3. WHO OWNS/RUNS
THE COMPANY
MSHK Group Limited
Ministry of Sound Group is a
multimedia entertainment business
based in London with a nightclub,
worldwide events operation, music
publishing business and fitness studio.
James Palumbo is the co-founder and
former Chairman and CEO of the
Group. In 2008, he handed over the
day-to-day running of the business to
Lohan Presencer. 2016 saw Presencer
become Chairman, handing over
day-to-day running of the group to
former Clear Channel Executive,
Jonathan Bevan.
4. WHEN WERE THEY
STARTED
For over two decades, started in
1991, Ministry of Sound has created the
moments that people live for.
Rights to all recordings under the
Ministry of Sound name are now held
by Sony, with the remaining Ministry of
Sound businesses retained within the
original group. Ministry of Sound is an
independent record label split into two
divisions: Artist & Repertoire and
Compilations.
5. WHAT ARTISTS DO THEY SIGN
Over the last ten years, the label has established an exiting
roster of contemporary talent, successfully launching the careers
of acts including Eric Prydz, Example and Wretch 32. The labels
current roster of artists include BRIT-nominated group London
Grammer, whose debut album sold more than 1.5 million copies
gloabally. DJ Fresh and Sigala, as well as exiting new artists such
as Jodie Abacus, Louis Berry and Moss Kena. Examples of some
well known artists they have signed are Avicii, Calvin Harris, DJ
Fresh and Swedish House Mafia.
6. Wi
th opening sets from American house DJs Larry Levan, David Morales, Roger Sanchez an
d Tony Humphries, Ministry of Sound grew as a clubbing venue. It now attracts around 30
0,000 clubbers per year and has hosted sets from popular DJs including: Adam Beyer, DJ
Harvey, Dixon, Marshmello and Pete Tong. It has won the IDMA ‘World’s Best Sound Sy
stem’ award four years in a row - every year they ran the category.
As
a venue, Ministry of Sound in London operates 3 weekly club nights. Fridays feature Loc
k n Load brand The Gallery which are primarily trance music, whilst Saturdays host a num
ber of club nights which are primarily house music. In 2016, these included Def
ected, Glitterbox, Rinse FM, Hospitality and Together. On Tuesday the club hosts a stu
dent session called Milkshake, established in 2002.
WHAT GENRE OF MUSIC DO
THEY FOCUS ON
8. INTERESTING OR RELEVANT
INFORMATION
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, 3 top 10s, 2 top 20s, 2 gold albums and 1 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 recently hit number 1 on the iTunes Album Chart
in Australia. In 2014, London Grammar were nominated for ‘British
Breakthrough Act’ at the BRIT Awards. ‘If You Wait’ was also named iTunes
‘Album of the Year 2013’ 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 ", Duke Dumont feat. A*M*E's
"Need U" and Storm Queen's "Look Right Through". The label has had 21 UK
No. 1 records since its inception.
