Ibiza Global Festival has faced criticism for its alleged practice of charging DJs to perform at its annual event. French DJ Arnaud Le Texier posted an email on social media that was sent to one of his students. According to the email, the festival charges €5000 for a slot, which includes the promotion before, during, and after the event. Le Texier called it a “new low” for the electronic music industry. German DJ and producer Lars Behrenroth followed suit, commenting, “See, everyone can play Ibiza. This is what the Ibiza Global Festival is apparently doing… time to get into the promoter business, I guess.”
Despite the criticism, the festival organisers maintain that it is a “huge opportunity” to perform. They also noted the “consistent cost” the annual event needs to meet to take place each year. Ibiza Global Festival takes place in San Antonio and will return from August 9-10, 2024, for its third edition. Past headliners include Roger Sanchez, Amémé, and Nic Fanciulli.
The controversy with Ibiza Global Festival comes at a time when the financial sustainability of musicians is being called into question. A recent study revealed that 76% of new artists say their careers in music are financially unviable. Of those surveyed, 82% hold jobs unrelated to electronic music to support themselves, with 56% working full-time and 26% with part-time employment.
Despite the professed “huge opportunity” the Ibiza Global Festival presents, many see the fee-for-play practice as having a detrimental effect on the electronic music industry. As electronic music has evolved and expanded globally, it has brought with it new challenges, including issues of transparency and fair payment for artists
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