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| dance/electronic music | |
|---|---|
| Name | dance/electronic music |
| Cultural origins | 1970s–1990s |
dance/electronic music
Dance/electronic music emerged as a broad popular music umbrella linking club-oriented Kraftwerk-influenced production, disco-era Donna Summer performances, and post-punk innovations from acts like New Order and Yellow Magic Orchestra. Early scenes in Chicago, Detroit, London, Berlin, and New York City incubated technologies such as the Roland TR-808 drum machine, the Moog synthesizer, and the Akai MPC, while promoters and venues like Larry Levan's residency at Paradise Garage and Francis Grasso's sets at The Sanctuary shaped DJ culture. The field intersected with movements including LGBT communities, rave culture, and festival institutions such as Glastonbury Festival, Ultra Music Festival, and Tomorrowland.
Origins trace to 1970s disco scenes centered on labels like Salsoul Records, producers such as Giorgio Moroder, and performers including Gloria Gaynor and Chic. Parallel experiments by Kraftwerk and innovators like Herbie Hancock and Brian Eno fed into synth-based pop by Gary Numan and electronic exploration by Jean-Michel Jarre and Vangelis. In the 1980s, Chicago house pioneers Frankie Knuckles, Detroit techno figures Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson codified club forms, while UK scenes around Sheffield and Manchester produced acts like The Human League and The Smiths that informed crossover aesthetics. The 1990s saw the rise of UK rave culture featuring crews from Manchester and festivals like Castlemorton Common Festival, alongside the global spread of trance via DJs such as Paul Oakenfold, Armin van Buuren, and labels like Ministry of Sound. Into the 2000s and 2010s, artists including Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers, and Justice bridged underground and mainstream charts, while digital platforms like Beatport and SoundCloud transformed distribution.
The field encompasses diverse styles: house music (deep house by Kerri Chandler, Chicago house by Marshall Jefferson), techno (Detroit artists Carl Craig, Jeff Mills), trance (German acts Paul van Dyk, Tiësto), drum and bass (UK producers Goldie, Roni Size), dubstep (south London innovators Skream, Benga, and Burial), electro (influenced by Arthur Baker and Tommy Boy Records), ambient (pioneered by Brian Eno and Aphex Twin), synth-pop (Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys), breakbeat (The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim), industrial (Nine Inch Nails, Ministry), future bass (producers like Flume), UK garage (Todd Edwards), and hybrid forms such as electroclash (Peaches, Fischerspooner). Subcultural offshoots include hardcore punk-informed electronic variants and regional genres like jungle and bhangra-inflected dance.
Production relies on hardware and software innovations including the Roland TR-808, Roland TR-909, Moog synthesizer, Yamaha DX7, AKAI MPC, and audio workstations such as Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, and Pro Tools. Sampling culture drew on machines like the E-mu SP-1200 and Akai S950, while effects units from Eventide and Lexicon shaped sound design. MIDI standards developed by companies such as Sequential Circuits enabled integration across instruments, and digital audio distribution was enabled by platforms including Beatport, Bandcamp, and SoundCloud. Mastering and mixing work often reference consoles by SSL and monitors from Genelec, while studios associated with producers like Tangerine Dream and The Bomb Squad built signature timbres.
Clubbing and festival infrastructures include historic venues such as Paradise Garage, The Hacienda, and Ministry of Sound, and festivals like Glastonbury Festival, Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival, Burning Man, Electric Daisy Carnival, and Sónar. Prominent DJs and curators such as Larry Levan, David Guetta, Carl Cox, Sasha, John Digweed, Pete Tong, Francis Grasso, and Richie Hawtin influenced set construction and residency culture. Live electronic performance traditions include acts like Underworld, The Chemical Brothers, Orbital, and modular synthesizer collectives convening at events like Moogfest and MuteK, while nightclub systems developed by sound engineers informed experiences at clubs such as Fabric and Berghain.
Communities formed around scenes in cities including Chicago, Detroit, London, Berlin, New York City, Manchester, Amsterdam, and Tokyo. Movements intertwined with LGBT communities, activist networks like ACT UP, and youth subcultures tied to pirate radio stations such as Kiss FM and Rinse FM, as well as zine networks and labels like Ninja Tune and Warp Records. Cultural debates spanned issues involving drug policy responses exemplified by inquiries such as the Raves and Drugs inquiry in the United Kingdom and legal battles affecting venues like The Hacienda. Visual culture drew on designers and VJ collectives including Lightwave International and collaborations with artists represented by institutions such as TATE Modern.
The industry includes major labels such as Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group, alongside influential indies and imprints like Ministry of Sound, Ninja Tune, Warp Records, XL Recordings, Defected Records, R&S Records, Mute Records, Island Records, and Domino Recording Company. Distribution moved from vinyl pressing at plants like Disc Replex to digital retail via Beatport, streaming on Spotify and Apple Music, and licensing networks serving festivals and sync deals with media conglomerates such as NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Entertainment. Monetization models include touring revenue tracked by Pollstar, sync licensing to studios like Disney, and merch through platforms like Bandcamp.
Artists and producers of note include Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers, Underworld, Fatboy Slim, Moby, Skrillex, Calvin Harris, Deadmau5, Avicii, Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin, Jeff Mills, Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Laurent Garnier, The Prodigy, Orbital, Aphex Twin, Brian Eno, Giorgio Moroder, Kraftwerk, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, Massive Attack, Portishead, Goldie, Roni Size, Burial, Flume, Bjork, Peaches, Fischerspooner, Todd Edwards, Kerri Chandler, Frankie Knuckles, and Larry Levan. Influential labels include Warp Records, Ninja Tune, XL Recordings, Ministry of Sound, Defected Records, R&S Records, Mute Records, Salsoul Records, Tommy Boy Records, Strictly Rhythm, and Chess Records.