EDM Concert Culture: Sound, Crowd, and Music Licensing

Electronic Dance Music Concert (EDM)

Electronic Dance Music (EDM) is a set of percussive electronic music genres produced primarily for dance-based environments, such as nightclubs (e.g., Swedish House Mafia).

Example: Swedish House Mafia is a group made up of three Swedish musicians: Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso, and Steve Angello.

What motivates people to visit these concerts?

Attendees go to enjoy music and dance, interact with people, and have a sense of belonging.

What is different about this concert?

• Music is mixed and experimented with as the show progresses.
• Typically no live singing or use of traditional instruments; instead electronic drums and synthesizers are used.
• The focus is on beats and musical progression to build excitement.

Stage sound and lighting used

Stage sound and lighting provided by event organizers were of extremely high quality.

Mindset of Electronic Dance Musicians

The mindset revolves around engaging and stimulating the crowd: interacting with the audience via LED walls and microphones; releasing mainstream songs that the crowd can sing along to; and providing an uplifting environment by cueing and motivating the crowd to sing.

Reason for entertainment

• Motivating & inspiring people: to give the audience a reason to take action (e.g., to work hard).
• Ambience & atmosphere: beyond decor and lighting, ambience can help provide an atmosphere for initiating a discussion.
• Inspirational entertainment: differs from motivational entertainment; it provides a general uplifting of the spirit without a specific call to action.

Music Licensing and Royalties

Music licensing enables artists to earn income. For every song they produce, when broadcast in public they are paid a percentage called a royalty.

Anyone or any organization (e.g., radio stations) that derives a commercial benefit from copyrighted material is required to pay the artist royalties and must obtain a license from MACP.

Royalties are payments made by a licensee to a licensor in exchange for the right to use intellectual property or physical assets owned by the licensor. Royalties are paid to music copyright holders and to songwriters.

If the artist is signed to a record label, a large portion is usually paid to the label, since it often funds advertising and promotion for the artist.

In return, royalties motivate musicians by providing cash flow to produce higher-quality songs and music videos. The better and more popular they become, the more they will earn.