#5. Bucharest Nightclub Fire Kills Scores Of People
Pyrotechnics have had an extremely volatile relationship with venues over the years and in 2015 no place encountered this more than Bucharest’s Colectiv. Though occurring on a night featuring heavy metal, the Romanian capital hotspot was set aflame as a spark from the pyrotechnics ignited foam decor, ultimately killing over 40 people in the fire and resulting stampede. Though tragic, the incident also incited a massive social backlash, with thousands protesting over the course of days, its government on accusations of corruption and negligence resulting in the resignation, and arrest, of the country’s Prime Minister and entire cabinet. Additionally, the city’s mayor also resigned after it was uncovered the city had granted the venue sufficient licenses without proper authorization from fore fighters. The Colectiv fire has opened up conversations regarding nightclub safety, crowd limits, as well as the cronyism so frequently associated with business and government, with immediate implications affecting the countries Interval Festival, where similar conditions had been found at certain participating venues.
#4. Ibiza Authorities Tighten Sound And Zoning Restrictions
Guy Gerber, TiNI, Carl Craig, Solomun, and Luciano…these are all names who had been adversely affected by Ibiza’s increased scrutiny on sound and zoning restrictions over the White Isle’s past summer season. From Destino to No Name Beach Bar, Ibiza’s 2015 was fraught was cancellations and strife from many fans and artists alike, especially those who can count themselves as veterans of the hedonistic paradise. Carl Cox himself sounded off with: “It’s not just me being old, Ibiza is spoilt now. You can go down to the Hard Rock Hotel and you’ve got Ushuaia with its high-end DJs, big bottle service tables and two-tier VIP areas. Everyone used to be together when they went out and on the same dancefloor”. Is this increase in high end clubbing to blame? Well, the jury is still out on the sound and zoning issues (is it, though?), but it is not out on Carl Cox’s impending retirement from Space Ibiza. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like 2016 will see much of an improvement in conditions not benefiting the elitist clubber, as the island has now implemented a strict 6:30am music cut off time, alongside the constant threat of luxury development and even (gulp) a possible Ibiza Shore reality show (to be fair, the latter two proposals 2015 versions ultimately did not come to pass).
#3. SFX Faces Bankruptcy; Endures Numerous Scandals
Oh SFX, what happened to you? The EDM giant’s 2015 saw them take a massive valuation dip, while suffering a slew of scandals across the spectrum of their properties. From its withholding of label salary via Beatport, to the cancellation of its One Tribe Festival and the debacle that was Tomorroworld, SFX’s year seemed to be on the never ending downward spiral toward liquidation. CEO Robert Sillerman, who only 3 years ago was valued at some $975 million with SFX at $1 billion, has now found his company teetering on bankruptcy with stock prices falling to some .32 cents per share (down from $13 in 2013). We’ll see what happens with the news of a possible Live Nation partnership but one things for sure, the mystique of corporate clubbing suffered a much deserved blow in 2015.
#2. Ten Walls Goes On Anti-Gay Rant
Perhaps the most dramatic fall from grace in dance music history goes to Lithuanian Producer Ten Walls (aka Mario Basanov) who, just a year prior, was walking on air with a string of international mega hits, worldwide touring, and with seemingly no limit to his musical talents. That was until one fateful day in June when Basanov took to Facebook with an inexplicable rant teeming with bigotry, hatred, and homophobia. Since, Ten Walls had been dropped by every scheduled 2015 appearance, as well as his own management team, yielding a significantly low profile for a handful of months after. That was until the release of a rather lightweight apology to the media, followed by new production ‘Shining’ featuring prominent transgender singer Alex Radford and released via Lithuanian LGBT outlet LGL. Who knows if the world is ready to forgive Ten Walls in 2016, but one things for sure, it won’t come easy.
#1. Parisian Nightclubs Reopen In Solidarity Following Attacks
By now we are all well aware of the actions that took place on 13 November in Paris, France. Armed gunmen stormed multiple destinations killing 140+ people, with Parisian concert venue Le Bataclan enduring the majority of the carnage. With such an incident, it could be expected that concert and nightclub attendees would be weary of attending similar events in the attacks immediate aftermath, with venues themselves also apprehensive of reopening. Not in Paris, though. With a statement of solidarity issued and signed by a slew of the City of Lights most famed establishments, Paris sent a direct message to those who long for a state of perpetual fear and nihilism: that culture, art, and expression can never be stopped. In the weeks since the attacks, many around the world have aligned themselves in the name of xenophobia, throwing compassion to the wind with respect to religion and refugee alike. With this brave act, the very heart of culture showed the world that is in fact compassion, understanding, and experience that represent the heart of a global industry, as well as the soul of one of Earth’s most enduring cities.