Ministry of Sound
One man’s dream
In 1991 James Palumbo invested 340.000 euros of his own capital into a new dance club located in an old South London bus depot. As an old Etonian, a graduate of Oxford University and a former merchant banker, Palumbo was an unlikely entrant into a dance culture that was still raw and far from respectable. He actually preferred classical music.
Difficult start
The Ministry of Sound’s start had been difficult. Dance music had its origin in ‘acid house’, itself with its roots in the futuristic, electronic music of the gay clubs of Chicago and New York. Dance music arrived in the UK during 1988, the so-called ‘Second Summer of love’, strongly associated with the recreational drugs. It was a turulent period dealing with the drug problems.
Establishing a logo
The Ministry established a distinctive logo and brand and invested heavily in club facilities and sound equipment. The club became a leader in ddeveloping the new ‘super-clubs’, fronted by ‘super DJs’ earning six figure sums playing other people’s music. By 2001 2,5 million clubbers had visited Ministry of Sound.
The further development
The business developed in many directions during this period. A magazine aimed at clubbers, Ministry, was launched in the mid-1990s. The Ministry of Sound radio show was broadcast in London and Central Scotland, besides being syndicated in 38 countries worldwide.