Ministry of Sound Group is a multimedia entertainment business based in London with a nightclub, shared workspace and private members club, worldwide events operation, music publishing business and fitness studio.

James Palumbo is the co-founder and former Chairman and CEO of the Group. He handed over the day-to-day running of the business to Lohan Presencer in 2008. In 2018, Presencer became chairman.
Ministry of Sound began as the idea of Justin Berkmann. Inspired by New York’s Paradise Garage - which he described as "an amazing club. It had lights, darkness, music, quiet – everything you wanted" - Berkmann set out to create London's first club devoted to the American house music scenes of 1980s New York City, Newark (which centred around Club Zanzibar), Chicago and Detroit. As opposed to striking a balance between the typical hallmarks of a live music venue, Ministry of Sound was conceived as an arena 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." According to him, they spent £500,000 on the club's sound system, and the same amount again on soundproofing the club using magnesite: they wanted to be able to turn the sound system up as loud as possible without disturbing the neighbours, and tested it to a volume of 156 decibels without the sound leaking outside. In addition to drawing inspiration from the Paradise Garage, the club borrowed the idea of using changing set designs from another New York City club, Area, with the first being based around Blade Runner, Berkmann's favourite film.

Berkmann was introduced to James Palumbo, who was working in property finance at the time, by Humphrey Waterhouse to realise the concept. The site, a disused bus garage, is located in Elephant & Castle in Southwark, London. The club opened on 21 September 1991 and has remained in this location since. Having considered "a load of daft names" for the club, including Get Off My Foot and The Ghost and Mrs Chicken, Berkmann came up with Ministry of Sound after walking past the Ministry of Defence Main Building.

With opening sets from American house and garage DJ's Larry Levan, David Morales, Roger Sanchez and Tony Humphries, as well as Paul Oakenfold, Ministry of Sound grew as a clubbing venue. According to Berkmann, it managed to empty rival nightclub Tramp for its first six months by drawing its celebrity clientele, before "they stopped coming and it was more about the dance music community". It now attracts around 300,000 clubbers per year and has hosted sets from popular DJ's including: Adam Beyer, DJ Harvey, Dixon, Marshmello, Jozeff and Pete Tong. It has won the IDMA ‘World’s Best Sound System’ award four years in a row - every year they ran the category.

The capacity of The Box (the main room) is 600 people, and there are other smaller rooms within the club. There are three weekly club nights: Fridays feature Lock n Load brand The Gallery which are primarily trance music, whilst Saturdays host a number of club nights which are primarily house music. In 2016, these included Defected, Glitterbox, Rinse FM, Hospitality and Together. On Tuesday the club hosts a student session called Milkshake, established in 2002.

Masters At Work Live @ Ministry of Sound 01-01-2016

During our takeover on Polaroid Radio throughout October and November, we are delivering shows, playlists and music 24/7 on the Iris channel, inspired by the pages of Wax Poetics.

We reached out to our community to share a 60 minute mix with us every week.

Week 2 theme was Ladies First: 50 years of women in hip-hop

This winning mix is by DJ Vivian Moinelle, born and raised in the vibrant tapestry of Havana, Cuba, Vivian Moinelle is a sonic storyteller crafting her way up in New York City's pulsating electronic music scene. Her sets are journeys transcending genres and borders, an amalgamation of pre-recorded beats and live productions.

Tracklist: 
1.Daymé Arocena- Eleggua (Esa & Narchbeats Kwaai Mix)
2. Malika Tirolien Feat. Meryem Sasi - SISTERS
3. Denise Chaila - I A M (Interlude)
4.Luz de Cuba - Identidad
5. Bahamadia Feat. Slum Village - One-4-Teen (Funky for You)
6.Cecé - Fresca y Sueltecita
7. Akua Naru - My Mother's Daughter
8. Arema Arega - They Never Came Back
9. Mabiland,Tonga Conga - Diablo
10.Telmary - La Mata Sin Santera
11.Mc Soffia- Realeza
12.K-efe - Agua (Yemanyá)
13. SisterNancy- Bam Bam (Mike Gip Mix)
14. Fariana, Farina- Freestyle 15
15. Danay Suárez- Viaje en Dub
16. Preta-Rara - Não desiste (Poesia Mel Duarte) “Audácia"
17. Quakers, Sampa The Great - Approach With Caution (Stalag Riddim Remix)
18. Malucci- Jugosa
19. Billie Holiday- Long Gone Blues (GXR Remix)

Wax Poetics and Polaroid Present: From The Pages | DJ Vivian Moinelle Mix

Destination Nowhere

Libation Live with Ian Friday
Sundays 9-11pm EST
Twitch.tv/ianfriday
Playlist
1)I Hope (LAZENESS EDIT) - Lizzie Berchie
2)Galactic Soul Synergy - Ride (Vocal Mix) 
3)Child (Crackazat Remix) - Childe, Crackazat
4)Kude Kwalunga (Original Mix) - Lidzcapo, Smish La Home
5)After Rain (Original Mix) - NVRMĪND
6)Gnawa (Jose Marquez Mexican in Morocco Remix) - Digital Afrika, Radouan Naim
7)No No No (Muzungu Sunset Remix) - Mannix, Muzungu
8)Lost Boy - Dark Horse, Jack_M
9)Come Into The Light (Atjazz Remix) - Nathan Haines, La Coco, Atjazz
10)You Are The Light (Tayo Wink Barrio Paraiso Mix) 
11)Ancestors and Angels - Aimo
12)Na Mão [Brilhantina] - Robin M, Renata Rosa
13)Terra Amor - JKriv
14)Echate Pa'ca (Original Mix) - Carlos Castro
15)Baila Conmigo - Boulevard Beats
16)The Arrival (Original Mix) - Korie Minors
17)Feeling You Remix by Ian Friday
18)Kenako (Original Mix) - Zithane
19)Lay your Soul down on the Floor (Jimpster Remix) - Charm
20)"Close To You" (Aroop Roy Remix) - Glory To Ft. Mariella Doriano
21)Night Safari - Masaki Morii, Mr. ID
22)Love Song (Just One Jazz Out Mix) - Miranda Nicole 
23)Angie La La (feat. Leron Thomas) [Yoruba Soul Mix] - Zara McFarlane
24)Spain (Duo by Elin Sanbeg & Tracy Robertson) (Coflo edit)
25)Hot BK in Outer Space
26)It's So Libation Remix
27)Back To Bang (Arawakan Bang Mix) - Realm Of House
28)Morttimer Snerd III - Black Skinned Blue Eyed Boys(Full Dizko Slapz) 
29)The Holy Grail (Cathedral Dub Mix) - Da Q-Bic
30)Ex Factor (Timmy Main Mix)
31)The Beat of Freedom - Fiona Kraft

Libation Live with Ian Friday 6-9-24

Fallout 5

SWEATER FUNK steps twice
Selected by Sweater Funk 
Excerpt recorded Live at Li Po SF
January 2011

SWEATER FUNK Steps Twice 1/16/11

CLASSIC MIX: RON HARDY Live @ The Music Box (Chicago) 1985

Style: Soul, Disco & Early House
Dj; Ron Hardy (Chicago)
Time: 45 Mins
Recorded: 1985 on Tape.

Here is a sweet mix from the archives as part of our SPIRIT OF HOUSE classic mix series. Chicago's God-Father of House Ron Hardy doing his thing live in the mix at The Music Box in 1985.

Tracklist (Coming Soon)

SOUL OF SYDNEY 087 CLASSIC MIX- Ron Hardy at The Music Box (Chicago) 1985

Dipue

Been a minute since I recorded a disco & classics mix.  Was not the plan, but put on my first track and got inspired.  Enjoy!  AK

Disco Circus (September 2019)

MR BOP - SPRING BREAK 3.0

Morsels: Hour Longed Themed Pop-Ups Every Wednesday at 6PM PST at twitch.tv/djmorsecode

Morsels #2 - Funk Breaks

Top shelf 80's funk, soulful boogie, and 2-step on original wax. #KmaxxForever