Three electronic music stalwarts have surely been doing a little celebrating lately after winning audience awards for their consistent dedication to both the scene and the music. Bill Kelly, founder of the Winter Music Conference and Miami's Ultra Music Festival both took home special trophies at the recent DJ Awards held in Ibiza, Spain while the South By Southwest Conference, dubbed the "biggest industry party in the world" was awarded the title of Best Party of the Year by the Austin Chronicle.
Every year Ibiza's DJ Awards recognize dance music's notable players, legends and up and coming talent with the coveted Kryptonite award. With categories for best clubs, producers, party nights and DJ's in just about every electronic genre from house to techno and downtempto, the nominee list regularly reads like a who's who in the international dance community. The 11th annual awards, held September 25 at Pacha, one of Ibiza's original super plush super clubs, saw Kelly and Ultra at the head of the pack winning the Outstanding Dedication and Best International Music Festival trophies, respectively.
When Kelly and partner Louis Possenti first started WMC in 1985, it's doubtful they imagined that it would turn into the go to spot for the electronic music community. Music is premiered, artists are signed and "next big thing" are crowned at the week long event that last year included over 500 events and 2000 performances presented at more than 100 venues throughout Miami.
Traditionally taking place during the same week in March as WMC, the Ultra Music Festival has been steadily increasing it's audience and international reputation for the last 10 years. The 2 day homage to all things electronic features multiple stages and tents brimming with every genre and maddeningly specific subgenre of electronic music under the sun. No doubt it was the organizer's near obsessive dedication to inclusion that earned them top honors.
If any word were to sum up Austin's annual South By Southwest Conference, obsessive is right up there. If WMC is revolves around the dance music planet, then South By Southwest is the Universe that contains it. Music showcases, hob nobbing events, workshops, lectures and anything and everything dedicated to music and the technology that support it have a place at this Austin festival that's been a crucial part of the many music fan's diets for the past 20 years. The Austin Chronicle praised the event for delivering "Cutting-edge multimedia technology" and "panels people talk about for years and music so cool you won't hear about it until next month."Congratulations to the winners and keep the tunes coming.
