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About

Ben Turner is the founder and owner of Graphite, a music management and brand services company, based between London and Los Angeles.

 

Turner is the artist manager for techno and technology icon Richie Hawtin aka Plastikman and his many pioneering projects. The company also represents leading female electronic artists Anna (from Brasil), Nastia (Ukraine) and Sama’ Abbdulhadi (Palestine).

 

Graphite also has long history of assisting and advising brands in the music space – including long-term work for Diageo / Smirnoff; W Hotels; H&M; Sony Ericsson; Philips; MTV; Budweiser and many more.

 

Turner is the head of an influential global network in the music industry. He is a co-founder with Pete Tong in the International Music Summit in Ibiza (every May), a powerful networking and discussion platform described as "the TED of music conferences". It has hosted summits in LA; Shanghai and Singapore.

 

In 2013, he formed the Association for Electronic Music with Kurosh Nasseri, a not-for profit 501(C)(3) trade body designed to represent the genre globally. Its intention is to preserve, protect and promote the electronic music industry worldwide. It has over 200 paying members and is an influential platform for advocacy and change.

 

Plus Eight Equity Partners is an early stage venture capital firm that has partnered with electronic music industry leaders to invest in groundbreaking music technology companies. Led by Richie Hawtin, Turner is on the Advisory Board and also an investor. The portfolio includes Endel; LANDR; Lynq; Merchbar; NGE; Pacemaker; Rap Tech Studios; Splice; Subpac; Versus Game; Vntana.

 

Turner is also a partner in award-winning Music Supervision company, Earworm. The UK and LA-based company music supervised the second season of Big Little Lies (HBO); Run (HBO); Trust (F/X); White Lines (Netflix) and breakthrough indie moving American Honey amongst others. It also oversees musical direction for all W Hotels properties worldwide.

 

Turner made his name as co-founder of the highly influential dance publication Muzik in 1995 for IPC, subsequently launching the Muzik Awards and then becoming creative director of DanceStar USA: The American Dance Music Award. He began his career as an intern at Melody Maker aged 16. He authored three books on the culture (on Ibiza / Cream / Bestival); produced and directed over 30 shows TV shows and documentaries about dance culture; and has won multiple awards and is a regular Billboard Dance Power Player.

CAREER HISTORY

1989 – Intern at Melody Maker (IPC Magazines)

1992 – Picture Editor, Melody Maker (IPC Magazines)

1993 – Deputy Editor, Orbit – Dance Section, Melody Maker (IPC Magazines)

1994 – Dance Writer, The Guardian (Guardian Media Group)

1994 – A&R Consultant, London Records / Polygram (Label)

1995 – Co-Founder, Muzik (Magazine)

1998 – A&R Manager, Deconstruction Records / BMG (Label)

2001 – Editorial Director, Worldpop.com (Media Platform)

2001 – Founder, Graphite (Management Company)

2003 – Creative Dir., DanceStar USA – The American Dance Music Awards

2003 – Co-Founder, Pacha Magazine (Magazine)

2004 – Bestival launches (Director) (Festival)

2007 – Co-Founder, House by Soho House (Magazine)

2008 – Co-Founder, International Music Summit (Summit)

2008 – Camp Bestival launches (Director) (Festival)

2008 – Co-Founder, AIF: Association of Independent Festivals (Trade Body)

2008 – Director, Let’s Go Crazy (now Pollen) (Influence Marketing)

2013 – Co-Founder, AFEM: Association for Electronic Music (Trade Body)

2014 – Co-Founder, Earworm (Music Supervision)

2014 – Advisory Board Member, Plus Eight Equity launches (Investment)

2015 – Bestival Toronto launches (Director) (Festival)

2018 – Co-Founder, Art of Arete (Wellness Platform)

BEN TURNER, FOUNDER

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1995 – The Chill Out – Compiler, Compilation Series (X:Treme Records)
1996 – Muzik – Magazine of the Year (In The City)
1996 – Muzik Awards Launched (Birmingham) (Awards)
1999 – Muzik – Award for Editorial Excellence (IPC Magazines)
1999 – Author, Ibiza – Inspired Images From The Isle Of Dance
2001 – Mobile Ibiza with Pete Tong & Pacha (Mobile Marketing)
2002 – Author, Cream x Book, Author (Carlton Books) (Book)
2006 – Producer & Director, Sasha & Digweed Delta Heavy Tour Documentary
2008 – The Journey Continues – Executive Producer (Lloyds TSB)
2010 – Artist Manager – Richie Hawtin (Management)
2010 – Ibiza DJ Awards – Outstanding Contribution Award (Awards)
2011 – Signs David Lynch to Sunday Best Recordings (Label)
2013 – Author, Bestival: The Art of Dressing Up (Book)
2014 – ENTER.Ibiza launched (Richie Hawtin)
2018 – Billboard Dance Power Players (Awards)
2019 – Billboard Dance Power Players (Awards)
2019 – Music Supervisor – Big Little Lies Season 2 for HBO

INVESTMENTS

2014 – Plus 8 Equity portfolio

            Endel

            LANDR

            Lynq

            Merchbar

            NGE

            Pacemaker

            Rap Tech Studios

            Splice

            Subpac

            Versus Game

            Vntana
2018 – The Blue Posts, Evelyn’s Table & The Mulwray (London)

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