Friday Five: What’s Next For Dance Music After EDM?

In this week’s Friday Five, we’re leading with a piece from The Los Angeles Times that speculates about what the next big trends in dance music are, post-EDM. We’ve also got pieces from Vox, Mixmag, I-D, and Flypaper. Have a great weekend ahead!

1. What’s Next For Dance Music After EDM? – The Coachella festival in the US has been EDM’s stomping grounds for the better part of the 2010s. That’s been taken over by hip hop and trap, which is the preferred party music for younger millennials and Gen Z kids. What does this mean for dance music? The Los Angeles Times explores Read more
2. The Disco Invention That Changed Pop – The 12″ vinyl single is iconic not just for its look and history, but also because of the dancefloor-ready quality of the music that was allowed on it. Vox has it Watch it
3. Pay To Play Is Not OK – You’ve probably come across venues and promoters who promise to get you a “slot” in exchange for tickets sold. Here’s why they’re bad for DJing – Mixmag has it Read more
4. Are Pop Music Genres Dead? – Gen Z artists like Billie Eilish and Sofia Reyes are completely rewriting the rules of pop music. Here’s why that matters to you and your DJ sets. I-D has it Read more
5. Why You Need A Positive Mindset To Get Far In DJing – Making it in music is as much a mental game as it is a physical / skills-based one. Flypaper explains why it’s “all in your head” Read more

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