The Cambridge Companion to Electronic Dance Music

An introduction to key issues and debates in electronic dance music cultures providing an important 'first stop' for researchers and students.

Electronic dance music is increasingly the focus of a multitude of academic research projects around the world but is drastically under-represented in accessible published material. This book surveys EDMC cultures and practices and addresses issues and debates in EDMC studies including music aesthetics, technologies, venues, and performativity.Electronic dance music is increasingly the focus of a multitude of academic research projects around the world but has been drastically under-represented in accessible core published material. This innovative scholarly collection provides an important 'first stop' for researchers and students wishing to work in this area. It examines the key features of numerous electronic dance music scenes and (sub)genres alongside discussions of the musical, social and aesthetic experiences of participants to consider how these musical practices create purpose and cultural significance for millions around the world. At the same time, it introduces diverse theoretical approaches to the understanding of electronic dance music cultures and addresses the issues and debates in electronic dance music culture studies. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach drawn from both music and cultural studies – including music aesthetics, technologies, venues, and performativity – from a broad geographical perspective, the volume sheds fresh light on electronic dance music cultures.