News & Reviews

BASS: Tiesto is tops during Winter Music Conference as drum & bass goes arena; Internet radio buzz

Tiesto took home three victories at the International Dance Music Awards, outpacing Armin Van Buuren's two and toping all DJ entrants during the Winter Music Conference in Miami Beach, Fla., last week. As the conference neared a close Saturday, many drum & bass-heads migrated to Miami after Roni Size, Rahzel from The Roots and Dieselboy topped a DNB cast at Fundacion's party in Miami.

Tiesto won IDMAs in categories including Best European High Energy for his track Love Comes Again, Best European DJ, and Best Producer. Armin Van Buuren, who had the most nominations overall, and Paul Van Dyk won two awards each. Among all nominees, the only San Francisco Bay Area winner was Spundae, which was voted Best U.S. Party. Christopher Lawrence was named the Best American DJ, according to IDMA voters.

Meanwhile, promoters with Fundacion announced early last week that they had made a late addition of drum & bass to its party at the American Airlines Arena in nearby Miami. Originally a techno-oriented event, Fundacion organizers decided at the last minute to book a DNB room in the arena's "Seaside Terrace," after noticing what what we hear was a large DNB contingent at WMC.

Drum & bass producers and DJs were notably absent from award nominees at last week’s IDMAs. In contrast, Fundacion gets props for showcasing some of today’s top DNB talent, which filled a void from the event’s proceedings.

Other DJs playing sets at the Fundacion party include trance and electronica’s Sasha -- who won am IDMA under the Best CD Compliation category for his album Involver -- John Digweed, UNKLE, and James Zabiela.

Although some in the dance music community dislike arena shows because high ceilings reduce the sea-of-bass effect, Fundacion needed a huge venue since it drew thousands of attendees from the Ultra Music Festival that was walking distance away.

The Ultra Music Festival is a popular annual party that beat out Love Parade San Francisco for the Best Dance Event IDMA award. Fundacion ran until 5 am on Sunday, finally closing out a long week of dance music celebrations in Florida.

Those scouring the Internet for dance music might want to check out BBC Radio 1, which won an IDMA under Best Internet Dance Radio Station. Others getting nominations included PulseRadio.net, ProtonRadio.com, M1Live.com, Etn.FM and ClubFMRadio.com.

All are now among our browser "favorites" since we need music 24/7, including while writing, eating, showering and sleeping.

 

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