The Electronic Music Industry Today: 31% of Newcomers Considering Giving Up – News from the IMS
Is Talent no Longer Enough?
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The Electronic Music Industry Today: 31% of Newcomers Considering Giving Up - News from the IMS · Source: Wirestock, Inc. / Alamy Stock Foto
The current debate surrounding the electronic music industry and access to the subject is further fueled by a new survey conducted by the Pete Tong DJ Academy. In conjunction with the International Music Summit (IMS) in Ibiza, the results of a wide-ranging survey based on feedback from 15,000 DJs and producers have been released. The figures paint a clear picture of how many emerging artists feel they are perceived by the electronic music industry. The most striking finding is that the scene is often perceived as a “closed club” where social media is more important than musical talent. This is an image that puts the industry in a precarious position.
Electronic Music Industry Prerequisite: No Followers, no Career?
This perception in the discussion about the electronic music industry affects around 62 percent of respondents and reinforces the impression that access and success in the industry is strongly determined by external factors such as reach, financial resources and existing networks. The actual focus, i.e. the music, is once again pushed into the background. Unfortunately.
At the same time, the study shows that 61 percent of respondents believe that social media plays an even greater role in their success than their musical craft. This development is not only frustrating, but also affecting the mental well-being of many artists.
Some 52 percent of DJs and producers surveyed said they suffered from anxiety or exhaustion, while 31 percent considered giving up their music careers altogether – or even threw in the towel – in the past year. Such results do not paint a positive picture of the challenges that young artists in the electronic music industry face in order to get noticed. There is also the constant pressure to be present and to “go one better”.
Social Media as a Career Factor in the Electronic Music Industry
However, not everything is pessimistic. Around 35 percent of respondents are optimistic and believe that perseverance and persistence can ultimately lead to success. This positive attitude suggests that despite the hurdles, there are still ways to make a place for yourself in the electronic music industry.
One example is the new Point Blank Music School in London. With a 19,000-square-foot campus in Shoreditch and 13 studios for DJing, music production and sound engineering, the school is creating an environment specifically designed to nurture young talent. The aim is to give future music producers the opportunity to realise their creative potential and make it easier for them to break into the industry.
Mental Health in the Electronic Music Industry: a Major Theme at the IMS
The results of the survey were presented at the IMS, which this year is dedicated to the theme of “Intergenerational Exchange” and discusses issues such as mental health and the role of genres such as jungle and drum ‘n’ bass in the music scene. In particular, a critical examination of elitism within the electronic music industry is a central aspect.
Discussions like these about the electronic music industry continue to reveal how complex and challenging the reality is for many aspiring artists and acts trying to make it in a world where social media performance now triumphs over musical quality.
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