencer. Ministry of Sound’s existence has been threatened on a number of occasions by nearby redevelopment in Elephant & Castle. The most notable concerned the redevelopment of Eileen House, a tower block opposite the nightclub’s entrance. From 2009 to 2014, Ministry of Sound fought various public campaigns to save the club from the threat of closure. These culminated in a hearing before Mayor of London Boris Johnson at City Hall in November 2013. On 19 December 2013, a landmark legal deal was agreed between Ministry of Sound and the developer Oakmayne to enable Eileen House to be redeveloped without jeopardising the club’s future. he Artist & Repertoire division was established in the early 1990s with releases on a ‘Sound of Ministry’ label imprint. Sound of Ministry was superseded by in-house labels Open, Data, Substance, Smoove and Rulin’, which between them released a string of UK and international chart hits.
In 2009, the artist labels were consolidated under ‘Ministry of Sound Recordings’. The first artist signed was Example, who achieved two UK number 1 records, 3 top 10s, 2 top 20s, 2 gold albums and 1 platinum number 1 selling album, ‘Playing In The Shadows’. Other notable label signings include Wretch 32, DJ Fresh and, more recently, London Grammar, whose debut album ‘If You Wait’ reached platinum sales status in the UK, gold status in France and recently hit number 1 on the iTunes Album Chart in Australia. In 2014, London Grammar were nominated for ‘British Breakthrough Act’ at the BRIT Awards. ‘If You Wait’ was also named iTunes ‘Album of the Year 2013’The artist label also continue to release dance singles, achieving three number 1 records in the UK in 2013 with Bingo Players Feat. Far East Movement ‘Get Up (Rattle)’, Duke Dumont Feat. A*M*E ‘Need U (100%)’ and Storm Queen ‘Look Right Through’. The label has had 18 UK no.1 records since its inception. The Compilations business was first established in 1993 with the release of Sessions Volume One, a compilation album of dance music mixed by Tony Humphries. The album was a commercial success, paving the way for a business which has now sold more than 55 million compilation albums worldwide. In 2012, MistaJam (of BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra) founded an imprint of Ministry of Sound, entitled Speakerbox. The label has released music from Liam Bailey, Jacob Plant, Majestic, Micky Slim, Apexape, Chris Lorenzo, DECiBEL, DJ Swerve vs. OGz and BassBoy. It was responsible for releasing Secondcity’s song “I Wanna Feel”, which topped the UK Singles Chart, and the follow-up single “What Can I Do?”. Ministry of Sound and its subsidiary brand Hed Kandi host approximately 1,500 international events annually across the world. SubBass Academy of Electronic Music have hosted monthly club nights in The Loft at Ministry of Sound’s Gallery for the last 10 years. SubBass tutors including Ministry of Sound regulars Graeme Lloyd and D. Ramirez often play alongside accomplished student DJs who have completed SubBass DJ courses. Ministry of Sound Radio is an online only service broadcasting 24-hours a day from Ministry of Sound’s offices adjacent to the nightclub. The station’s output is solely focused on dance music and its schedule is made up of non-stop music throughout the day and specialist content in the evening with weekly sets from popular international DJs. Each weekend Ministry of Sound Radio exclusively streams sets live from the nightclub. It also produces several syndicated radio shows broadcast on radio stations all over the world.
A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration of a special occasion. A party will typically feature food and beverages, and often music and dancing or other forms of entertainment. here is no doubting that the biggest phenomenon to hit Ibiza in the few years has been the return of the outdoor party. Daytime is challenging night-time in vying for the affection of the seasoned Ibiza clubber and the newbies can’t get enough of beach beats or the party by the pool. More and more exclusive beach clubs are popping up and some of the finest outdoor pools on the planet can be found on the island, making sure that partying while the sun is still up is the only way to spend those long, hot days. It’s not a new thing for Ibiza, the outdoor party has been a staple of the island for decades, it was only in its more recent history that some of the legendary venues were asked to put roofs on their terraces. The switch from night to day is the big development and it has really taken the island by storm. Ushuaia can claim to have played a role in the change, with its stunning stage overlooking Playa d’en Bossa Beach. On the other side of the island Ocean Beach has given the people of San Antonio a genuine beach club experience, with a stunning pool as the focal point. Beach clubs are dotted all over the island, Salinas boasts a few, with Sa Trinxa and Jockey Club perhaps the best known and Cala Nova has Atzaro Beach and Cala Jondal has the island’s most famous beach club, Blue Marlin Ibiza but Bossa Beach has to be considered the epicentre of the Ibiza beach club extravaganza, often being compared to Miami’s South Beach. The long stretch of golden sand is home to the likes of Nassau, Sirocco, Ushuaia, Bora Bora, Coco Beach and the recently opened Jag. Whatever type of daytime experience that you are looking for, Ibiza is more than able to meet your expectations, whether it is the crazy beach party vibe of Bora Bora, the chilled, relaxed tranquility of Nassau, the affluent designer day out with Blue Marlin Ibiza, watching superstars on the iconic stage of Ushuaia or getting your groove on in Ocean Beach Ibiza’s sexy pool, the party scene is evolving and beach wear is the new black!
After your beach attire has been sorted, your biggest decision will be when to book your beds. Short answer, as early as possible. These beach clubs are filling up as fast as the legendary venues that host the nocturnal activity. Blue Marlin Ibiza on a Sunday for example can be as tricky to secure a booking for as Guetta on a Thursday night in Pacha. That’s how popular they are! To make sure you’re holiday goes exactly as you planned, get your day time bookings made before you leave the house. Unlike your club tables, you can usually choose where you want your bed to be and enjoying a luxurious day at the beach or by one of the spectacular pools is made all the better knowing you got exactly what you wanted. Nikki Beach is one of the world’s most recognized beach concepts, with a global community that drops into its numerous locations in the world’s most spectacular holiday destinations. When Nikki Beach Ibiza opened in the North East of the island in 2013, there may have been a few raised eyebrows and quizzical looks that it should choose the tranquil location, but the breathtaking view from S’Argamassa has proved to be an inspirational home for Nikki Beach and one that has attracted its existing fans as well as winning many more. Thursday April 30 is the date of the 2015 season opening, offering locals that may be too busy once the season really kicks in a chance to sample the unique vibe that the world famous concept delivers.
A massive sound system, huge dancefloor and a staggering roster of big name DJs has made sure of Ministry of Sound’s place in clubbing folklore. The opening night back in 1991 heralded the explosion of superclubs across the UK. Boasting a crisp, clear, thumpingly loud sound system, and some of the best house DJs of the era, the club attracted thousands of hedonists south of the Thames every weekend. This giddy ascendancy was subsequently translated into various record labels, a clothing company and sister clubs across the globe. Of course, success on such a scale never lasts, least of all in clubland, and the buzz around the venue had stagnated by the late ‘90s. Thankfully the last few years have seen the brains behind the operation quit resting on their laurels and sort it out. A welcome refurbishment of the interior and a creative injection into the DJ line-up means that Ministry is still well worth a look.