INDUSTRY
ADE Announces Virtual Event and “Extended Digital Program with Limited Physical Networking”
After rampant speculation regarding the future of iconic dance music convention Amsterdam Dance Event, organizers have announced a virtual edition. ADE representatives published a lengthy blog post on July 23rd, 2020 detailing the impetus behind their decision. “The past four months have been one of the most unprecedented and challenging times in ADE’s history,” the post reads. “During this period, we have closely followed each new development of the COVID-19 virus and the consequent countermeasures, while choosing to stay focused on the possibilities for our 2020 edition rather than this year’s limitations.” Organizers went on to announces the conference’s inaugural foray into theh virtual space, writing that an “online-first format” is on the hor...
Leading VR Company Redpill Announces Three New Livestream Music Performances
As part of their continued efforts to alchemize the worlds of live music and virtual reality, leading VR company Redpill has announced three new music livestreaming events in partnership with Renaissance Records. The livestream series, called “Renaissance Engage,” will feature performances by Patrice Bäumel, Franky Wah, and Yotto. They will be funneling bespoke, trailblazing DJ sets from their homes straight to viewers’ devices. Viewers will also be able to experience a special preview of the latest in event virtualization and social VR technology, courtesy of Redpill VR. The new shows follow a successful summer for the “Renaissance Engage” series, which featured scintillating performances from legendary producers Hernan Cattaneo, Danny Tenaglia, and Sasha....
Spotify Enters the Video Space with “Vodcasts”
Spotify is slowly but surely is encroaching on YouTube territory with the launch of video podcasts, or “vodcasts.” The objective behind the rollout of the new feature is to provide a more engaging experience between fans and their favorite podcasters. It should come as no surprise that visual aspects provide an enhanced sense of connection that audio sometimes cannot. Being able to see the hosts’ mannerisms and their environment opens up the opportunity to draw in a new demographic of fans who may have previously stayed away from the audio medium. Before the launch of “vodcasts,” most hosts would upload their audio to Spotify, but then migrate to YouTube to provide their listeners with the video component from that episode. Spotify is now angling to be a one-s...
German Scientists to Use “Fluorescent Disinfectant” and “Tracking Machines” in Test Concert for COVID-19 Research
A group of German scientists are inviting 4,000 music fans to attend a test concert that doubles as an experiment to augment their COVID-19 research efforts. According to a report published by The Guardian, researchers in eastern Germany are recruiting volunteers for a “coronavirus experiment” in the form of a concert featuring pop singer-songwriter Tim Bendzko at an indoor stadium in Leipzig on August 22nd. The €990,000 initiative, titled RESTART-19, is being funded jointly between the federal states of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. At the time of the report’s publishing, 775 volunteers had signed up to attend the show. The organizers of RESTART-19 say the objective of the concert is to “identify a framework” for how larger events may tak...
A “Rave-in-a-Box” Clubbing Experience is Launching in Manchester
The creators of club night La Discothèque have announced a new clubbing experience designed to safely adhere to social distancing guidelines. Puffin Box will create a “rave-in-a-box” style experience for a limited number of guests looking to safely enjoy a night out at the club. Taking place at Hilton House in Manchester, five boxes will dot the club floor, each creating a controlled environment for up to eight guests. Each Puffin Box session will last around 90-minutes. The sessions will be soundtracked by live performing DJs as well as takeovers by DJ collectives. The boxes are built to simulate a night out, each equipped with furniture, refreshments, and, of course, space to dance. Following each session, the boxes will be cleaned to ensure public health safety is maintained...
Look Inside the UK’s First COVID-19 Compliant Festival for a Glimpse Into the Potential Future of Concerts
Earlier in the month of July, organizers of the UK outdoor event Gisburne Park Pop-Up touted the event as Britain’s first socially distanced festival, saying there would be “something for everyone from socially-distanced raving to big-name DJs.” Following the event’s debut, many are using it as a litmus test for what festivals and concerts may look like in a post-COVID-19 musical landscape. Only 480 people were able to attend each day, and they partied in hexagonal pitches that were capped at a maximum of 6 people. The structures were placed 8.5 meters away from each other to comply with social distancing guidelines. With the exception of using the restroom and sanitizing stations as well as entering and leaving the festival, revelers were not permitted to...
This New Zealand Bar is Reinvigorating Nightlife In Town Rocked By 2011 Earthquake
In 2011, a massive earthquake rocked Christchurch, New Zealand, nearly wiping out the city’s nightlife industry. On a mission to help fill the empty void left after the disaster, Mitch Ryder and Sam Smith opened Hide, a bar that is being used as an “all-inclusive ‘safe-space'” for those looking to experience live electronic music. Post COVID-19 lockdown, the club is now back open, selling out and welcoming in record numbers of attendees. “Before the earthquakes, there were about 10 serious, world-class nightclubs in Christchurch,” Ryder told Stuff. “They were formidable, but they closed and there was no scope for anyone looking to rebuild.” Hide, which opened last year, takes inspiration from European clubs, equipped with a spaciou...
This South African Style of EDM is Taking TikTok by Storm
Those who have experienced the idyllic vibrations of a dance music festival can attest that if EDM is known for anything, it is that the genre is all-inclusive, pervading all areas of globe and opening its arms to all walks of life. Where the beauty of the genre really lies, though, is in its malleability. Through its many sub-genres, electronic dance music is able to be deconstructed, whittled down, and molded into a signature dish all one’s own, with all the accoutrements necessary to start a movement. Such is the case with Amapiano, a South African style of EDM that is taking the music industry by storm. A unique fusion of deep house and jazz, Amapiano emerged in South Africa in 2012 and has steadily risen to become a bona fide juggernaut. Artists such as Moonchild Sane...
Manager of Lady Gaga Producer BloodPop®: Women “Will Usher in a New Revolution” of Dance Music
Following the release of her sixth studio album Chromatica, Lady Gaga is going to need a forklift to haul the hardware coming her way. According to a report by Bloomberg, Gaga has dethroned Bad Bunny as the world’s biggest pop star thanks to the EDM-inspired Chromatica, which features production from Madeon, Skrillex, Tchami, Axwell, and Boys Noize, among others. Following the album’s ballyhooed release, it skyrocketed up the charts to rapidly emerge as the best-selling album in the US this past month. According to Bloomberg, Mother Monster sold over 400,000 copies over the course of the month while no other artist even eclipsed 300,000. The record’s lead singles, “Stupid Love” and “Rain on Me,” the latter of which we predicted as an...
Coachella Producer Goldenvoice Launches “GV Black” to Support Black Community Representation
In a new effort to expand representation for Black voices within its organization and its festivals, Goldenvoice has launched a new organizational unit called “GV Black.” Goldenvoice, producer of famed California-based music festivals Coachella, Stagecoach, and more, has shared the announcement of the new team’s creation on Coachella’s social media channels. The statement opens with a commitment to raising awareness of the violence that has disproportionately impacted the Black community in the United States. Goldenvoice’s announcement comes in the wake of prolonged nationwide protests against police brutality, sparked by the death of George Floyd back in May 2020. Goldenvoice notes, however, that their commitment to diversity will extend ...
DJ Mag Announces Weekly Livestreams in Honor of Top 100 List
Each year, the controversial DJ Mag Top 100 list becomes a major talking point in the EDM world. Artists seem split between battling for the top spot or denouncing the list entirely. This year, the dance music publication will be hosting weekly livestreams for two months, which will serve as a countdown to the countdown. The voting is set to begin on Wednesday, July 15th. For the fourth year in a row, proceeds from the list will be donated to support Unicef in their battle against COVID-19. Each Saturday and Sunday from now until September, DJ Mag will host performances from many EDM mainstays and underground stars. Organizers stated that Saturdays will see sets from artists on the main DJ Mag Top 100 list while Sundays will feature artists from their house and techno-frien...
Ibiza Government Thanks NHS Workers with Free 2021 Ibiza Holiday
Healthcare workers the world over are receiving well-deserved thanks for their ongoing and tireless efforts in the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic. The government of Ibiza has made a grand gesture to show their gratitude to National Health Service workers by giving them a free holiday on the island next year. “Together For Health Heroes” is an initiative backed by the Ibiza government that aims to reward European healthcare workers for their efforts battling against COVID-19 this year. The initiative seeks to “find at least 1,000 best in class accommodation providers in Europe and give back to these healthcare heroes in 2021.” According to a statement from Ibiza tourism councillor Juan Miguel Costa, the island wants to “compensate th...
