Just because a genre of music features electronic sounds doesn’t indicate its demise; nor should festivals’ deaths signal its end either.
EDM music has quickly become one of the most sought-after genres among this generation, seen everywhere from commercials to video games.
The origins of EDM
EDM, or electronic dance music, has come a long way since its humble origins. While some consider its birth in the late 19th century with the invention of an electric piano, EDM truly blossomed during the mid 20th century when technology allowed for synthesizers and other electronic instruments to be created – leading bands like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd to incorporate electronic sounds into their music; but it wasn’t until 1970 when Moog synthesizers allowed musicians to develop their own sounds, leading directly to disco and house music becoming mainstream.
In the 1980s, Electronic Dance Music (EDM) emerged in various subgenres that would later become staples. Techno, acid house, hardstyle, dub and drum and bass all first gained mainstream recognition during this era. Furthermore, rave culture also emerged with gatherings taking place to dance to electronic music at underground locations such as warehouses or fitness clubs.
As electronic music flourished, its popularity with the public increased steadily and eventually propelled into popular culture by artists such as Madonna and Britney Spears who created hits containing electronic elements; these songs helped mainstream EDM.
In the 1990s, new electronic dance music genres such as hardcore and gabber emerged. These aggressive forms of EDM feature faster tempos with distorted kick drums. Characterized by vocal samples with violent-themed sounds as well as vocal samples. Although hardcore and gabber were initially designed to cater towards club scenes, their influence extended further, even shaping other types such as industrial metal and breakcore as well as helping shape current genres such as trance progressive house genres such as glitch and trip hop which focus more on atmosphere rather than soundscapes.
The rise of EDM
Electronic dance music (EDM) took off during the second half of 2000s due to increased computer access and music production software. With these products available to any musician, anyone could create high-quality, professionally produced songs using minimal equipment without prior musical knowledge; creating new genres of EDM that utilized various electronic instruments designed specifically for dancing floors was now possible.
EDM has become a key part of the music industry, with DJs and producers earning millions and selling out global festivals with packed stadiums. EDM has also fostered an entire subculture, complete with dayglo vests, trance hair styles and fist pumps; in turn it has contributed significantly to pop music by shaping some of its biggest hits over time.
EDM remains popular, yet certain subgenres of electronic dance music (EDM) have seen their fortunes dip significantly over time. Big room has peaked and is slowly dying off while trance remains stagnant and future bass stagnating – however other genres such as festival trap, experimental trap and dubstep have increased rapidly in popularity.
There could be many explanations for why this trend may be happening: one possibility being that audiences have grown tired of hearing the same sounds time after time; or it could be that the industry has become too commercial and lacks creative expression – the truth likely lays somewhere in between these extremes.
No doubt about it: the future of EDM is bright; however, in order to maintain and expand upon its popularity and keep it growing it will take effort and diversification of genre. One approach would be creating new subgenres while incorporating elements from other styles so as to keep audiences interested and old fans satisfied at once.
The decline of EDM
EDM gained in popularity throughout the 2000s and 2010s, due to greater accessibility of computer technology that allowed musicians to create music using laptop computers with relevant software installed, leading to the emergence of large-scale commercial electronic festivals such as Tomorrowland in Belgium, Weekend Festival in Estonia or Ultra Music Festival in Florida.
However, there are indications that EDM has reached its apex. One is that this genre has begun attracting an increasing number of amateur musicians who join for money rather than musical merit; this has resulted in numerous scandals with DJs being accused of miming or using prerecorded tracks, damaging its reputation further and making it hard for newcomers to accept EDM music as authentic.
Reasons for EDM’s decline also include its increasing competition with other genres like rock and pop music; both genres are becoming more widely-popular, which means their market shares are decreasing relative to EDM’s market share. Although this trend will likely persist for some time yet, dance/electronic music industry still holds tremendous economic worth; according to estimates in 2021 it was valued at $6 billion, an impressive increase over previous estimates.
Many blame EDM’s decline on streaming services like Spotify or Pandora; these services make listening to music easier without purchasing albums or tickets to concerts. Yet some could argue that streaming is actually beneficial to EDM because it introduces new listeners who would have otherwise never encountered its genre otherwise.
EDM may have declined in popularity over time, yet many fans remain dedicated to it and attend live events regularly. Furthermore, younger people seem particularly drawn to EDM which indicates its bright future ahead of it.
The future of EDM
EDM (Electronic Dance Music) is an expansive genre. There are various styles, numerous DJs and mega music festivals. EDM has also become increasingly popular among mainstream singers who often incorporate electronic elements into their songs. Yet recently some observers have begun questioning whether EDM may be on its way out.
EDM may have fallen out of fashion recently, but there remain compelling arguments supporting its continued presence and relevance in modern music culture. Some key considerations here include:
New technology has made music creation much simpler for musicians, which has helped the genre thrive and advance. Furthermore, streaming services have given people access to an ever-expanding selection of EDM tunes.
Additionally, social media has also played an integral part in EDM’s growth, enabling artists to connect more directly with fans and market their music more efficiently.
EDM events have also become more and more popular. They provide an unforgettable experience that cannot be duplicated; typically featuring huge stages, pyrotechnics, LED screens and various effects – as well as placing emphasis on spectacle rather than musicianship – thus leading to DJs using prerecorded sets or mime to the music to add the extra flare needed.
Due to this lack of accountability and integrity in EDM industry, scandals involving big names using new talent as music creators has compounded with this problem to further damage its image.
Even though hip hop music has seen many challenges over recent years, there remains ample reason for optimism regarding its future. Hip hop remains an influential force within the music industry and looks set to remain so for some time to come.
Though EDM may appear to have reached its zenith, there’s no doubt it will continue to dominate music in the near future. With its diverse styles, large festivals and international appeal it is hard to imagine its demise altogether.
All music genres may come and go in terms of popularity, with electronic dance music (EDM) standing out. Many have asked whether EDM is dead or dying; the answer to which is no.
EDM is not dead due to its diverse subgenres; some even trace back their roots back to techno or disco music!
Techno
Some may mistakenly believe that electronic music is dead, but this is inaccurate. A younger generation is discovering this genre and finding that it meets their tastes perfectly. Furthermore, these genres come back into fashion over time; therefore it is crucial that one remains up-to-date with recent developments in this area.
Questioning whether techno will continue its upward trajectory is inevitable. Right now, its popularity has seen an surge at major festivals; yet is its hype justified?
Techno is an electronic music genre that fuses elements of funk with electronic styles for an unrelenting, robotic sound. First developed in Detroit by artists Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson known collectively as the Belleville Three who fused beats of funk with synthesized melodies to produce futuristic vibes – thus helping establish what would later become known as techno.
As years passed, the genre grew increasingly popular and gained international recognition, thanks to artists like Madonna and Britney Spears who brought it into mainstream consciousness. Additionally, it inspired numerous bands in the 2000s such as Pendulum who combined traditional rock with techno. Some even incorporated spoken word samples or political messages into their tracks.
Recently, Detroit-based techno label Underground Resistance unveiled Exhibit 3000 as a museum dedicated to its history. This interactive experience showcases how techno evolved through time. Its founders hope that by doing this they can preserve both its legacy and musical contributions over time.
Techno has long been popular, yet some critics argue it may be losing some of its appeal. Critics contend that techno is less authentic than other genres because its music relies solely on digital synthesizers rather than live instruments; however, such opinions only provide limited insight into techno’s rich history and are an inaccurate representation.
Dubstep
Dubstep first made waves in the early 2010’s with its distinct sound; reminiscent of hard drum and bass with its slow, deep sounds and low-frequency bass drops; also including elements from reggae and dub music genres, dubstep proved highly attractive and enjoyable for electronic dance music fans and newcomers alike, becoming one of the most widely played musical genres ever. It quickly became one of the most diverse forms ever.
Dubstep was not without its share of challenges. By the mid 2010’s, however, its quality had begun to deteriorate significantly, featuring brostep-influenced tracks, overuse of Massive presets, and tracks featuring regular drops. Luckily for veteran producers who had been around since early/mid noughties did not succumb to this trend and continued producing unique styles of dubstep music.
Although dubstep was illegal when first created at illegal warehouse parties, its popularity at music festivals remains astounding worldwide. Tens of thousands still attend events such as Nocturnal Wonderland to dance to their favorite artists; veteran DJ’s who pioneered its creation mingle with young kids who’ve grown up dancing festival culture; bassheads, trance fans, and turntablists alike all form part of this vibrant electronic music community.
Dubstep may have seen its popularity decrease in recent years, but it will remain a vital genre of electronic music for years to come. Dubstep will adapt and evolve while being influenced by other genres like hard electro, progressive music and techno – these other styles may not reach as far as dubstep but they will survive nonetheless.
Dubstep is not dead; rather, the question lies with whether its producers are taking an old-school hipster approach and falling off a cliff with it. Marshmello has taken an innovative approach to dubstep by crafting melodies which incorporate both dubstep and other genres into his compositions – for instance his remix of “Alicia by Alicia Keys” stands as proof. This soulful track with its catchy melody stands as both classic and modern at once.
House
When people hear “house music,” their mind often conjures images of an outdoor warehouse rave with thousands of glow sticks pumping through the air and The Situation and J Wowww pumping their fists or the ultra baggy pants and pacifier-wearing raver stereotypes from early 90’s raver culture – perhaps even themselves amongst the crowd!
But house is more than an EDM dance party at Coachella: its roots lie within communities of color that gave birth to it and helped shape its distinct pulsing rhythm. Musical genres often go in cycles: some styles reach peak popularity then fade out entirely before reappearing later rebranded as Nu-Disco; this was certainly true with disco!
Progressive house, with its deep BPMs and melodies, has seen a resurgence due to an audience who desire more from their music. Not only has it become widely popular but also offers potential for reclaiming by its original community of black and Latinx producers, DJs and listeners.
As it has become all too easy to lament the death of electronic genres, it is vital that we remember what these genres truly stand for. Dance, techno and drum & bass should not be seen as scary concepts; rather we should celebrate their ability to bring people together through music and build connections through dancefloor experiences.
LP Giobbi (LP), is an esteemed producer of catchy piano house music. A longtime Grateful Dead fan, she played with the Cal Marching Band before transitioning to producing house music. Additionally, LP is an outspoken advocate of gender equality in electronic music scene, offering space to non-male artists while creating an educational program teaching women and gender expansive individuals how to produce.
Electronica
Many are saying that electronic music is on its way out, yet many styles remain popular and new ones emerge, thus impacting popular culture and mainstream acceptance of electronic music. We must keep in mind that music is an art form and should not label something as dead or alive so quickly.
Electronic music is a genre of musical art which employs digital technologies and musical software. The first pieces were composed by altering the speeds of recordings of instruments and vocals; later composers like Paul Hindemith and Ernst Toch would later use this technique in their compositions, creating early works that would pave the way for later generations of musicians to experiment with this form of expression.
Electronic music today spans multiple subgenres, such as melodic trap, dubstep, hard house, and techno. While certain styles may be more widely popular than others, each has its own distinct qualities; Marshmello is an influential producer renowned for creating bass-heavy melodic trap music; this genre is an amalgamation of dubstep, hip hop, and pop that has proven immensely successful over the past decade.
Some have tried to claim that electronic music doesn’t count as real music because it doesn’t use traditional instruments; this, however, is false: modern electronic music has flourished to unprecedented levels with no regular instruments involved at all. Furthermore, modern musicians possess skills far beyond playing an instrument; their skill-set includes manipulating sounds with software which creates endless possibilities in this artform.
No matter your opinion on electronic music, its influence on popular culture cannot be denied. Music is ever evolving and new genres will emerge constantly; to stay open-minded and find music that speaks to you is most important.