5 Lessons from IMS Ibiza 2024: How Superfans Can Transform Your Events

What Event Organizers Should Learn from Superfans – Insights from IMS Ibiza 2024

Billboard Pro Report — Source: IMS Ibiza 2024 (Billboard, Katie Bain)

Myradh Cormican

 

In an age of scattered attention and algorithm fatigue, superfans have become the secret engine of lasting engagement.

At the International Music Summit (IMS) Ibiza 2024, leading voices from the electronic music industry shared actionable insights on how to identify, activate, and nurture these highly engaged participants.

But these insights go far beyond music. Whether you’re running a festival, launching a cultural platform, or building a live-experience startup, superfans could be your best growth hack.

Here are 5 key takeaways to turn passive audiences into powerful community drivers.

1. 100 True Fans Beat 10,000 Passive Followers

It’s not about numbers, it’s about intensity. A small group of 100 highly engaged people can generate:

  • Organic word-of-mouth

  • Immediate feedback

  • Authentic social proof

–> These “early believers” are your first ambassadors. Create space for them. Give them a voice. Test your ideas with them.

2. WhatsApp Is All You Need (At First)

You don’t need fancy platforms to build a fan base. A simple WhatsApp group can spark:

  • Intimacy and direct interaction

  • A sense of belonging

  • Unfiltered, algorithm-free exchanges

–> Use this for pre-launch hype, post-event community care, or even VIP access channels.

3. Don’t Rent Your Community — Own It

Instagram and TikTok may reach millions, but you don’t own your audience there. Instead, build your own channels — via email, Telegram, or platforms like Tukioo — to benefit from:

  • Full control over communication

  • Long-term retention

  • Re-engagement opportunities without algorithm interference

–> Pro tip for growth: Offer free events, exclusive content, or gamified tasks to organically build your user base.

4. Mix Public Showcase and Private Circles

Your public page (Instagram, website) is the entry point — not the endgame. Real conversations happen in DMs, private chats, and intimate meetups.

–> Smart strategy: Use your public presence to attract new fans, then redirect the most engaged ones into private community spaces (Discord, Tukioo, WhatsApp).

5. Offer Exclusivity — But Stay Inclusive

Superfans love:

  • Early access to tickets or products

  • Beta features and insider info

  • Voting on design, lineups, or event formats

But beware: it’s not about excluding the rest. The goal is to build trust, while keeping doors open to new fans.

Why These Lessons Matter to Event Organizers

 

Whether you’re a festival organizer, cultural brand, or experience startup, activating superfans helps you:

  • Co-create better experiences

  • Increase retention and organic reach

  • Build momentum that lasts beyond the event

In a crowded space, micro-communities are your competitive edge — more impactful than any big-budget ad campaign.

 

How Tukioo Brings These Insights to Life

At Tukioo, these 5 lessons shape everything we do — from product design to community strategy:

  • Gamified rewards & missions: Our platform helps organizers identify, activate, and thank superfans with in-app tasks, hidden perks, and badges. The more active a participant is, the more benefits they unlock at events.

  • Private groups & sub-events: Participants can meet, create their own meetups, or chat alongside the official program — encouraging peer-to-peer connection.

  • Rich user profiles: Based on interest tagging, participants receive personalized recommendations and become part of an affinity-based community organizers can mobilize.

  • Public meets private: Tukioo combines a public-facing event hub (agenda, ticketing, info) with private engagement layers (targeted notifications, secret missions, interest groups).

  • Human-first design: More than a tool, Tukioo was born from a desire to re-humanize the economy. Every feature is built to strengthen genuine, long-term bonds.

Want to learn more?

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