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DJ, producer, presenter, and music executive Pete Tong was honoured with the prestigious Music Industry Trusts Award (MITS) on Monday, November 1, 2021. The award, considered one of the benchmarks for lifetime achievement within the music industry, was presented following a gala ceremony at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
“I’m seriously thrilled and humbled to be standing here receiving the MITS Award because I think this is recognition of dance music’s and club culture’s influence and success,” Tong said at the ceremony. “Looking round this room, there are so many people that have been on that journey with me so this is for all of you.”
Pete Tong is the first dance music specialist to receive the honour, joining previous winners such as Michael Eavis, George Martin, Peter Gabriel, Elton John, Simon Cowell, and Kylie Minogue.
The ceremony featured an exclusive live performance from New Order, who played fan favourites “Regret,” “Be A Rebel,” and their 1983 classic “Blue Monday.” Tong, expressing his gratitude, joked, “Bernard [Sumner], Gillian [Gilbert] and Stephen [Morris], if you ever need your washing up done or your garden cut, I owe you one for sure.”
Becky Hill also performed tracks from her and Tong’s popular ‘Ibiza Classics’ setlist, including a cover of Robyn’s “With Every Heartbeat,” Farley “Jackmaster” Funk’s “Love Can’t Turn Around,” and Florence + The Machine’s “You’ve Got The Love.”
Idris Elba presented the award to Tong, saying, “We’ve all wanted to be Pete Tong. Growing up, where I come from, listening to DJ Pete Tong on the radio was essential, and without a doubt moulded my very early barometer as a DJ as to what is good and what is great.” Elba continued, “He’s been more than a friend to me though, he’s been a business partner, he’s been a co-collaborator and he’s been a mentor […] He didn’t have to do it, he could have risked his reputation, but he stood by me as a friend.”
The ceremony also featured an auction and raffle in aid of the charities The BRIT Trust and Nordoff Robbins. Guests in attendance included Nile Rodgers, Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon, and Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp.
Speaking about Tong’s influence, Carl Cox said, “Pete opened up doors for all of us that we didn’t even know existed.”
“I’m seriously thrilled and humbled to be standing here receiving the MITS Award because I think this is recognition of dance music’s and club culture’s influence and success,” Tong said at the ceremony. “Looking round this room, there are so many people that have been on that journey with me so this is for all of you.”
Pete Tong is the first dance music specialist to receive the honour, joining previous winners such as Michael Eavis, George Martin, Peter Gabriel, Elton John, Simon Cowell, and Kylie Minogue.
The ceremony featured an exclusive live performance from New Order, who played fan favourites “Regret,” “Be A Rebel,” and their 1983 classic “Blue Monday.” Tong, expressing his gratitude, joked, “Bernard [Sumner], Gillian [Gilbert] and Stephen [Morris], if you ever need your washing up done or your garden cut, I owe you one for sure.”
Becky Hill also performed tracks from her and Tong’s popular ‘Ibiza Classics’ setlist, including a cover of Robyn’s “With Every Heartbeat,” Farley “Jackmaster” Funk’s “Love Can’t Turn Around,” and Florence + The Machine’s “You’ve Got The Love.”
Idris Elba presented the award to Tong, saying, “We’ve all wanted to be Pete Tong. Growing up, where I come from, listening to DJ Pete Tong on the radio was essential, and without a doubt moulded my very early barometer as a DJ as to what is good and what is great.” Elba continued, “He’s been more than a friend to me though, he’s been a business partner, he’s been a co-collaborator and he’s been a mentor […] He didn’t have to do it, he could have risked his reputation, but he stood by me as a friend.”
The ceremony also featured an auction and raffle in aid of the charities The BRIT Trust and Nordoff Robbins. Guests in attendance included Nile Rodgers, Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon, and Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp.
Speaking about Tong’s influence, Carl Cox said, “Pete opened up doors for all of us that we didn’t even know existed.”
