Electronic Dance Music in the 1990s
A look at how electronic dance music became mainstream in the 1990s and the artists that were responsible for its popularity.
The Beginnings of EDM
Electronic dance music, also known as EDM, exploded onto the music scene in the 1990s. This new genre of music was characterized by its heavy use of synthesizers, drum machines, and computer-generated sounds. EDM quickly became a popular choice for club and rave goers, and its popularity has only continued to grow in the years since.
The first electronic dance tracks
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a new wave of electronic dance music began to emerge. This new style of music was influenced by a wide range of genres, including house, techno, disco, and experimental rock.
One of the earliest and most influential electronic dance tracks was “Give It Up” by The KLF. Released in 1991, this song blended elements of house, disco, and techno to create a unique and infectious sound.
Another important early track was “Age of Love” by The Age of Love. Released in 1992, this song helped to popularize the emerging genre of trance music.
Over the next few years, electronic dance music would continue to evolve and grow in popularity. By the mid-1990s, it had become one of the most popular genres in the world.
The birth of house music
In the early 1980s, electronic dance music was created by DJs and producers in Chicago who were influence by disco, post-disco and electronic music. This new genre of music was originally called house music because it was often played in clubs and warehouses that were converted into makeshift dance clubs. House music quickly gained popularity in the United States and Europe, and by the 1990s, it had become one of the most popular genres of dance music.
The Rise of EDM
Electronic Dance Music, or EDM, began to take form in the early 1990s. This new genre of music was a fusion of various styles such as techno, house, and trance. EDM quickly began to take over the charts and was soon being played at clubs and festivals all over the world. The 1990s was a decade that saw the rise of many new genres of music, but EDM was one of the most influential.
The popularity of rave culture
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the popularity of rave culture began to grow in the United Kingdom. Rave culture is a subculture that is associated with electronic music, parties, and illicit drug use. The first raves were small, underground parties that were held in warehouses or fields. They were often advertised through word-of-mouth or flyers that were distributed in clubs, record stores, or on college campuses.
As rave culture began to grow in popularity, the media began to take notice. In 1992, the British television show Top of the Pops aired a special episode dedicated to rave music. This show helped to bring rave culture into the mainstream. In the same year, the film Human Traffic was released. This film is about illegal drug use at raves and helped to popularize rave culture even further.
By the mid-1990s, electronic dance music was becoming more popular in North America. In 1997, the film The Symposium: A Journey Into Electronic Dance Music was released. This documentary explored the growing popularity of electronic dance music in North America and featured interviews with some of the biggest names in the genre, including Fatboy Slim and Moby.
The late 1990s saw a massive increase in commercialization of electronic dance music. In 1999, the first Ultra Music Festival was held in Miami, Florida. This festival is now one of the largest electronic dance music festivals in the world. In 2000, EDM artist Paul Oakenfold performed at Madison Square Garden as part of MTV’s New Year’s Eve celebration. This performance helped to solidify electronic dance music’s place in popular culture.
The rise of techno music
The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the rise of techno music, a type of electronic dance music that was popular in nightclubs. Techno music was often characterized by repetitive, synthesized melodies and beats, and it quickly became a staple of the club scene.
In the mid-1990s, a new subgenre of techno known as trance began to emerge. Trance music was often characterized by dreamlike, hypnotic melodies and pounding beats. It quickly gained popularity among clubgoers and became one of the most popular genres of electronic dance music.
Today, techno and trance music continue to be popular genres, with both old and new artists releasing new tracks regularly. EDM remains a staple of the club scene, and it shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
The Mainstreaming of EDM
In the 1990s, electronic dance music began to enter the mainstream. This was due to the popularity of club culture and the influence of rave culture. DJs began to play a more important role in the music industry, and producers began to create more commercialized and radio-friendly music. However, this new wave of EDM was not without its critics.
The popularity of trance music
EDM, or electronic dance music, is a genre of music that originated in the early 1990s. Trance music is one of the most popular subgenres of EDM, and it was particularly popular in the 1990s. Trance music is characterized by hypnotic rhythms and melodies, and it often features samples from other genres of music, such as pop and classical.
The popularity of drum and bass
In the early 1990s, electronic dance music (EDM) began to gain popularity in the United Kingdom. A key development was the popularity of drum and bass, a form of EDM that originated in the UK. Drum and bass became popular because it was seen as an alternative to other genres such as jungle and house. In the mid-1990s, drum and bass began to be played at clubs in the United States, and by the late 1990s, it had become one of the most popular genres of EDM.
The Decline of EDM
In the 1990s, electronic dance music was on the rise. It was a new and exciting genre that was taking the world by storm. But by the end of the decade, EDM was on the decline. There were a number of factors that contributed to its decline. Let’s take a look at some of them.
The rise of other genres
The 1990s saw the rise of other genres of electronic music, such as trip hop, big beat, and ambient. These genres were often more experimental and eclectic than EDM, and they represented a significant challenge to the hegemony of EDM. In particular, trip hop and big beat were popular in the UK, where they emerged from the club culture of the early 1990s. These genres were also influenced by hip hop and punk rock, and they often incorporated elements of those genres into their sound.
In the late 1990s, a new generation of producers began to experiment with digital audio production technologies, such as software synthesizers and drum machines. This new generation was less beholden to the conventions of EDM, and they began to create new sounds that didn’t fit neatly into any one genre. As a result, the late 1990s saw a marked increase in musical experimentation in the electronic music scene.
The decline of rave culture
The 1990s saw the decline of rave culture and the rise of electronic dance music (EDM). Rave culture was known for its eccentricities, hedonism and illegal drug use. This culture began to decline in the late 1990s, as law enforcement cracked down on illegal raves and clubs. The crackdown on rave culture led to the rise of EDM, as DJs and producers sought to distance themselves from the illegal and often dangerous aspects of rave culture.
EDM became popular in North America and Europe in the early 2000s. The popularity of EDM was aided by the birth of social media, which allowed DJs and producers to connect with fans around the world. The 2010s saw the rise ofEDM festivals, which helped to further popularize the genre.
Today, EDM is one of the most popular genres in the world, with artists like Calvin Harris and Avicii topping charts worldwide.
