Ministry of Sound, the Best Dance Music Money Can Buy

The Ministry of Sound brand celebrated in 2009 its 18th anniversary representing today the main anchor of MSHK Group Limited, an entity with annual sales of 80 million GBP, employing 500 people with offices in London, Sydney, Berlin and New York.

DJ Justin Berkmann, James Palumbo (the actual major shareholder) and Humphrey Waterhouse opened together on 21st of September 1991 in a former bus garage a club with a new concept: "100 % sound system first, lights second, design third" which was the opposite of the competitors’ order of priorities.

The first acts which performed here were David Morales, C + C Music Factory, Roger Sanchez, Larry Levan and Tony Humphries. The club was inspired by New York’s Paradise Garage the idea being to create the first British club to play house music "made in" New York, Chicago and Detroit.

The club consists of five main areas: the Bar, the Baby Box, the VIP and the Loft and the Box, the last one containing the club’s primary sound system.

The record label named Ministry of Sound was established in 1995 and it’s first release was "The Annual" featuring hits mixed by Pete Tong and Boy George. I have this compilation in my CD collection and it is awesome even after those years. The sales of the first record exceeded 160,000 copies and they were the first kick from the 50 million copies sold - both albums and singles to date. The average annual sales are around 4 million copies and some of the biggest names from the rooster included are Eric Prydz and Benny Benassi.

In every year, Ministry of Sound which remained an independent label edit regularly "The Annual", "Clubber’s Guide" and "Anthems". MSHK Group acquired in 2006 Hed Kandi brand which is promoted as "world’s most glamorous music and lifestyle brand". In 1999 was created another label Data Records to handle Ministry of Sound’s more commercial dance music releases. Some of the most famous releases can be considered "Pjanoo" by Eric Prydz and "Day ‘n’ Nite" by Kid Cudi vs Crookers.

In 2008 Ministry of Sound started to conquer the US launching "Clubber’s Guide America". In the same year Ministry of Sound won the Music Week Award for "Independent Record Company Label of the Year" and launched other two labels, Hard2Beat and Euphoria.

Ministry of Sound gather every year 900,000 people in 800 events across the globe including nightclubs, festivals and parties. Ministry of Sound opened through franchises clubs in Papa’s Beach Club, Sekalla, Hurghada, Egypt (2005) and Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia (2008). Ministry of Sound has it’s own Radio, TV (IPTV) featuring videos, interviews and global events coverage.

Ministry of Sound lauched recently an application for iPhone distributed through iTunes Store called "iDrum". It allows the user to create personalized drum patterns and will be followed by other applications.

Besides music products, Ministry of Sound brand can be found on Alba electronic goods (MP3 players, home audio systems, DVD players, DAB radio players, in-car entertainment systems), mobile handsets, vodka, festival camping gear, clothing, luggage products and fragrances.