SFX and Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment team up to create the "ULTIMATE DJ" show

Source: Simon Cowell's FB Page

This morning SFX released a press release announcing a new partnership and Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment and T-Mobile to create a brand new music show competition called the "ULTIMATE DJ". This idea of a DJ reality show has been with Simon Cowell for some time now as he once tried to bring it to fruition all the way back in 2012. But now with SFX as a partner, which has been described as a "real game-changer", it looks like Simon Cowell's DJ show is finally becoming a reality. 

Here's how the "ULTIMATE DJ" show is going to work: 

"Launching initially online, the music event competition will feature producer-challenges where DJs will be invited to submit recordings for fan voting via social media. From there, the competition will move on to live challenges and performances in SFX event venues, integrating next-generation production design from SFX partner companies."

Robert FX Sillerman, the Chaiman and CEO of SFX said that "building a TV franchise in the USA is a key part of that strategy". Now that the concept of a DJ show is becoming a reality, I just hope that they get it right and showcase our scene in the best of light. This show will certainly not appeal to everyone currently enjoying our music, especially within the underground scene. But if the "ULTIMATE DJ" manages to create new electronic dance music fans and allows for greater acceptance within the general population, then it will be positive. 

I'll keep an open mind about the upcoming "ULTIMATE DJ" show, and hope that the collective brain power over at SFX and Syco will make sure that the series avoids the cliched reality TV pitfalls. 

The start time of the "ULTIMATE DJ" show is still unknown but if you want to read the full press release, click here. 

SFX and Clear Channel come together to create a top 20 Beatport countdown radio show

As reported by Billboard:

"Perhaps most significant, however, is a weekly Beatport Top 20 Countdown, which will air on at least 10 major-market Clear Channel stations, including Z100/WHTZ in New York and KIIS-FM in L.A.  Beatport’s Top 10 chart is already one of EDM’s primary bellwethers, signaling a new potential star or dominant hit on the current festival-driven scene. But artists with big Beatport tracks don’t always “crossover,” lacking a platform beyond the site to grow."

This is great news and hopefully this partnership will create a lot of new fans.

SFX acquires the organizers behind Electric Zoo

Here's a snippet of the original statement about the SFX acquisition of the makers of Electric Zoo, Made Events:

"Although Electric Zoo will continue to be developed by the same team that has been on board since its inception, being part of something larger provides us with many new opportunities, like exciting technology that will improve the festival experience both online and at our events, creative collaboration with other SFX companies, and bringing Electric Zoo to new locations around the globe." 

Does that mean Electric Zoo might hop the border north to Canada? Here's what the CEO/Chairman of SFX, Mr. Robert F.X Sillerman had to say about the deal:  

"In a separate statement on the purchase, SFX chairman and CEO Robert F.X. Sillerman described Bindra and De Palma, as "the ultimate industry professionals," and said that they plan "to develop the Electric Zoo brand internationally and have the opportunity to build other SFX brands in the U.S. with the support of Mike, Laura and the team at Made."

Sounds ambitious. When I went to Electric Zoo back in 2011, it was one of the best organized EDM events that I've ever experienced.

 (Source: Resident Advisor)

 

Tomorrowland and Sensation now 100% owned by SFX

As reported by inthemix from the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE):  

 “Instead of the previous 75-percent, ID&T is now going to be 100-percent owned by SFX. Now it’s very clear, I work for SFX." - Duncan Stutterheim of ID&T

ID&T, the Dutch company behind such events like Tomorrowland/World and Sensation is now 100% owned by Robert Sillerman's SFX. What's next? Later in the article it was revealed that SFX might be close to buying out a ticketing business.

SFX hints of their futures plans for Beatport

​It goes well beyond just selling electronic dance music tracks online.

Quoted from Chris Stephenson, the CMO of SFX:

"We’ll use the Beatport platform to help promote events, and the event audiences to help promote awareness of Beatport,"

“There’s a mobile opportunity not only to take your music on the road, but also the ticketing aspect; the idea that when I buy a ticket, it goes to my mobile phone and allows me to engage at an event in a way I haven’t been able to before. We can push directly to Facebook, or scan an RFID at the events themselves, tracking real-time what people are doing. We can preload mobile devices, partnering with a wallet-type business.

(Source: Billboard)​