WMC Winter Music Conference 2011

Since 1986 WMC (Winter Music Conference) has grown to become a world-renowned industry standard and a pilgrimage for electronic music lovers. This year WMC moved the date of the conference to the first week of March after splitting from a partnership with ULTRA Festival. The loss of Ultra in the WMC lineup may actually have been a blessing in disguise for WMC. While Ultra was a nice part of WMC it is a festival that began as a part of Winter Music Conference and does not rival the WMC core which is to conference about electronic music. While open to the general public WMC is actually an industry oriented event and with Ultra Music Festival splitting it seems to have returned to its original purpose. The Miami Beach Convention Center was host to WMC’s panel’s workshops and demonstrations. Within the WMC week you can learn everything; from being a dj/producer; what gear you should buy and how to use it, to producing your own tracks; events or even how to manage your own artists.

WMC week launches a marathon of over 300 events. As always WMC is the gracious host of the IMDA’s (International Dance Music Awards) and is also again partnered with the Grammy’s. A new component is the Film and Music Passport, which is an all access pass to both the Miami International Film Festival and WMC. If being in the sun is more your style there are many daytime poolside/beachside parties. In the past, some premier daytime venues such as The Shelborne, The National, Surfcomer Hotel, and Nikki Beach charged up to $60 admission. Now these pool parties, hotel, megaclub and lounge venues are included in the WMC pass. Space and Mekka afterhours also normally quite expensive were also complimentary with the WMC badge.

The best part of this year’s Winter Music Conference, besides the lineup of hundreds of top artists from around the world, was the vibe. The normally over packed venues were packed perfectly. Everywhere there was the perfect mesh of students, young professionals and industry folks under the control of some of the best artists worldwide. 1986 to 2011, South Beach rocks to the freshest grooves for one week every year. Everything evolves and WMC is no exception. The new direction this year has brought back a simpler time where people check their egos at the door and they pick them up with a smile feeling like they got there money’s worth.  The love for music brings people together but WMC keeps them together. If you have not already planned to… grab a WMC badge and myETVmedia will look forward to seeing you in South Beach for Winter Music Conference in 2012.