How did EDM Start? Electronic Dance Music (EDM) has evolved from underground raves to a global phenomenon, dominating charts, festivals, and streaming platforms.

The Roots of EDM’s Popularity

EDM’s journey began in the late 1970s and 1980s, with genres like house, techno, and trance emerging from underground scenes in cities like Chicago, Detroit, and Berlin. Pioneers like Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder, and Frankie Knuckles laid the groundwork, blending electronic sounds with danceable rhythms.

The First Techno (EDM) Ever!

Check out this sick techno house song from Kraftwerk below, played live in 1970!

EDM in The 1990’s

The 1990s saw rave culture explode in Europe, particularly in the UK, with events like Ministry of Sound and illegal warehouse parties fueling subcultures around acid house and jungle. Tracks like The Prodigy’s Firestarter (1996) brought electronic music to broader audiences, setting the stage for EDM’s global rise.

The Prodigy’s “Firestarter,” released in 1996, is a groundbreaking EDM track that fused big beat, techno, and punk energy, becoming a pivotal anthem that bridged underground rave culture with mainstream audiences and laid the foundation for modern EDM’s rise.

With Keith Flint’s raw vocals, Liam Howlett’s aggressive synths, and a relentless 140 BPM breakbeat, the song hit #1 on the UK Singles Chart, charted at #30 on Billboard’s US Hot Dance Club Play, and sold over 600,000 copies in the UK alone

Trance and House Takes Off In 2000

By the early 2000s, trance and progressive house gained traction, with artists like Tiësto and Paul van Dyk headlining massive events. Europe’s festival culture, with events like Tomorrowland (founded 2005), was pivotal in spreading EDM’s appeal. Europe was always first to dance music before America.

Meanwhile, in the USA, rave culture grew through underground events, though it faced crackdowns due to drug associations, as seen in the 2003 RAVE Act.

“9PM (Till I Come),” released in 1998, is a seminal trance anthem by German DJ and producer André Tanneberger, known as ATB. This iconic melody is an infectious guitar riff and uplifting melody, became a defining moment for trance music, blending euphoric synths with a driving beat that captivated global audiences.

It achieved remarkable success, reaching #1 on the UK Singles Chart, a rare feat for a trance track, and charting highly across Europe, while gaining significant club play in the USA despite the genre’s niche status at the time. With millions of streams and sales over the years, as noted in Armada Music’s “100 Best Vocal Trance Classics,” the song’s timeless appeal solidified ATB’s legacy as a trance pioneer, influencing the genre’s growth into the 2000s.

Above is The ATB 9PM Remix in 2021 featuring Topic, and A7S.

Delerium featuring Sarah McLachlan – “Silence (Tiësto’s In Search of Sunrise Remix)” stands out as the most prominent trance track of 2000. You could say this was the EDM hit of the year in 2000. Everyone knew it. The melody, the vocal, the lyrics. Everything.

Originally released in 1999, the Tiësto remix gained massive traction in 2000, becoming a defining anthem of the era. It reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart, was a staple in US clubs, and appeared on major compilations, earning widespread acclaim for its uplifting melody and McLachlan’s haunting vocals. Its enduring popularity is evidenced by its inclusion in Armada Music’s “100 Best Vocal Trance Classics” and its high ranking on Rate Your Music’s 2000 trance singles list.

CLUBLIFE by Tiësto, launched in April 2007 with episodes 1, as Club Nouveau at first, and then renamed after five episodes, is a legendary EDM radio show and podcast hosted by Dutch DJ Tiësto.

The Tiesto club life podcast has over 950 episodes as of 2025. Airing weekly on SiriusXM’s BPM (Channel 51) Fridays at 9:00 PM PT and available for free on platforms like Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, and Acast, the series has been syndicated to over 350 stations in 77 countries, delivering an hour of cutting-edge house, techno, and trance tracks. Evolving from early formats with segments like “Tiësto’s Classic” to seamless modern mixes featuring exclusives like “Save My Love” by Marshmello, Ellie Goulding, and AVAION in Episode 950, CLUBLIFE has shaped EDM culture, introducing hits, showcasing Tiësto’s Musical Freedom label, and maintaining global appeal with fans praising its high-energy vibe for gyms, clubs, and personal upliftment, despite some wishing for detailed tracklists, solidifying Tiësto’s legacy as a tastemaker with over 18 years of dancefloor dominance.

The Mainstream EDM Explosion in 2010

Afrojack feat. Eva Simons – “Take Over Control”.

Afrojack’s breakout hit, this electro-house banger was his first Billboard Hot 100 entry, with Eva Simons’ vocals driving its commercial success in US clubs.

Dubstep Takes off in 2010

Adding to this, Dubstep started to become very popular, taken from UK garage music production styles.

Skrillex – “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites”.

Released late in 2010, this dubstep track from Skrillex’s EP of the same name was a game-changer, setting the stage for dubstep’s 2011 explosion in the USA with its chaotic, melodic energy.

and…

Who’s still vibing to Flux Pavilion’s Cracks Dubstep remix like it’s 2010 and we’re sneaking into our first rave?

If you know this classic dubstep song pat yourself on the back! You are a true OG Raver.

This 2010 dubstep song still slaps harder than your mom’s flip-flop when you forgot to take out the trash!

The 2010s marked EDM’s commercial peak in the USA, driven by several factors:

• Technological Advancements: Affordable production software like Ableton Live and FL Studio democratized music creation, enabling bedroom producers to craft hits. Social media platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube amplified their reach, with artists like Skrillex and Deadmau5 rising to fame through viral tracks.
• Festival Culture: Events like Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) and Ultra Music Festival grew into massive spectacles, drawing hundreds of thousands. By 2015, EDC Las Vegas attracted over 400,000 attendees annually, a trend that continued with 525,000 attendees in 2024.
• Crossover Hits: Tracks like Avicii’s “Levels” (2011) and Calvin Harris’s “Feel So Close” (2011) blended EDM with pop, dominating radio and charts. Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, launched in 2013, reflected this surge, with EDM tracks crossing into the Hot 100.
• Celebrity Endorsements: Collaborations with pop stars like Rihanna (e.g., “We Found Love” with Calvin Harris) and celebrity DJ appearances (e.g., Paris Hilton) brought EDM to mainstream audiences, though sometimes sparking debates about authenticity.

EDM’s accessibility—through free streams and festival livestreams—fueled its growth, a trend that persists today with platforms like Spotify, Youtube, and Twitch.

EDM Today!

• Streaming Dominance: Spotify’s EDM strong presence, with tracks like Charli XCX’s “365” and John Summit’s “Shiver” topping dance playlists. Spotify’s Dance/Electronic hub reported a 30% increase in EDM streams from 2020 to 2024, driven by algorithmic Spotify playlists like “mint” and “Dance Rising.” These Spotify playlists give artists real plays.
• Festival and Live Scene: Festivals remain EDM’s heartbeat, with EDC Las Vegas, Ultra Miami, and Tomorrowland’s US offshoots drawing massive crowds. In 2024, EDC Las Vegas generated $1.3 billion in economic impact for Clark County, per Insomniac Events. Virtual festivals on platforms like Roblox and Fortnite also emerged, with Marshmello’s 2019 Fortnite concert (10 million virtual attendees) setting a precedent for hybrid events in 2024.
• Genre Diversification: EDM has splintered into subgenres like tech-house (e.g., John Summit), Latin EDM (e.g., Farruko’s “Pepas” in 2021), and hyperpop-influenced dance (e.g., Charli XCX). Beatport’s 2024 charts show tech-house and melodic techno overtaking big room, reflecting a shift toward deeper, club-focused sounds.
• Global and Cultural Impact: Latin EDM, as seen in tracks like Kablito & Trevor McFedries’ “Eléctrico,” has surged, with Remezcla noting a 25% rise in Latin-infused EDM streams in the USA from 2022 to 2024. Artists like Bizarrap and Anitta have blended reggaeton and house, broadening EDM’s appeal in diverse US markets.
• Technology and AI: AI tools like Suno and Soundraw have made music production even more accessible, though debates about authenticity persist, as seen in posts on X. Virtual DJ sets using VR platforms like WaveXR also gained traction, with 15% of US EDM fans attending virtual events in 2024, per a Live Nation survey.
• Social Media and TikTok: TikTok’s algorithm amplified EDM snippets, with tracks like ACRAZE’s “Do It To It” (2021) and Dua Lipa’s “Training Season” (2024) going viral through dance challenges. TikTok’s EDM hashtag (#EDM) reached 12 billion views in 2024, per TikTok analytics.

EDM continues to thrive as a global phenomenon, evolving from its underground roots to a mainstream force powered by technological innovation, vibrant festival culture, and streaming platforms that have significantly boosted listenership.

The genre’s top tracks dominate music charts and live events, blending diverse influences like pop, tech-house, and global sounds, while maintaining a strong presence in trance and other subgenres. Its accessibility—through affordable music production tools, free streaming options, and social media virality—ensures wide appeal, though festival tickets and club nights can stretch budgets. EDM’s value lies in its ability to deliver emotional highs and foster community, with emerging technologies like virtual events and AI-driven production keeping the genre fresh and dynamic for fans worldwide.