Ministry of Sound History

Ministry of Sound London, commonly referred to as simply Ministry of Sound or MoS, is a nightclub based in London, United Kingdomand an associated record label. It was ranked fourth in the 2010 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll 2010. In addition to the nightclub inLondon, there are two others, Egypt and Malaysia. The Ministry of Sound brand also includes various other products such as dance music compilations and clothing.

Ministry of Sound is owned by MSHK Group Limited, which has offices in London, Sydney, Berlin and New York. The Chairman is James Palumbo, who is also the majority shareholder – a small minority share-holding having been sold to private equity house 3i in 2001 – the Chief Executive Officer is Lohan Presencer. MSHK Group has global sales of £80 million and employs up to 500 personnel worldwide. Its mission statement is: "to create the moments that people live for".^[2] The company also owns the Hed Kandi, Euphoria, and Hard2Beatbrands, and co-owns Ministry of Sound Australia's Hussle Recordings, along with MoSA and Hussle's founder and MoSA's Managing Director/Founder DJ Tim McGee. MSHK Group though Ministry of Sound Australia also own Downright Records, etcetc and Astrx.

Inspired by New York’s Paradise Garage, Ministry of Sound’s London nightclub was the brainchild of DJ Justin Berkmann, who set out to create London’s first club devoted to the American house music scenes of New York, Chicago and Detroit, with a room purely dedicated to sound. Berkmann stated: "My concept for Ministry was purely this: 100% sound system first, lights second, design third (in that order); the reverse of everyone else’s idea." Berkmann partnered with James Palumbo and Humphrey Waterhouse to bring the concept to life and a site, a disused bus garage, was located in Elephant & Castle in Southwark, London. The club opened on 21 September 1991.

With opening sets from American house DJs such as Larry Levan, David Morales, C+C Music Factory, Roger Sanchez and Tony Humphries, the UK’s first 24-hour dance license, and a 150dB(A) sound-system built by Austen Derek, Ministry of Sound London quickly grew in popularity as a clubbing venue, despite the lack of an alcohol license for the first three years and notoriously strict door policies.

Today, the club remains at the forefront of the global dance music scene, with DJs playing mix sets every Friday and Saturday night. Since April 2008, Fridays have been hosted by The Gallery, with sets from leading hard house and trance DJs. Saturdays are Ministry of Sound’s long-standing Saturday Sessions with house, electro and techno sets from popular DJs including Tiësto, Sasha, Erick Morillo,Pete Tong and David Guetta. Ministry of Sound London also hosts a range of other parties and events during the week and is available for private hire.

The club comprises five main areas; the Bar, the Baby Box, the VIP and the Loft and the Box, the latter housing the club’s primary sound-system, with a specially-built roof to contain sound and a sprung floor intended to enable clubbers to dance for many hours without tiring, inspired by the dancefloor at the Paradise Garage.

Southwark Council has a policy for the regeneration of the Elephant and Castle area. Ministry of Sound has run a campaign to prevent the residential development of sites near to it, citing concerns that noise complaints would endanger the club's future. In October 2011 Southwark council refused permission for a 41-storey tower designed by Allies and Morrison, but the following month the council approved a nearby proposal for a 22-storey tower by Panter Hudspith Architects which the club had also opposed.

Ministry of Sound is the world's largest independent record label (group sales approach £100 million annually) with 200 employees in its London offices, while the 300,000 who visit the club each year would take their money elsewhere were the club to move.

UK's first 24-hour music licence.

Ministry of Sound, established in 1991, has grown from a world famous nightclub in London to become the world’s biggest dance brand. With live events, nightclubs, record sales across the world and thousands of people tuning into Ministry of Sound Radio and TV and checking outministryofsound.com every day, Ministry of Sound truly is the home of dance music. 

 "to create the moments that people live for"