On the State of EDM: “I Think This Is Comparable to the Generation Shift of the 60s.”
That’s a bold statement, innit? I twas made by CAA’s managing partner and head of music, Rob Light at the EDM Biz conference in Las Vegas. Billboard reports.
“In the ’50s there was rock’n’roll and it was cool and it was somewhat underground,” Light explained. “Then, in 1964, television [was] just coming into its own — but nobody understood the power of it until The Beatles walked on Ed Sullivan. It started a counter culture, a generation shift and a youth movement… you are now in that same moment, because [digital] technology is [the new] television.”
Such heady ideas were top-of-mind for all panelists throughout the two-day industry summit. Every panelist seemed to primarily be compelled to answer the many questions about how to handle EDM’s exploding popularity and what it all means. Last year’s inaugural event addressed concerns about “selling out” amid new attention from corporate entertainment companies, this year’s conference seemed to be designed to celebrate the arrival of corporate sponsors, multi-national promoters, and major labels, if not champion it. Throughout the two days, panelists and attendees were fervently looking forward while trying to reflect on how the industry has exploded in such a short period of time.
EDM really has bigger meaning and influence than ever and the internet plays a huge role here indeed.
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