A world-class EDM artist is set to play at Ferris as the Music Industry Management Association has made its return to planning full-scale concerts.
After a two-year fallout with Ferris’ Finance Division of Student Government, the Music Industry Management Association received $89,947.05 to host their annual “Turn Up the Good” concert. The allocation was officially approved at Student Government’s Tuesday, Jan. 26 meeting.
“Turn Up the Good,” a MIMA production showcasing electronic dance music (EDM), began in 2011 in Wink Arena. The annual concert has attracted acts including Griz, Mimosa, Break Science and The Glitch Mob.
Train’s visit to Ferris in 1999 marked the beginning of large-scale MIMA shows, supported by funding from Finance Division’s Student Activity Fee. The fee is part of every Ferris student’s tuition and is currently set at $20.
In 2014 and 2015, MIMA independently hosted “Turn Up the Good” and about a dozen other smaller-scale concerts at The Gate without Finance Division support.
“Turn Up the Good” booking agent Nikki Janeczek said with more funding, MIMA plans to bring the concert back to Wink Arena, where it will be louder and feature a full light show.
“We want to put MIMA back on the map,” Janeczek said. “Not only do people in MIMA get to participate, put up a stage, do hospitality and artist relations, but we’ll also give students a full-scale production and a way to socialize and interact.”
As contract negotiations are still underway, Janeczek wasn’t at will to announce the headlining artist, but said the act has music currently charting on Billboard’s top 10. The concert is currently planned for Friday, April 8.
MIMA plans to sell tickets to students for $15 and non-students for $35, with revenue immediately going back into the Student Activity Fund. Finance Division Director Dylan Carpenter explained to Student Government the ticket price was established “to assuage concerns about the sheer size of the funds MIMA were requesting.”
Some members of Student Government argued the ticket price combined with the allocation from the Student Activity Fund would effectively make concert-goers pay twice. Concerns were also raised about the concert’s potential for success being so close to Entertainment Unlimited’s “Music Takes Action,” a free concert.
Still, Student Government voted to approve the allocation with two members opposing and one abstaining.
According to Carpenter, MIMA’s allocation leaves approximately $42,000 left in the Student Activity Fund to be allocated to organizations by the end of the academic year.
In other business, Student Government welcomed interim dean of student life Nick Campau as a new advisor and public relations senior Alexa Torres as the organization’s new director of public relations.