Electronic Dance Music Finally Gets the Grammy Recognition It Deserves
Contents
It’s about time that electronic dance music gets the recognition it deserves from the Grammy Awards. Finally, the genre is being given a chance to shine on the world’s biggest stage.
Introduction
Since the 1970s, electronic dance music (EDM) has been a staple in the music industry. From its origins in nightclubs and underground parties, to its current status as one of the most popular genres in the world, EDM has come a long way.
Despite its mainstream success, EDM has always been snubbed by the prestigious Grammy Awards. This is starting to change, however, as more and more EDM artists are being nominated for Grammys. In 2018, for example, The Chainsmokers became the first EDM act to win the Grammy for Best Dance Recording.
This is a significant development, as it suggests that the Grammys are finally starting to take EDM seriously as an art form. This is good news for EDM artists and fans alike, as it means that the genre will continue to receive the recognition it deserves.
History of electronic dance music
EDM, or electronic dance music, has been around since the 1970s when disco was at its peak(EDM, para. 1). Since then, it has evolved and taken many different forms. In the 1990s, house and techno music became popular in Europe, and in the 2000s, dubstep and trance music rose to popularity. In the past few years, EDM has exploded in popularity, and it is now one of the most popular genres of music in the world.
Early electronic music
The first electronic music was made in the early 20th century. In 1897, Thaddeus Cahill invented the Telharmonium, which was an electronic musical instrument. It was very large and expensive, so it was not widely used. In the early 1900s, composers such as Edgar Varese and Luigi Russolo began to experiment with new ways to create musical sounds using electrical circuits and electronic devices. This led to the development of new electronic instruments, such as the Theremin and the Ondes Martenot.
In the 1930s, electronic music began to be used in film soundtracks. The first electronically generated sound in a film was in Disney’s “Fantasia” in 1940. In the 1950s, composers such as Vladimir Ussachevsky and Karlheinz Stockhausen began to experiment with new ways to create music using tape recorders and other electronics. This led to the development of musique concrète and experimental music.
In the 1960s, artists such as Steve Reich, Terry Riley, and composer Pierre Henri created minimal music using repetition and phasing techniques with live instruments and tape recorders. In 1966, Warsaw-born Klaus Schulze co-founded Tangerine Dream, a group often considered one of the pioneers of “krautrock”, a German form of experimental rock that combined electric guitars with synthesizers and other electronic devices
The birth of disco
The birth of disco is often traced back to a New York City nightclub called the Loft, which was opened in the early 1970s by David Mancuso. The Loft was a private club, invite-only, with a strict set of guidelines: no drugs, no alcohol, and no talking on the dance floor. The music was loud and nonstop, and the atmosphere was one of total acceptance—a safe space for people of all colors, religions, and sexual orientations to come together and dance.
The disco sound was born out of this environment, a blend of African-American soul and Latin rhythms that were irresistible to dancers. The genre exploded in popularity in the mid-1970s, thanks in part to hits like Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” and the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive.” But as disco became more mainstream, it also became more commercialized—and that led to its downfall.
By the early 1980s, disco had lost its underground credibility and become a much-derided cultural phenomenon. But its legacy lived on in the form of electronic dance music (EDM), a genre that would come to dominate clubs and festivals around the world.
The rise of house music
The 1980s saw the rise of electronic dance music, with artists such as Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder and Afrika Bambaataa pioneering new sounds and styles. This new music was often played in nightclubs, which were becoming increasingly popular places to socialize and dance. House music, a style of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s, became particularly popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. House music is characterized by a strong 4/4 beat, often with a driving bassline and layered synth melodies.
The popularity of techno
By the early 1990s, the popularity of techno had begun to spread beyond its birthplace in Detroit. The genre found a home in several European cities, including Berlin,Manchester, and Prague. In 1992, the first large-scale techno festival, Mayday, was held in Berlin. The event attracted more than 30,000 people and featured several well-known DJs, including Paul van Dyk and Sven Vath. In the following years, techno festivals were held in various cities around the world, from Sao Paulo to San Francisco.
Grammy recognition of electronic dance music
It’s about time. Electronic dance music has been around for decades, but it has only recently started to get the mainstream recognition it deserves. Last night, the Grammy Awards finally gave some well-deserved love to the genre, with wins in the Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Dance Recording categories.
The first Grammy for electronic dance music
The first Grammy for electronic dance music was awarded in 1998, to the Chemical Brothers for their album Dig Your Own Hole. Since then, a handful of other EDM artists have been nominated for Grammys, but none have won. That changed this year, when Skrillex won three Grammy Awards, including Best Dance Recording and Best Dance/Electronica Album.
This is a huge deal for the EDM community, and Skrillex’s wins are well-deserved. His debut album, Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, was a game-changer for the genre, and he has continued to push the boundaries of what is possible with electronic music. His live performances are legendary, and his production work is some of the best in the business.
Skrillex’s wins are a sign that the Grammys are finally starting to take electronic dance music seriously. This is a genre that has been growing steadily in popularity over the past decade, and it’s great to see it being recognized by the music industry’s most prestigious award.
The increase in Grammy nominations for electronic dance music
The past few years has seen an increase in Grammy nominations for electronic dance music, with producers and DJs such as Skrillex, Calvin Harris anddeadmau5 becoming household names. This is a far cry from the days when the genre was considered to be a niche interest, and it is a testament to the hard work and talent of those who have pushed it into the mainstream.
This year’s Grammy Awards will feature several nominees in the ‘Best Dance/Electronic Album’ category, including Flume, Justice and LCD Soundsystem. This is a significant increase from previous years, and it is clear that the Academy is finally recognising the talents of those who work within this genre.
This increased visibility is sure to lead to even more success for electronic dance music, and it is an exciting time for those who are involved in its development. With more and more people taking an interest in this style of music, there is no doubt that we will see even more groundbreaking work in the years to come.
Conclusion
The popularity of electronic dance music has been on the rise in recent years, and finally, the Grammy Awards have taken notice. In 2018, the Academy expanded the number of nominations in the Best Dance/Electronic Album category from five to eight. The move garnered mixed reactions from the EDM community, with some ecstatic that their favorite artists were finally being recognized and others feeling that the expansion devalued the award.
Regardless of how you feel about the Academy’s decision, there’s no denying that EDM has made a huge impact on the music industry and deserves to be celebrated. So whether you’re a diehard fan or just getting into the genre, be sure to check out this year’s Grammy-nominated albums. You might just find your new favorite artist!
