As electronic dance music becomes more mainstream, it was only a matter of time before critics started to question whether or not this progression was a good thing. In an article for the Wall Street Journal, writer Jim Fusilli analyzed this phenomenon and interviewed DJs that longed for the underground scene to come back. He seems to think audiences prefer a watered-down version of electronic music.
“As EDM and its related events continue to grow, an audience may be developing that wants nothing more than predictable, middling entertainment,” wrote Fusilli. He went on to criticizes popular DJs like David Guetta and Calvin Harris for producing “cliché-riddled, white-bread house that don’t [sic] represent the best of the genre.”
Well, not everyone agrees with Fusilli’s take on the popularity of electronic dance music. “Wall Street Journal, we didn’t know you cared,” wrote angy, a writer for inthemix. “Stay tuned for Fox News anchor Bill O’Reilly’s expose on how Avicii’s live show represents nothing more than flashy style over substance.”
Despite the debate, it is clear, electronic music is here to stay. Its influences can be heard throughout pop music from artists like Rihanna with her smash “We Found Love” and “Turn Me On,” David Guetta’s collaboration with Nicki Minaj.
Perhaps, the mainstreaming of electronic music could be seen as an evolution of music rather that the degradation of it.
