Ben Turner: From Music Journalism to Building the Global Electronic Festival Network
Ben Turner’s name is now synonymous with the infrastructure that supports today’s electronic music festivals. A former music journalist turned industry architect, Turner launched the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) and the International Music Summit (IMS) in 2008, followed by the Association for Electronic Music (AFEM) in 2013. His hands‑on work—from running Graphite Music to co‑creating Bestival and Camp Bestival—has shaped how electronic music is promoted, protected, and monetised on a global scale.
Turner’s journey began behind a typewriter. He co‑founded Muzik magazine, later worked at Melody Maker, and helped launch Worldpop.com with Peter Powell. It was at Worldpop that he met Rob da Bank (real name Rob Goreham), then a tea‑boy at Muzik. Turner hired Rob, and the partnership evolved into artist management. Under Turner’s guidance, da Bank opened Sunday Best club nights in Battersea, drawing DJs such as Andrew Weatherall and Groove Armada. These nights proved the seedbed for larger events and laid the groundwork for the festival movement that would follow.
The spark for Bestival came when da Bank asked Turner for about £150,000 in seed capital to launch a festival on the Isle of Wight. Turner reached out to Jim King, then CEO of AEG Presents UK, believing a professional partner was essential for turning a creative concept into a viable product. The partnership produced a small gathering that quickly grew into a multi‑day festival and later relocated to Lulworth in Dorset. The success of Bestival spawned Camp Bestival, a family‑oriented festival held at Lulworth Castle, cementing Turner’s reputation as a festival pioneer.
In 2008, at da Bank’s request, Turner co‑founded the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF). The organisation was designed to support independent festivals that struggled in a market dominated by large organisers. The same year, Turner co‑founded the International Music Summit (IMS), a gathering of industry stakeholders that discusses trends and challenges. Five years later, in 2013, he helped launch the Association for Electronic Music (AFEM), an international trade body dedicated to protecting and promoting electronic music culture worldwide.
IMS is held in Ibiza, a city Turner has visited roughly 500 times. The summit originally ran at the end of May but was moved to April after the pandemic to align with Ibiza’s extended club season. The event features a live show at Dalt Vila, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which attracts thousands of clubbers. Turner has described the show as a bridge between business‑to‑business discussions and consumer experience, noting that local restaurant owners consider the night their most profitable. According to Turner, the Ibiza tourism board has not yet incorporated music culture into its marketing, a gap that the summit seeks to address.
Today, Turner owns Graphite Music, positioning him at the intersection of artist representation and brand partnership. The company represents electronic music talent and offers services that include brand collaborations, licensing, and music supervision for film, television, and advertising. Turner’s experience with festival trade bodies and his advocacy for electronic music culture inform Graphite’s approach to securing rights and promoting artists in a rapidly changing licensing landscape.
Ben Turner’s trajectory—from music journalist to festival founder and industry advocate—illustrates the interconnected nature of electronic music production, event management, and licensing. His initiatives—AIF, IMS, AFEM, Bestival, Camp Bestival, and Graphite Music—have created structures that support independent festivals, promote electronic culture, and secure intellectual property rights. As the Ibiza tourism board continues to overlook music in its marketing, Turner’s work remains a key driver in aligning tourism, festival economics, and cultural preservation. The next phase of his career will likely involve further expansion of Graphite’s licensing services and continued leadership in global electronic music advocacy.
