Music Conventions/Conferences & EDM's Future

[ftc]

As some of you might be aware, yesterday ended the second Scandinavian Music Convention which took place in Stockholm, Sweden. The two day convention gathered various djs, producers & industry heads along with hosting workhops, debates and expo's. There were also awards handed out during the convention which the winners & nominees are as followed:

Category: Prime Cuts
Nominees / Winners:
Artist/Group: Axwell, Eric Prydz, Rasmus Faber, S.U.M.O., Steve Angello
Winner: Eric Prydz
Club: Cocktail Club, Klubb RA, Main, Monday Bar, Raw Fusion
Winner: Monday Bar
DJ: Adam Beyer, Alf Tumble, Mad Mats, Steve Angello, StoneBridge
Winner: Adam Beyer
Producer/Remixer: Eric Prydz, Jesper Dahlback, Rasmus Faber, S.U.M.O., StoneBridge
Winner: Eric Prydz
12": Axwell "Feel The Vibe", Eric Prydz ft. Adeva "In & Out", Rasmus Faber "Divide/United", S.U.M.O. "Supra Sumo", StoneBridge "Put 'em High" Winner: StoneBride "Put 'em High"
Label: Deeplay/Yell, Farplane, Joia/Nero, Raw Fusion, Size
Winner: Raw Fusion

Category: Urban Cuts
Nominees & Winners:
Artist/Group: Honestly, Latin Kings, Petter, Promoe, Timbuktu
Winner: Promoe
Club: Club Monday, Fatmilk, Illicit, Scratch, Studio One
Winner: Club Monday
Dj: Flars, Janniz, Kid Sid, Taro, Will-Rock
Winner: Kid Sid
Producer/Remixer: DJ Large, Embee, Masse, Red Astaire/Freddie Krueger, Soul Supreme
Winner: Embee
12": Honestly "The Gyminstructor", Petter "Repa Skivan", Promoe "These Walls Don't Lie", Red Astaire "Rolling Stone", The Latin Kings "Cashen Dom"
Winner: Promoe "These Walls Don't Lie"
Label: Hemmalaget, Jugglin', JuJu Records, Redline, Royalty Music
Winner: JuJu Records

In December the first South American Music Conference is planned to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (10-11 Dec) For further details you can check out the official site here And as you all know, WMC the end of march.

What I wanted to strike some attention at is that during such a time when there's a strong belief that electronic dance music and it's culture is being driven underground, what sort of affect will these national and international conventions/conferences have on the scene in general? After recently reading about the decission by British Phonographic Industry on eliminating the "Best Dance Act" from the Brit Awards it had me wondering if mainstream is really turning it's back on edm while ?ber-hyped dj mag top 100 continues to create further dissapointment each year among true edm lovers? what does the future hold for this music we hold so dear? It's hard for me to come up with a convincing answer...

ps. it's my first post on [ms] so hi everyone haven't had much of a chance to really follow & get involved until now. I appologize if this is another addition to the long list of similar discussions but I felt that it's an important issue (may it be from a listener or an industry perspective) and should be given some thought.

[Steve Graham]

Not at all mate.. one of the best 1st posts in my opinion.. welcome aboard, enjoy your stay..

I am actually very happy with the state of EDM being kept underground for the most part. It keeps its mystique. Playing the smaller venues, such as where I saw Sander K last night, the vibe is unreal. Rather than a big production a la tiesto and those trance dj's that seem to think they are bigger than the music they play.

P.S. cheers for the yummy avatar
I forgot what I was just doing

[mixu]

Welcome!

To be honest the whole thing needs to go underground again ? Brit Awards, Grammys and the like encourage major record labels to concentrate on 'big name' acts and shifting units. The 'mainstream' doesn't understand dance music unless it's packaged and pigeonholed. The actual music is sidelined by money, business and marketing...

Just my two ha-penny.

The Underground will live forever baby. We're just like roaches, never dyin, always livin'.

[Steve Graham]

The Underground will live forever baby. We're just like roaches, never dyin, always livin'.

love it!

[mixu]

Re: Music Conventions/Conferences & EDM's Future

I thank you

[skahound]

I thought there was a South American Music Conference already. I could've sworn that I saw adverts for it at the Virgin Megastore (I think?) in South Beach last year during WMC.

[ftc]

Re: Music Conventions/Conferences & EDM's Future

I can understand the benefits the scene might gain from being kept underground but like everything else it most definitly does have a flipside. afterall, the commercialization of this music resulted in involving so many individuals around the globe, motivating them to produce to dj or perhaps just get involved in someway. even if it's just a hobby or passion to follow the music who's right to decide on isolating it from the general public? yes, we all get upset now and then when our certain song is worn out on the radio or when an admired dj becomes a sell-out but afterall, music has no owner. as seen in hiphop and it's culture, for many years the scene underwent change and adjustment before surfacing and some might strictly argue that it was a failure but we can't deny the fact that along popularity and great exposure it has evolved touching so many others lives on the way -- just like edm.

after acknowledging the medallion has two faces I have no doubt this music will continue to live on. I would also like to add that these conventions/conferences are pulling in larger amounts of audiences each year although mainstream relays on the $, peoples hearts will not be empty as long as future thinking, open minded individuals keep continuing pushing things forward.

btw, thanks for the warm welcomes it's good to be here.
glad to be of some distraction unome :wink:

[skahound]

Oh by the way, welcome to the posting world ftc! You back in the states yet?

[ftc]

Oh by the way, welcome to the posting world ftc! You back in the states yet?

thanks skahound i'm still in turkey but plan on a trip to the us before the year's over.

i also want to remind you that with diggers new transitions radio show soon the be test aired out of cali (word being ny is next if successfull), the result will be nothing but more commercialization. don't get me wrong i'm not in support of mainstream-ism just stating the facts so we can see clearly what shape this all is taking...

oh yeah, here is another poll (courtesy of bpm mag)

wasn't there a famous quote along the lines that reguler men evaluate the past, smart men discuss the present and wise men speculate the future? heh.

[ftc]

Re: Music Conventions/Conferences & EDM's Future

I wanted to share some rather fascinating news I came across which might fire up some further discussion...

The first is hewlett-packards computerized DJ which tracks the crowds response to the vibe and plays similar sounds to keep them going. In 2002 an earlier version of HPDJ was tested in a london venue for initial results.

"Although the software managed to fool a third of the clubbers into believing a human DJ was at the turntables, our panel of professional DJs was more sceptical. But then again, they will be the ones to lose out if it works.

Dave Cliff from hp's labs in bristol plans on perfecting this by giving clubbers a wristband that will calculate their body heat & heart beats and feed the info back to the HPDJ via bluetooth.

"Every dance song comprises a number of different tracks, such as drum patterns, bass lines, keyboard hooks and vocals. To create a song, the HPDJ chooses tracks from a large library and then modifies and overlays them, based on the vibe coming from the dance floor."

For further info: article

Secondly, a dj-mobile/van concept designed by the toyota motor corp. called "Hiace Sound Satellite" which was previewed at the tokyo motor show.



"The double doors on the left side open to reveal a 'revolving open studio' equipped with a counter, audio gear and other gizmos, while a 'revolving merchandise showcase' emerges on the right. The vehicle can be used as a DJ booth, to set up equipment for an event, display goods, etc. The vehicle is also fitted with audio gear, indoor lighting and other equipment for outdoor events."



for further info: article

[skahound]

I don't know, I don't see any CDJs in that van. Back to the drawing board Toyota!

[mixu]

Re: Music Conventions/Conferences & EDM's Future

I want one of these! Now!



Not sure about the computerised DJs though ? it needs a human touch IMO. :wink:

[rewing3]

THat looks pretty sweet.