Since its inception in 2007, The International Music Summit (IMS) has been the go-to gathering for electronic music’s business brains and beat-makers alike. With co-founders like Pete Tong and Danny Whittle, and partners like AlphaTheta (yes, the gear gods behind Pioneer DJ), IMS is where the future of electronic music is debated, dissected, and occasionally danced to.
And according to the freshly dropped IMS Business Report 2025, the beat goes not just on—it goes up.
The Global Dancefloor Grows by Billions (and Millions of Fans)
The headline figure? A cool $12.9 billion. That’s the current valuation of the global electronic music industry, up 6% from 2023. Sure, it’s a slower tempo than last year’s 9% rise, but in a world where streaming growth is leveling out and post-COVID concert fatigue is real, that’s still an impressive encore.
A statement from the company discloses that “electronic music continued to increase its share of both revenues and culture,” driven by genre diversity, new fanbases, and a digitally remixed version of the global scene.
Leading the charge are Afro House and Drum & Bass—two genres that are having more than just a moment. Afro House vaulted up Beatport’s genre charts from 23rd to 4th (a jump that deserves its own DJ horn), and Drum & Bass is converting Gen Z rave babies at lightning speed.
Indies on the Rise, Majors on Notice
Independent labels now make up 30% of global label revenues. That’s right—the little guys with passion projects and niche followings are eating more of the pie, especially in emerging markets like Brazil, India, and the ever-rising music scene in Africa.
A statement from IMS co-founder Ben Turner reveals that the industry saw “rising momentum in key genres like Afro House and Drum & Bass” as well as “ongoing catalogue acquisitions, and unprecedented engagement with the genre on cultural platforms such as TikTok.” Translation: Everyone’s scrolling, everyone’s vibing, and everyone’s dancing—even if it’s just from the waist up on a livestream.
Ibiza’s Still the Crown Jewel (But Tickets Are... Pricey)
You can’t talk electronic music without mentioning Ibiza—and the island delivered, pulling in €150 million in club ticketing revenue in 2024. That’s despite fewer events, which only means one thing: higher ticket prices and even higher demand for bougie bottle-service experiences in Balearic bliss.
A statement from the company highlights that “this figure reflects ticketing only and does not include VIP sales, so the total value created for the local economy was even higher.” So if you’ve been wondering why your favorite DJ's Ibiza set costs more than your rent—there’s your answer.
Not Just a Sound—It’s a Movement
Electronic music fandom exploded by 566 million new fans in 2024 across Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, and the usual suspects. It’s not just that people are listening more—they’re creating more too. Thanks to A.I.-powered tools, 60 million users dipped their toes into music-making last year, and 1 in 10 consumers say they’ve used generative A.I. to produce tracks or lyrics.
A statement from MIDiA Research’s Mark Mulligan explains that the genre is “at the start of a brave new era of cultural resonance,” driven by a new wave of creators remixing the industry—literally.
The Future Sounds Like... Everyone
There’s more work to do on representation, but signs are promising: AlphaTheta reports that female users of its gear rose again in 2024, hitting 16%. Slowly but surely, the dancefloor’s diversifying.
Meanwhile, the line between artist and audience continues to blur, as platforms like SoundCloud and TikTok become launchpads for DJs, producers, and remixers coming from bedrooms instead of boardrooms.
So, what does it all mean? In short: electronic music isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving, morphing, and making room for a new generation of fans and creators. Whether you're a vinyl purist, a TikTok crate-digger, or an A.I. beat-builder, there’s never been a better time to plug in, turn up, and lose yourself to dance (or data).
And if you’re thinking of booking that Ibiza trip—maybe do it before the next IMS report drops. Those ticket prices are only going one way.
