Matteo Villa (YouBeat) – Urban Rebel PR Interview
Launching in 2012, Italy based editorial and promotion media YouBeat has fast become one of the essential international sites for fans of electronic music to get their news and selections. With over 1,800 published articles in double language (English+Italian), it’s expanding its team of reporters to promote events around the world such as Tomorrowland, Ibiza’s clubs seasons, UMF, Sziget Festival, Primavera Sound, Kappa FuturFestival, World Club Dome, Time Warp, Electric Love and every year covering conferences like IMS, ADE, Linecheck and more as press! Among their periodic columns, you can find monthly EventSpotlight selections of the best events in Europe and multi-language videos (German, Spanish..) with events suggestions for specific areas.
We spoke with its founder, Matteo Villa all about the site, his experience in the scene and more.
Hey Matteo! Let’s go straight back to the start, what inspired you to launch YouBEAT?
I have always been passionate about discovering new music, identifying emerging talents, and sharing industry news. In 2012, I founded YouBEAT as a community with the goal of connecting DJs and producers—initially in Italy, and later worldwide—through social media and our website. The name YouBEAT means “you rock, you have value, you’re great,” reflecting our mission to promote music, artists, and events.
Who is involved in the YouBEAT team and what are their roles?
Our core team currently consists of two main editors, two event coordinators and around 30 reporters based across the globe.
The editors oversee the publication of curated music selections (both in-house and in partnership with external platforms), as well as articles and interviews. The event coordinators manage the coverage calendar, liaise with event organizers and their press/media teams, and coordinate reporter accreditation and coverage processes.
What are the most rewarding and most challenging parts of running your own media platform?
The most rewarding aspect is serving as a trusted media reference point for music enthusiasts in Italy and internationally, and providing an open space for the promotion of quality music and events.
The greatest challenge is keeping pace with the rapidly growing volume of songs, events, and news that must be filtered and covered. Building a strong team and clearly defining responsibilities across different areas is essential to staying on track.
What advice would you give to someone who might be interested in getting started in music journalism?
Stay constantly informed. Subscribe to newsletters, enable notifications from your favorite media outlets, artists, events, and brands, and develop the habit of being among the first to access the latest news. At the same time, always ensure accuracy through fact-checking before publishing or sharing information.
You’ve interviewed a lot of artists over the years! Tell us about one of your most memorable interviews.
It’s difficult to choose just one, but several stand out: Zedd at Universal Music Italy in 2015 and Alesso at Nameless Festival in 2016—my first major interviews at the age of 20/21. David Guetta during a press conference in 2020. Lost Frequencies at Tomorrowland Belgium in 2023. Steve Aoki at Neversea Festival in Romania in 2024. Each of these experiences represented an important milestone in my professional journey.
Is there an artist that you’d love to interview for the first time, and what would you ask them?
I would love the opportunity to interview Swedish House Mafia. I would ask them what they believe has been the key to sustaining such an extraordinary career, and what message they would like to leave as their lasting legacy.
We always see the YouBEAT team at top industry conferences. What are your tips on making the most out of attending music conferences?
Plan your agenda in advance, highlighting the talks, panels, and events you most want to attend, and use tools such as a voice recorder to review the content afterward.
Equally important is networking—take advantage of opportunities to connect with industry professionals, and secure workshop participation early as they often require advance booking. Finally, immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of these events, where professionals from across the global music industry come together to share insights and perspectives.
If you were to host your own festival, who would be on your dream line-up?
Swedish House Mafia – Hugel – Paul Kalkbrenner – MoBlack – Meduza – Anyma – Eric Prydz – Rüfüs Du Sol – Peggy Gou – Trinix – Bedouin – Mestiza – James Hype – Charlotte de Witte – Blond:ish, among many others.
What is the electronic scene like in Italy right now? Are there any upcoming Italian DJs/producers on your radar that we should check out?
Italy boasts a wealth of talent across a variety of genres, particularly Tech House, Melodic Techno, Techno, and Afro-House. Established Italian artists such as Meduza, Anyma, MoBlack, and Joseph Capriati continue to inspire a new generation. At YouBEAT, we regularly spotlight emerging Italian DJs and producers, including through our bi-monthly partnership with TgCom24 SoundOn, where we highlight 30 of the best monthly tracks from Italian artists.
What are your plans for the rest of 2025?
Our focus is on expanding our editorial and reporting teams, while building new press and media partnerships with events, festivals, and brands in Italy, across Europe, and globally. We are also considering launching a YouBEAT Events series in Italy—a new chapter we are excited to explore.
Check out YouBEAT on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X, TikTok and LinkedIn. Follow Matteo on Instagram and LinkedIn.