Calvin Harris performing at a live concert.

Over the course of 2013, the electronic dance music (EDM) genre has generated over 4 billion dollars in revenue primarily through music sales, live performances and concerts. The EDM phenomenon has evolved from targeting a specific audience to being on practically every mainstream radio station across the globe. The sudden influx in popularity is mainly due to a change in what people look for in music. First off, EDM music is easily accessible. While it is illegal to pirate music files, EDM tracks are widely pirated with minimal resistance. In fact, many electronic artists allow their music to be downloaded for free! Armin van Buuren, one of the most popular DJs of our time, proclaimed that it is more important for EDM music to be accessible for everyone rather than to restrict it to those who can afford to pay. This way, even though many artists lose out on revenue generated through consumers buying music, they gain exposure and the genre continues to grow as a whole. The exposure leads to where the artists thrive, live performances and concerts. Because EDM is so widely accessible, fans are more inclined to spend their money to see these DJs live. It just so happens that the genre produces music that encourages dancing and partying which perfectly targets the audience that primarily purchases music and concert tickets in the first place. According to Forbes magazine, Calvin Harris – a prominent DJ in the industry – made 46 million dollars in 2013. That’s more than pop superstars such as Katy Perry and Jay-Z! His success is mostly attributed to the fact that he played over 70 shows throughout the year and released many hit singles at plagued radios and music players around the world. As the genre continues to grow, it seems that there is only more money to be made. On average, a live electronic music festival can cost around $80-$100 for a single show. With over thousands of people attending each event, it shouldn’t be surprising that DJs are willing to give up a few music sales. With new DJs emerging in the industry and fan bases expanded exponentially, EDM is definitely here to stay.

Tomorrowland Music Festival