Findings presented at IMS Ibiza highlight pressure from social media and barriers for emerging talent.
Photo credit: Benjamin Lehman on Unsplash
A new survey conducted by the Pete Tong DJ Academy has revealed pressing concerns among emerging DJs and producers about the state of the electronic music industry. Shared during a talk by the academy CEO, Alex Tripi, at the International Music Summit (IMS) on April 23rd, the study compiled insights from over 15,000 users of the platform.
Key results show that 62% of respondents feel the electronic music industry operates like a “closed club,” limiting access to new artists. Additionally, 61% believe that social media presence now outweighs musical skill in terms of importance.
Mental health remains another major area of concern, with 52% of participants reporting experiences of anxiety or burnout, and 31% admitting they had considered quitting music in the past year. While 35% of respondents maintained an optimistic outlook, believing that ‘if you persist and have resilience, it will happen,’ the data paints a sobering picture of the pressures faced by upcoming talent.
The survey feeds into the broader discussion at this year’s IMS, themed ‘Intergenerational Exchange.’
