Edm Influence

In the last decade Electronic Dance Music, or EDM, has made a complete 180 in the United States. It has shifted from a genre that was mostly underground with few listeners into popular music. Not only has it begun to top billboards, but it has influenced artists of many other genres to “hop on the bandwagon” and begin using it in their songs as well. From commercials to theme songs of popular television programs, the influx of EDM can be seen throughout American society. One of the biggest changes EDM has brought to the music industry is that due to most of the artists’ knowledge of computers, not to mention the day and age we live in where we are all connected over the internet, they are able to take advantage of communicating and promoting over the internet to reach out to their fans. This allows these artists to listen to their fans and give them what they are asking for. Contrary to the EDM artists, many rock and pop artists have “used and abused them [fans], sold them overpriced CDs, tried to sell them music they didn't like by using stupid gimmicks” (Doherty) causing them to lose their foothold on the charts and allow EDM to step right in. The influences of EDM can also be seen by looking at pop artist and the way their songs have begun using more electric beats and styles. “Katy Perry's 'Fireworks' and Rihanna's 'Only Girl' [were] both co-produced” (Doherty) by electro-house artists and one of Britney Spears’ newer songs, ‘Hold It Against Me,’ also included signs of dubstep. On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s collaborative album ‘Watch the Throne’ the song ‘Who Gon Stop Me’ has a sample from a very popular EDM song by Flux Pavilion called ‘I Can’t Stop.’ The most surprising influence of EDM on an artist, however, can be placed on Taylor Swift. In her new album ‘Red’ she has a song called ‘22’ which features many electronic and upbeat rhythms in it. These are only a few of the many artists that have incorporated electronic music into their songs and in doing so