Ministry of Sound has announced the launch of Boxed In, a digital-first streaming format focused on identifying and developing emerging DJ talent.
Developed in partnership with Mako Studios and produced by Objekt, the series will see aspiring DJs compete through a programme of challenges and mentoring, with established DJs Sam Divine, Fish56Octagon, G33 from Girls Can’t Sync, Jakkob, Mak 10 and Sian Owen taking part as mentors. The winner will become the next Ministry of Sound resident DJ and receive £25,000 worth of DJ equipment.
Caitlin McAllister, managing director at Ministry of Sound, said: “Ministry of Sound has always had a responsibility to champion new music and new talent. With Boxed In, we are creating a digital-first format that gives emerging DJs access to world-class mentors, a live audience and an opportunity to become the next resident.”
McAllister added: “We want to create formats that are entertaining, culturally relevant and genuinely rewarding for the people taking part. Boxed In represents everything we believe in: talent, community, opportunity and the future of dance music.”
Content from the series has already begun appearing across dedicated Boxed In social media channels as part of a soft launch. The social-first content has been produced by Mako Studios and Salen Studios ahead of the main stream.
Tafara Makopa, founder of Mako Studios, said: “Boxed In is one of the most exciting and challenging projects I have worked on in some time. What makes it special is that it is not just content for content’s sake. It is a real opportunity for emerging DJs to step into a space they may not have had access to before. Ministry of Sound has such a powerful legacy in music culture, and to be part of helping shape how that legacy moves into digital content is incredibly exciting.”
Bart Frank, co-founder and creative director at Objekt, said: “At Objekt, our philosophy is always to push boundaries, and delivering a live, multi-hour entertainment show is exactly that kind of challenge. It’s fast-paced, visually dynamic, and packed with tension.”
