IMS is proud to announce that CAA’s Maria May will receive the IMS Legends Award 2025, recognising her outstanding contribution to electronic music culture. The award will be formally presented during The Beatport Awards on Thursday 24 April, with a dedicated industry lunch celebration held during IMS Ibiza. May’s roots in electronic music run deep, she is one of the most renowned and respected agents in the genre, with a career spanning over three decades representing many of the most innovative artists in the scene. Heading up the London based ‘Team Disco’ at leading entertainment agency Creative Artists, May and her team represent many of the world’s leading musicians, including David Guetta, Black Eyed Peas, Róisín Murphy, Sara Landry, Layla Benitez, Hernan Cattaneo, Hugel, Meduza, Marlon Hoffstadt, Malugi, Paul Kalkbrenner, Robin Schulz, Icona Pop, The Chainsmokers, Jonas Blue, Purple Disco Machine, Eli Brown, Genesi, Jammer, Monolink, Cloonee, Lanna, Abel, ARCADIA, Marten Lou, Gok Wan, WhoMadeWho and Monolink, among others. Previously May worked with the likes of Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, Layo and Bushwacka, Hercules and Love Affair, Azari and III, Moloko, Soulwax, 2manydjs, Lee Burridge and X-press 2. Maria’s work has not only propelled artists to global success, she has also fostered a more inclusive and dynamic electronic music community.
One of the industry’s most influential behind-the-scenes figures, Maria has been a proactive advocate for the electronic music community and continues to champion, honour and support women in music and the electronic music business. Beyond her role at CAA, she is a board member of Lady of the House, a female-led collective that amplifies women’s contributions to the dance music industry, as well as uplifts and educates the community. Additionally, she serves on the board of Beatport and the advisory board of the Frankie Knuckles Foundation. Maria was a founding advisory board member of the Association For Electronic Music (AFEM) for a decade and a long serving board member of Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), both of which she campaigned tirelessly for during the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Maria’s dedication and impact have been recognized through various industry accolades, including her induction into the Music Week Women in Music Roll of Honour, multiple features on Billboard’s International Power Players list and a recent cover feature in IQ Magazine celebrating the achievements of her career spanning 30 years. Maria May says: “To receive this recognition is both humbling and very exciting. Not merely because of what it represents for my career, but because of what it stands for in the wider culture of electronic music. This award is not just about me. It’s for the women who came before me, the ones who were overlooked but laid the groundwork anyway. It is for the women beside me now, fierce, brilliant, relentless who continue to strive. And it’s for the women still coming — who I hope will never have to ask for permission to belong here. Thank you to all the amazing artists I have worked with. Thank you for the music. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. Thank you, IMS. The journey is far from over and I’m still dancing. See you on the dancefloor.”
