Electronic Dance Music (or EDM) has grown to maybe the biggest underground musical movement ever with virtually zero publicity. When a DJ can play before 50,000 people (and do so regularly), that's definitely a music trend in the making. It's even more interesting when the rest of the world doesn't take notice.
By all indications that's changing though, as EDM has gradually come out from the underground with
Grammy show appearances and top 10 hits by
David Guetta and
Deadmau5. The rest of the world is now aware of what a force in music EDM has become, which means the end of the innocence is soon at hand.
We hear through the LA music grapevine that the major labels are getting ready for an EDM feeding frenzy, beginning at the first annual
EDM Biz Conference in Las Vegas on June 5 through 7. Yes, you can be sure that what was once a pure scene will soon be corrupted with Guetta,
Paul Van Dyk, Paul Oakenfold wanna-be's and soundalikes signing first, then an influx of pretty boy DJs who look better on camera than the groundbreakers. In fact, don't be surprised if we even see a "producer for the producer" scenario arise as the new superstar celeb DJs are a lot better looking than they are at creating.
Why am I so cynical? Because we've been down this road before over and over, all the way back to the big band crooners, to the beginning of rock n roll, to the British Invasion, to grunge, to hip hop. Every time a trend arises, the majors jump on trying to cash in, then proceed to burn it out. There's no reason to believe that history won't repeat itself again. Enjoy it while it lasts.
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