How Electronic Dance Music Came to Be in 1986

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

How Electronic Dance Music Came to Be in 1986 – The year 1986 was a big one for electronic dance music. It was the year that the first ever EDM festival was held, and it was also the year that the first ever EDM song was released.

Origins of Electronic Dance Music

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the electronic music genres that would form the basis for EDM began to emerge. These genres included disco, new wave, and synth-pop. In the mid-1980s, a new type of electronic music known as house music emerged. House music was created by DJs who were influenced by disco, new wave, and synth-pop.

Pre-cursors to EDM in the late 1970s and early 1980s

It is difficult to pin point an exact moment or origin of electronic dance music, as the genre has been constantly evolving over the past few decades. However, we can trace some of the early pre-cursors to EDM back to the late 1970s and early 1980s. At this time, a new style of music was emerging that would soon come to be known as disco. Disco music was characterized by its use of synthesizers and electronic instruments, as well as its focus on danceability. This new style of music quickly gained popularity in nightclubs and discotheques around the world.

In addition to disco, another genre that helped lay the groundwork for EDM was techno. Techno is a type of electronic dance music that originated in Detroit, Michigan in the early 1980s. This genre was heavily influenced by Afro-American music, particularly funk and soul. Techno is characterized by its use of repetitive beats and textures, as well as its focus on futurism and technology. Both disco and techno would go on to have a significant impact on the development of EDM.

The development of Chicago house music in the mid-1980s

In 1985, DJ Pierre, a resident DJ at the Knuckles club in Chicago, was inspired by a synthesizer melody he heard while attending a Farley “Jackmaster” Funk performance. He mixed that melody with a drum machine track and played it at the club. The track was an instant hit with the dancers and became known as “Phuture’s Acid Tracks.”

The Birth of EDM

In the summer of 1986, a new kind of music was born. At a small club in Ibiza, Spain, a new sound was coming out of the speakers. Electronic dance music, or EDM, was the result of a perfect storm of technology, culture, and people coming together.

The first EDM rave in the United Kingdom in 1986

In 1986, Jeff Mills, a DJ from the United States, was living in London. He was playing at a club called Heaven when he met Paul Oakenfold and Alex Patterson, two other DJs who were also trying to make it in the UK. The three of them hit it off and decided to start their own club night. They called it Future Shock and held the first event on October 24th, 1986 at Heaven.

The party was a huge success and word quickly spread about this new type of music that was being played at Future Shock. More and more people started showing up to the events and soon Mills, Oakenfold, and Patterson were throwing parties all over the UK. They even started selling mix tapes of their sets so people could listen to the music at home.

The popularity of Future Shock led to the birth of electronic dance music (EDM) in the UK. EDM would go on to become one of the biggest genres in the world, with millions of fans all over the globe.

The spread of EDM to the United States in the late 1980s

In the late 1980s, electronic dance music began to spread to the United States, arriving in New York and Los Angeles. This was in part due to the influence of English rave culture, which had been growing in popularity since the late 1980s. At first, raves were small underground parties that were only attended by a few hundred people. However, as word of mouth spread about these parties, they became increasingly popular, and by the early 1990s, raves were being held on a regular basis in major cities across the country.

The Rise of EDM

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, disco music was on the decline. This is the case for many reasons which we will explore later. However, a new type of music was on the rise: electronic dance music, or EDM. This type of music has its roots in Jamaican dub and reggae music, as well as in European electronic music.

The popularity of EDM in the early 1990s

In the early 1990s, the popularity of EDM began to rise in the United States. This was due to the increasing popularity of rave culture and the development of new technologies such as trance and techno music.

The first major breakthrough for EDM came in 1992 with the release of The Death album by English musician John Peel. This album featured a remix of the track “Deep Throat” by American producer Moby. The remix was a hit with clubgoers and helped to popularize EDM in the United States.

In 1993, American record label Astralwerks released the debut album of French DJ Laurent Garnier. The album, entitled 30, was a collection of Garnier’s singles and remixes. It was well-received by critics and helped to further increase the popularity of EDM in America.

By 1994, EDM had become one of the most popular genres of music in the United States. This was due in part to the success of Garnier’s album and also to the increasing popularity of rave culture. In addition, several new technologies were developed during this time that helped to make EDM more accessible to a wider audience. These technologies included software programs such as Pro Tools and Ableton Live, which made it easier for DJs and producers to create and manipulate electronic music.

The commercialization of EDM in the late 1990s and early 2000s

While electronic dance music was underground for many years, it began to rise in popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This was due in part to the commercialization of the genre, as more and more clubs and festivals began to feature EDM artists. This increased exposure helped to attract new fans and propel the genre into the mainstream.

In the years that followed, EDM continued to grow in popularity, with festivals like Ultra Music Festival and Tomorrowland becoming household names. Today, EDM is one of the most popular genres of music in the world, and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down.

The Present and Future of EDM

Electronic dance music has come a long way since it was first introduced in the late 1970s. Today, EDM is one of the most popular genres of music, with a strong following all over the world. In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of EDM and where it’s headed in the future.

The popularity of EDM in the 2010s

EDM, or electronic dance music, has exploded in popularity in recent years. What was once a niche genre enjoyed mainly by club-goers and rave enthusiasts has now crossed over into the mainstream, with EDM tracks routinely topping the charts and selling out stadium concerts.

So how did this happen? How did a genre that was once fairly unknown become one of the most popular genres in the world?

It all started in 1986, with a song called “Pump Up The Volume” by English artist MARRS. This song became a surprise hit, reaching #8 on the UK Singles Chart and #2 on the US Dance Chart. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.

While “Pump Up The Volume” was certainly influential, it wasn’t until the early 1990s that EDM really started to take off. This was due in large part to the rise of rave culture and clubs like Manchester’s Hacienda, which became well-known for their all-night parties featuring world-famous DJs like Paul Oakenfold and Carl Cox.

As EDM continued to grow in popularity, more and more mainstream artists began incorporating elements of it into their own music. In 1997, Madonna released her album Ray of Light, which featured several tracks with an unmistakable EDM influence. Other artists soon followed suit, and by the early 2000s, EDM had well and truly arrived in the mainstream.

Since then, EDM has only continued to grow in popularity. In 2012, Avicii’s track “Levels” became a worldwide smash hit, reaching #1 in several countries and selling over 8 million copies worldwide. In 2013, Daft Punk’s album Random Access Memories topped the charts in several countries and won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.

And EDM shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon – if anything, it seems poised for even greater success in the years to come. So put on your dancing shoes and get ready for a musical revolution!

The future of EDM

In the 1980s, electronic dance music was created by DJing and sampling. DJs would play records and use a mixer to transition between them. They also began to add their own beats and sounds to the music, which created new genres like hip hop and techno. Sampling allowed DJs to incorporate parts of other songs into their mixes, which made the music more interesting and exciting.

Today, EDM is one of the most popular genres of music in the world. It is enjoyed by people of all ages and from all walks of life. The future of EDM looks very bright, as more and more people are discovering its unique sound and style.

There are many different sub-genres of EDM, such as house, trance, dubstep, and drum & bass. Each sub-genre has its own unique sound and style. The popularity of EDM has led to the rise of numerous festivals and clubs dedicated to the genre. These events are often attended by tens of thousands of people, who come together to dance and enjoy the music.

The future of EDM looks very promising, as it continues to grow in popularity all over the world. With its catchy melodies, powerful basslines, and exciting atmosphere, it is easy to see why so many people enjoy this genre of music.

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