A ‘global lobbying and advocacy group’ has been formed to represent the electronic music community.
Music Week reports that a new non-profit organisation has been formed with the stated intention of representing the electronic music community. The Association for Electronic Music (AFEM) is, apparently, “the first international trade body representing a single genre since the Country Music Association began in 1958″.
The AFEM was announced this week at the midem music conference. Looking at the organisation’s mission statement raises more questions than it answers. How exactly will a board composed almost entirely of major record label representatives, agents and managers of A-list artists serve the entirety of the electronic music ‘community’.
More to the point, does it even need representing? Electronic music has survived pretty well for the last few decades without the intervention of any governing bodies or lobby groups. What exactly is ‘advancing the cause of electronic music’? The presence of so many big-money major label players on the board makes the cynic in us question whether ‘maximising the revenue from electronic music’ might be a more honestly stated agenda.
The choice of ambassador seems equally confusing. It’s clear that Nile Rodgers is a true legend of popular music. There’s no doubt that he’s an absolutely charming man – we’ve met him and loved every minute of it. Likewise, his credentials for making people dance are unimpeachable. But, Daft Punk collab aside, does he really represent the state of contemporary electronic music?
Which leads to our next point. Exactly what kind of music are we talking about here? The quotes from AFEM representatives use the terms ‘electronic music’, ‘dance music’ and ‘electronic dance music’ interchangeably. Aren’t those three subtly different, overlapping subsets of popular music as a whole? In fact, that the only term which is conspicuous by its absence is the three-letter acronym du jour. Surely some mistake? Could the majors really already be doubting the long-term potential of the EDM craze…?
What do you think? Does AFEM represent you? Do you need an industry lobby group to represent you? Is it all just a cynical attempt to exploit the current mainstream popularity of dance music? Join the conversation below…
10.34 PM
Ugh, the last thing we need is another RIAA-esque body, especially for a music genre which almost thrives off of sharing.
10.37 PM
With the upcoming buy-out of entities affiliated with the vast majority of these board members – I can’t help but think this ‘lobby group’ will simply be used to better themselves and get what they want from American decision makers.
Seemingly ‘EDM’ is the next big thing so all the big players are being bought out to create a super group of companies in the American music industry.
I doubt this will have any affect on the other side of the pond, it never does.
10.45 PM
Hit the nail on the head there. Dance music has been doing just fine for years without a bunch of corporate fat cats “representing” us.
I wonder what could possibly have made the major labels suddenly take an interest in “advancing the cause” of “a genre worth $4bn in 2012”? Where were they 10 years ago when we were having the fucking Strokes shoved down our throats? Oh, that’s right… advancing the cause of tedious guitar-based rock.
The sooner EDM dies out the better. Then all the TRUE dance music community can go back to doing what we’ve been doing for years. And that’s not some kind of DJ Sneak bullshit (don’t get me started on him – another one trying to cash in on commercial EDM, just in a slightly different way), just the truth from someone who was doing this long before EDM came along and who’ll be doing it long after it f*cks off!!!
03.51 AM
Hey man, I like the strokes.
09.19 AM
It has nothing to do with electronic music outside of USA or outside of this pop EDM shit. The list of people involved couldn’t care less about the music, they want to rinse as much coin from the public while they have the chance.
We don’t need ’em… The underground will live forever baby, we just like roaches, never die, always living.
05.56 PM
The boardroom conversation that led to this was full of the terms “growth” and “untapped market”.