What Is EDM? The Story Behind Electronic Dance Music

DJV
Apr 14
5 min read

DJV - Blog 001 - What is EDM

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What Is EDM?

Electronic Dance Music (EDM) encompasses a diverse range of electronic music genres crafted primarily for nightclubs, raves, and festivals. While the acronym "EDM" first appeared in 1980 on the sleeve of the UK synth-pop single "European Man" by Landscape, described as “Electronic Dance Music… EDM: computer programmed to perfection for your listening pleasure”—a phrase repeated in four languages—this usage was purely descriptive and disconnected from the rhythmic, club-driven sound we now associate with the genre. The musical style and culture behind modern EDM trace back to the United States, particularly the emergence of house music in Chicago and techno in Detroit during the early 1980s. The term “EDM” didn’t gain commercial traction until the late 2000s, when the American music industry adopted it as a catch-all label to market the rising popularity of festival-driven electronic genres.

Where Did EDM Begin?

House music originated in early 1980s Chicago, emerging from a fusion of disco, soul, and electronic experimentation. While Frankie Knuckles, often hailed as the "Godfather of House," laid the groundwork at The Warehouse, Ron Hardy and his sets at the Music Box played a pivotal role in shaping the genre’s raw and energetic sound.

In 1984, Jesse Saunders released On & On, widely regarded as the first commercially available house record. A year later, Chip E. solidified the genre with his Jack Trax EP, notably "Time to Jack," one of the earliest house records to rely entirely on drum machines rather than disco sampling. These innovations relied heavily on tools like the Roland TR-808 and TR-909, allowing artists to blend sampled disco rhythms with synthesized beats. Unlike European electronic pioneers such as Kraftwerk, who focused on avant-garde synth experimentation, Chicago producers were creating music with one goal: to make people dance.

Meanwhile, in Detroit, the Belleville Three — Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson — developed techno, a futuristic electronic sound inspired by funk, electro, and synth-pop that paralleled Chicago's house movement.

How Did House Go Mainstream?

In 1992, Robin S.’s Show Me Love (remixed by StoneBridge) became a global sensation, fusing house rhythms with pop vocals. That same year, Snap! released Rhythm Is a Dancer, which topped charts across Europe and marked one of the first true commercial house music crossovers.

By 1998, the Grammy Awards introduced the category for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical, with Frankie Knuckles winning the inaugural award, signaling institutional recognition for the genre.

In the early 2000s, U.S. pop and hip-hop artists began integrating electronic and house elements into their sound, laying the foundation for what would later be marketed as EDM.

One of the clearest examples was Madonna’s 2000 hit "Music"—produced by French electro artist Mirwais Ahmadzaï—which fused electro-funk with dance-pop. The track topped charts in over 25 countries and signaled pop’s growing embrace of digital rhythms. In 2005, Missy Elliott released "Lose Control", a chart-topping single featuring Ciara and Fatman Scoop that directly sampled "Clear" by Cybotron, bridging early Detroit techno with 2000s mainstream hip-hop.

From 2006 to 2008, this momentum continued as mainstream U.S. artists began crafting dance-influenced tracks that reflected house music’s pulse. Justin Timberlake’s "SexyBack" brought synth-driven, four-on-the-floor energy to pop radio. Timbaland’s "The Way I Are", with its stripped-down, club-ready beat, echoed the structure of early house tracks. Even artists like M.I.A. with "Bucky Done Gun" and "Bamboo Banga" introduced global dance rhythms that blended jungle, baile funk, and grime—subgenres adjacent to the rising EDM framework. These songs, though not yet labeled as EDM, familiarized U.S. listeners with electronic dance-oriented production, laying the groundwork for the genre's eventual commercial breakthrough.

Who Took EDM Mainstream?

EDM officially went mainstream in 2009. That year, "Boom Boom Pow" by The Black Eyed Peas topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks. It was followed closely by "When Love Takes Over" by David Guetta and Kelly Rowland, which reached #1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart and was later named Billboard’s #1 Dance-Pop Collaboration of All Time in 2014.

"I Gotta Feeling", also produced by Guetta for The Black Eyed Peas, has been called the track that “changed everything” and helped usher electronic music into U.S. radio, as Guetta told Deseret News.

While “Boom Boom Pow” may have charted higher, Guetta’s melodic production and genre-blending collaborations are widely credited with making electronic music palatable for American pop radio audiences.

Guetta followed up with "Sexy Bitch" featuring Akon and "Without You" featuring Usher—both fusing EDM with R&B appeal. Afrojack broke into U.S. pop with "Give Me Everything" alongside Pitbull, Ne-Yo, and Nayer. Calvin Harris and Rihanna’s "We Found Love" became a global radio staple. Avicii's "Levels" defined a generation and was famously sampled by Flo Rida in "Good Feeling".

Skrillex earned multiple Grammys for "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites", while Zedd won Best Dance Recording for "Clarity" featuring Foxes. DJ Snake and Lil Jon exploded with "Turn Down for What". And Steve Aoki's remix of Kid Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness" became a festival staple, further cemented by its appearance in Project X. Diplo and Major Lazer’s "Lean On" became one of the most streamed tracks of the decade.

The rise of mega-festivals like EDC, Ultra Music Festival, and Tomorrowland turned these records into massive, immersive experiences—fueling tourism, brand partnerships, and global fandom that helped EDM grow into a $6.9 billion industry by 2015.

What Is EDM Today?

In 2023, Beyoncé made history by becoming the most Grammy-awarded artist of all time, with her house-inspired single "Break My Soul" leading the charge in her Best Dance/Electronic Album win.

Today, EDM is widely used as an industry term—by platforms like Spotify, Beatport, and Billboard—to organize genres such as house, techno, trance, dubstep, trap, hardstyle, etc.

Yet many DJs and fans reject the EDM label. As noted by Mixmag and Dancecult Journal, the term “EDM” is often used for commercial purposes, while some producers and listeners prefer genre-specific identities or feel the term has become too closely tied to mainstream festival culture.

Still, as long as platforms, charts, and festivals continue to use the term, EDM remains the most accessible way to unify the culture’s diversity. Whether you’re spinning techno, vibing to trance, or jackin’ to house—know this: genres may divide us, but the beat always brings us back together.

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