Electronic music industry reaches record valuation of $15.1 billion

This year’s edition of the International Music Summit (IMS) Electronic Music Business Report revealed that the global electronic music industry grew by 7% in 2025, reaching a record valuation of $15.1 billion (around £11 billion). The IMS is a three-day annual conference on the electronic music industry.

The report included data gathered by DJ technology company AlphaTheta, a founding member of the summit, which reveals that in 2025, only 15% of AlphaTheta account users are female. A steady rise of 1% each year since 2023 shows that the pace of change towards a level playing field remains consistently slow.

Aiming to engage more women in DJing, AlphaTheta’s Equal Beats initiative launched at the 2025 summit. Since then, it has provided opportunities for non-males to try mixing for the first time, develop their skills and gain insight from successful DJs and industry professionals. The initiative returned to IMS this year with a networking breakfast that provided attendees with the chance to talk to like-minded people and make valuable connections.

IMS 2026 also emphasised the importance of mental and physical well-being in electronic music culture, and how fundamental this can be to sustaining a career. The Arete wellness space, in partnership with AlphaTheta, offered a dedicated environment for attendees to reset and recharge, providing wellness sessions including yoga, sound baths, Qi gong, breathwork, nutrition and guided meditation.

IMS 2026 also emphasised the importance of mental and physical well-being in electronic music culture, and how fundamental this can be to sustaining a career. The Arete wellness space offered a dedicated environment for attendees to reset and recharge, providing wellness sessions including yoga, sound baths, Qi gong, breathwork, nutrition and guided meditation.

“The industry’s continued growth is extremely encouraging, but what stood out most at IMS this year is the collective responsibility we all share in shaping what comes next,” said Mark Grotefield, general manager of AlphaTheta EMEA. “There’s a clear alignment around building a more open, collaborative and accessible future for electronic music. One that supports both artists and audiences. For AlphaTheta, this isn’t just an ambition; it’s a responsibility. Through our long-standing partnership with IMS, we’re proud to contribute to these conversations and help drive meaningful progress across the industry.”

“AlphaTheta have partnered with IMS every single year in Ibiza, and in every international event we have embarked on,” said IMS co-founder Ben Turner. “We’ve grown up together in a sense, and to see how the company has transitioned in the last decade is truly inspiring.

“Aside from their unrivalled innovation and growth in the technology space around DJ performance, the company itself has found a new purpose, and we share very similar values around how the industry should ideally operate. We are proud of the collaboration and hope it continues as we evolve into the next phase of electronic music’s maturation."

Image Credit: @leafhopperproject