In What Country Did Electronic Dance Music Explode?

In the 1990s, electronic dance music exploded in popularity in the United States. In what country did this happen?

The United Kingdom

During the 2010s, electronic dance music exploded in popularity around the world, but it was in the United Kingdom where the genre really took off. Home to some of the world’s biggest EDM festivals, like Tomorrowland and Creamfields, as well as iconic clubs like fabric and Ministry of Sound, the UK has been at the forefront of the EDM scene for years.

The popularity of EDM in the UK can be traced back to the early days of rave culture in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Raves were often held in illegal warehouses and clubs, and were known for their hedonistic atmosphere and all-night dancing. This underground culture eventually made its way into mainstream clubs in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with trance being one of the most popular genres of EDM at that time.

Today, EDM is more popular than ever in the UK, with new festivals and clubs popping up all over the country. And with British EDM artists winning Grammy Awards and headlining some of the biggest festivals in the world, it’s clear that this is a genre that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

The United States

The United States is considered the birthplace of electronic dance music. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, pioneers like Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder, and Afrika Bambaataa began experimenting with synthesizers and drum machines to create new sounds. This new style of music quickly caught on with clubgoers in the U.S., and by the mid-1980s, electronic dance music was a common fixture at clubs and parties across the country.

In the 1990s, electronic dance music experienced a major resurgence in popularity, thanks in part to the rise of rave culture. Raves were large-scale dance parties that often went on all night, and they featured a wide range of electronic music styles, from techno and house to Drum & Bass and trance. The rave scene was particularly popular in the U.S., and it helped to make electronic dance music more mainstream than ever before.

Today, electronic dance music is enjoyed all over the world, but it still holds a special place in the hearts of many American clubgoers.

Australia

In the mid-1980s, electronic dance music exploded in popularity in Australia. The country’s unique approach to the genre, as well as its geographical location, helped it become a global epicenter for EDM culture.

Australia’s love affair with electronic dance music began in the early 1980s, when imported disco records and home-grown Australian acts like Mental As Anything and Pseudo Echo caught on with clubgoers. By the mid-1980s, electronic dance music had become a mainstream phenomenon, with huge club nights and outdoor festivals attracting huge crowds.

The country’s unique approach to the genre helped it become a global epicenter for EDM culture. In Australia, DJs didn’t just play music, they created entire visual and emotional experiences for their audiences. This created a strong sense of community among clubbers, which was further strengthened by the country’s geographic isolation.

While Australia is no longer the only country with a thriving electronic dance music scene, it remains an important player in the global EDM community.

Germany

In the 1990s, electronic dance music exploded in popularity in Germany. The country’s club culture and electronic music scene was world-renowned, and it became a hotbed for some of the biggest names in EDM. Germany is still considered a major player in the dance music industry, and its clubs continue to attract tourists from all over the globe.

France

It’s impossible to say where electronic dance music, or EDM, as it’s now commonly known, first exploded. But if we’re talking about a specific country, then France is definitely up there.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, French producers and DJs were responsible for some of the most iconic trance and house tracks of all time. think Daft Punk’s “One More Time,” Bob Sinclar’s “World, Hold On,” and David Guetta’s “Just a Little More Love.”

These days, EDM has become a global phenomenon, with huge festivals like Tomorrowland and Ultra attracting millions of fans from all over the world. But it all started in France, where the sound was pioneered by legendary figures like Laurent Garnier, Sven Vath, and of course, Daft Punk.