Questions about Electronic dance music
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What does EDM stand for and where did the term electronic dance music come from?
EDM stands for electronic dance music. In 1980, English producer Richard James Burgess and his band Landscape printed "Electronic Dance Music... EDM" on the sleeve of the single "European Man." Music journalist Alexis Petridis has also claimed that British DJ James Hamilton coined the term, though no date was given for Hamilton's usage. The American music industry adopted the term in the late 2000s to rebrand US rave culture.
What were the earliest roots and precursors of electronic dance music?
EDM's roots include Jamaican dub music between 1968 and 1985, pioneered by studio engineers such as King Tubby, Lee "Scratch" Perry, and Errol Thompson; the synthesizer-based disco of Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte in the late 1970s; and the electropop of Kraftwerk and Yellow Magic Orchestra in the mid-to-late 1970s. DJ Kool Herc's breakbeat technique, introduced in the Bronx in 1973, also contributed to the genre's development.
What role did the Roland TR-808 play in the history of electronic dance music?
The Roland TR-808 drum machine was central to EDM's development. Ryuichi Sakamoto's 1980 track "Riot in Lagos" introduced it to clubs, and Afrika Bambaataa's 1982 "Planet Rock" made it widely popular on dance floors. According to Slate, "Planet Rock" reoriented an entire world of post-disco dance music around the 808. The TR-909, TB-303, and Juno-60 similarly shaped techno, house, and acid.
How did house music develop in Chicago and what were its first records?
House music developed in Chicago in the early 1980s through DJs Ron Hardy, Frankie Knuckles, and The Hot Mix 5, who blended disco, electro funk, and electronic pop while adding drum machines and effects. "On and On," produced in 1984 by Jesse Saunders and co-written by Vince Lawrence, is sometimes cited as the first house record, featuring the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer and TR-808 drum machine. J.M. Silk's "Music is the Key" from 1985 is also cited as an early candidate.
How big was the EDM industry at its commercial peak?
In May 2015, the International Music Summit's Business Report estimated the global electronic music industry had reached nearly 6.9 billion dollars in value. In the United States alone, a 2015 estimate put the EDM industry at 5.5 billion pounds, up 60% compared to 2012 estimates. EDC Las Vegas in 2015 alone brought over 350 million dollars to the Clark County economy with more than 405,000 attendees.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect electronic dance music festivals?
All large EDM festivals were postponed or cancelled in 2020. Ultra Miami was the first to cancel, on the 4th of March, 2020, due to Florida state capacity rules. Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas, originally scheduled for May 15-17, 2020, was postponed and ultimately cancelled. Electric Zoo fully cancelled its 2020 event after New York City suspended sizeable gatherings through September 30. Most festivals offered ticket rollovers or full refunds.