Club culture in transition: Top DJs reflect on Ibiza, underground music, and the impact of AI

Sam Divine, Luciano, and Mathew Jonson all shared their thoughts on how to keep the smaller venue scene alive to the dangers of AI.

Transcript

00:00I have a feeling that we're in for a pretty good night honouring and celebrating some

00:15of the most talented people in dance music.

00:41I'm ecstatic. I'm so, so honoured to have been given this award. It means so much to

00:49me, as it does to every artist.

00:52I came to Ibiza 19 years ago with a suitcase and a box full of records and now I'm actually

00:59stood here holding this award. This is absolutely insane.

01:05What does the DJ Awards mean to you?

01:07I mean the DJ Awards, especially being in Ibiza, Ibiza is my second home. I owe so much

01:13to this island on a personal level and a career. I cut my teeth in Ibiza. To actually have

01:21the awards and to be up against some of my heroes as well and just some incredible, incredible

01:28talents and I'm just so lucky just to be a part of this.

01:35You've won the Ibiza Icon Award. How does that feel?

01:38Well, I'm really grateful and it's a blessing. It's been a long love story with Ibiza and

01:45I started coming here for the first time in 1997.

01:48Tonight I've seen Luciano in the room with an award and I started DJing because of Luciano

01:54and I remember watching Luciano and that guy is controlling this crowd like no other and

01:58I want to do that.

02:00You know the most incredible talents and the most inspiring things are not in the most

02:07wanted and biggest venue. You can have a great time in smaller places, in different locations

02:13with incredible music.