Winter Music Conference has been canceled in lieu of the coronavirius outbreak, which has led to several U.S. states, including Florida, to declare state of emergencies.
The move to not hold WMC 2020 comes after Ultra Music Festival and SXSW both canceled their events to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Miami Music Week, a week-long series of club events not associated with UMF or WMC, will continue as scheduled.
Here is a statement posted by WMC regarding the cancelation of the 2020 event:
Due to the Florida Governor’s declaration of a public health emergency and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s Interim Guidance for COVID-19, the 35th edition of Winter Music Conference, originally scheduled for March 16 – 19, 2020, will be rescheduled.
After spending the past ten months preparing for the event with our team, panelists and event partners, we are profoundly disappointed, however, there is nothing more important than the health, safety and physical well-being of our attendees and employees.
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The sound of the ocean and the scent of sea air makes it easy to wake when you’re in Miami during Winter Music Conference and Miami Music Week. Plus, the fact that the day’s agenda includes seeing top-notch DJs doing intriguing things makes you want to start your day as soon as you open your eyes.
My second day of WMC 2014 began at the Sirius XM Satellite Radio Music Lounge provides at the always posh, classic and intimate W Hotel, an ideal locale for your Miami Music Week fix. During the festive week SiriusXM’s Music Lounge continues to broadcast live DJ sets and interviews at UMF Radio (Ultra Music Festival Radio). Today’s schedule showcased the Hardwell presents Revealed Takeover alongside W&W, Dyro, Dannic and Deorro.
Each of the artists captivated the crowd with a full hour-long DJ set that grew in energy as the day progressed and the crowd multiplied to capacity. Artists including Zedd, Showtek, Tommie Sunshine, Steve Aoki, Gareth Emery and Rebecca and Fiona rolled through for interviews, networking and to party with the rest of us. A shining moment and pleasant surprise was the appearance of Amba Shepherd who sang as Hardwell dropped their popular collaboration “Apollo.”
Just a few blocks away at the Baoli Miami, Philips Consumer Lifestyle hosted the celebration of Armin van Buuren’s headphone launch. Fellow artists like Nic Chagall and Stefan “Bossi” Bossems of Cosmic Gate made an appearance in support of their friend. The courtyard event included rotating platters of items such as sushi, chicken teriyaki skewers and mousse and concluded with a DJ set from van Buuren himself. Prior to his set van Buuren unveiled the new Philips A5-PRO, a pair of headphones designed from his own personal, hands-on input and from his collaboration with Philips and their design rep. After perfecting and redesigning prototypes, the team came back with the finished product in the A5-PRO. (And they’re affordable at just under $300.) Van Buuren is confident with the durability, reliability and the compactness of the headphones, including its unique one-handed, pop-open feature — this is from a man who’s a bit in the know.
The day wrapped with Gareth Emery’s Garuda album release party of his latest album, Drive. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks were served to mingling guests as Drive streamed in the background of the swanky upstairs lounge of the Cavalli South Beach. Emery’s latest effort features collaborations with Krewella and with his sister, Roxanne Emery. Drive also includes track with Christina Novelli and Ben Gold who were on hand to later offer thunderous DJ sets to entertain the crowd as the mood roared into nightclub mode. Drive also features “U” as a collaborative effort with artist Bo Bruce and is also rotating through the club circuit enjoying an overwhelming reception.
This party is only getting story. Check in tomorrow for more!
Winter Music Conference 2014 is in full swing (read our day one recap here). As the world descends upon Miami to party and listen to world-class and emerging DJs, many will participate in the obligatory boat party. But what should you wear? What should you drink? Chillax, because Madrid-based DJ/producers Chus & Ceballos have you covered.
What do you wear?
Chus & Ceballos: You have to dress like pirates. Just kidding! We recommend wearing white to look like the crew. It’s super hot. No high heels. Super high heels might make you stumble with the waves.
How much should you drink?
On the boat you have to be super careful how much you drink ’cause you can easily vomit and we saw a lot of that going down. You have to drink less than you are used too and make sure you’re enjoying the ride while listening to amazing music. Remember you’re going to be on the boat for five hours, you need to pace yourself.
What should you eat?
Try to keep it as light as possible. Make sure you eat something solid cause there is no food on the boat so you want have a good meal before. Not too much but enough to soak up the alcohol!
What should we bring?
Don’t forget to bring your sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat to block the sun, a camera to capture your beautiful adventure, most of all enjoy yourself as you dance above the sea to beautiful music as you see the sun set over the city in the distance.
Chus & Ceballos play Stereo Productions Sunset Yacht Party today, Toolroom vs. Stereo Productions at The Raleigh Hotel on March 28 an the Deep Dish Reunion at Ice Palace Studios on March 29.
The thrill of Miami and South Beach were just as we left it last year. Some who’d been in town since the beginning of Weekend 1 of the Ultra Music Festival were already feeling the effects of their party insomnia pattern. As a refresher on this Tuesday arrival the recommendation is Oh! Mexico on Espanola Way. Menu item musts are the (best) guacamole (ever) and any meal that comes with their smoky charra beans.
Kyau & Albert hosted a meet-and-greet in Miami Beach on a houseboat called, of course, Living The Dream. Euphonic’s own Marc Marberg was also on hand charming fans, popping champagne, and exemplifying the DJ life talking of hopping over to his upcoming gig at Mute at Lima in Washington, DC and then returning to Miami by the week’s end to round out his weekend. Fans cherished the engaging conversation, the music provided by Ronski Speed’s Euphonic Sessions and the beautiful sunset over the Miami Beach sky on the boat’s open deck.
Across town the day wrapped with the sounds of W&W at Mansion who closed their set with a hit still fresh on everyone’s lips (literally,) Zedd’s latest heart-wrenching beauty “Clarity,” the crowd crooning and swooning to every word. Cosmic Gate’s Stefan “Bossi” Bossems was mingling in VIP and capturing the crowd mayhem on his iPhone while Morgan Page dished out John Dahlback’s “Embrace Me,” and his own “The Longest Road” and “Fight For You.”
The $15 bottle of Heineken charge (ouch) was offset when Morgan Page announced, “Give it up for Mord Fustang.” The electro-house producer and DJ from Estonia delivered with the energy and enthusiasm of a true showstopper and EDM fans should keep him securely on their continue-to-watch list. As I stood in the balcony, watching the aerial performers, the jagged font “Mord Fustang” prominently displayed on the massive venue screens, the fog, the movement of the crowd and feeling the building intensity I simply thought, “Oh this is getting good. This is getting really, really good.” The crowd frenzied to tracks like Martin Solveig’s “Spend The Night Out” and the new track “Anaconda” by Wolfgang Gartner and it seems many fans came to Mansion specifically for Mord Fustang and left that night with pure euphoria.
Trekking back to the hotel at 4am down Washington Boulevard it’s refreshing to still be able to nab a hearty pizza slice as a “midnight snack” before getting a good night’s rest of 3-4 hours and enthusiastically doing all over the next day.
