Ministry of Sound

Ministry of Sound or Ministry of Sound Group is a multimedia entertainment business based in London with a nightclub, shared workspace and private members' club, worldwide events operation, music publishing business and fitness studio.

James Palumbo is the co-founder and former chairman and CEO of the Group. He handed over the day-to-day running of the business to Lohan Presencer in 2008. In 2018, Presencer became chairman.

Nightclub

Ministry of Sound began as the idea of Justin Berkmann. Inspired by New York's Paradise Garage – which he described as "an amazing club. It had lights, darkness, music, quiet – everything you wanted"[1] As opposed to striking a balance between the typical hallmarks of a live music venue, Ministry of Sound was conceived as an arena purely dedicated to sound. Berkmann stated: "My concept for Ministry was purely this: 100% sound system first, lights second, design third (in that order); the reverse of everyone else's idea."[2] According to him, they spent £500,000 on the club's sound system, and the same amount again on soundproofing the club using magnesite: they wanted to be able to turn the sound system up as loud as possible without disturbing the neighbours, and tested it to a volume of 156 decibels

Record label

Ownership

On 10 August 2016, it was announced that Ministry of Sound's A&R and compilations recorded music business had been acquired by Sony Music.[16][17] Rights to all recordings under the Ministry of Sound name are now held and mostly distributed by Sony Music (excluding London Grammar catalogue which is distributed by Universal Music Group in most of the world and Because Music in France), with the remaining Ministry of Sound businesses retained within the original group.

Ministry of Sound was an independent record label split into two divisions: Artist & Repertoire and Compilations.

Artist repertoire

The Artist & Repertoire division was established in the early 1990s with releases on a 'Sound of Ministry' label imprint. Sound of Ministry was superseded by in-house labels Open, Data, Substance, Smoove and Rulin', which between them released a string of UK and international chart hits.

In 2009, the artist labels were consolidated under 'Ministry of Sound Recordings'. The first artist signed was Example, who achieved two UK number 1 records, three top 10s, two top 20s, two gold albums and one platinum number 1 selling album, Playing in the Shadows. Other notable label signings include Wretch 32, DJ Fresh and, more recently, London Grammar, whose debut album If You Wait reached platinum sales status in the UK, gold status in France and was number 1 on the iTunes Album Chart in Australia. In 2014, London Grammar were nominated for 'British Breakthrough Act' at the BRIT Awards.[18] If You Wait was also named iTunes 'Album of the Year 2013'[19] The artist label also continue to release dance singles, achieving three number 1 records in the UK in 2013 with Bingo Players feat. Far East Movement's "Get Up (Rattle)",[20] Duke Dumont feat. A*M*E's "Need U (100%)",[21]

Compilations

The compilations business was first established in 1993 with the release of Sessions Volume One,[23] a compilation album of dance music mixed by Tony Humphries.[24] The album was a commercial success. The business has now sold more than 55 million compilation albums worldwide.[4]

type	Limited company
key people	Lohan Presencer (chairman)
industry	Nightclub Music Entertainment Events Lifestyle Private members' club
foundation	September 21, 1991
founders	James Palumbo Justin Berkmann Humphrey Waterhouse
location	103 Gaunt Street London SE1 6DP, England
location country	UK
website	ministryofsound.com

Nightclub

Threat of closure

Dolby Atmos

The Ministry

Tours

Fitness

Music publishing

Record label

Ownership

Artist repertoire

Compilations

Radio show

See also

External links

References