Last week, the 28th edition of the annual Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) welcomed thousands of dance industry professionals and nearly 3,000 artists to the vibrant city. Spanning four days from October 18th to the 21st, this iconic event featured hundreds of panels and over a thousand after-dark events spread across more than 200 locations throughout Amsterdam.
Amidst the exhilarating parties and lively atmosphere, ADE co-organizer Meindert Kennis shared insights with Billboard. Kennis highlighted that while ADE is undeniably about inspiring and uniting music industry professionals, the event also prioritizes delivering practical, hands-on information. This emphasis on providing value to professionals and their organizations plays a pivotal role in pushing the industry forward.
Here are ten noteworthy takeaways from ADE 2023:
1. Sustainable Tour Routing: Claire O’Neill, CEO and co-founder of the sustainability nonprofit A Greener Future, discussed ways to minimize carbon emissions within the dance music industry. Solutions included smarter tour routing, reducing meat consumption, and avoiding private jets, all aimed at promoting greater sustainability.
2. Global Market Expansion: Selina Chowdhury, Head of Marketing for Emerging Markets at Warner Music Group, highlighted the importance of marketing to diaspora markets to break artists from emerging markets. By targeting listeners from these markets residing elsewhere, the potential for reaching a global audience is significant.
3. The Rise of Punjabi Music: ADE attendees learned about the exciting emergence of Punjabi music, fusing traditional rhythms and melodies with contemporary styles like R&B and hip-hop, particularly in Toronto. Canadian artists such as Ikky and AP Dillon, along with Indian artist Diljit Dosanjhdoji, are making waves in this genre.
4. Getting Noticed on Beatport: With an overwhelming 30,000 weekly track submissions, standing out on Beatport can be challenging. Helen Sartory, Beatport’s SVP of Creator Services, advised that a strong relationship with music distributors is crucial. Beatport’s curators rely on distributor-recommended tracks, prioritizing quality over social following or revenue.
5. Importance of Track Tags and IDs: Properly crediting tracks and artists in social media clips is essential for DJs and the music industry. A significant number of DJs fail to identify tracks in their clips, leading to lost data that could help the industry better understand trends and preferences.
6. Diverse Career Paths: HoneyLuv, a house producer, shared her journey from playing college basketball to briefly enrolling in the navy while also considering a career in the CIA. Her transition into music happened relatively recently, showcasing the diversity of paths that artists can take.
7. Beyoncé’s Impact on House Music: Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” tour was discussed, sparking conversations about the relationship between mainstream artists and underground genres. While some debated whether Beyoncé “brought back” house music, there was consensus that the tour shed light on the thriving Black house music scene.
8. Anxious Tunes for “The White Lotus”: Cristobal Tapia de Veer, the composer of “The White Lotus” theme song, shared insights into his creation. The chaotic and anxiety-inducing nature of the music was intended to mirror the show’s characters’ behavior, even though the series was set in Hawaii. The music, with its high energy and screaming, contributed to the overall tension of the show.
9. Spotify Traction Strategies: Spotify representatives discussed how artists can gain traction on the platform. Consistently updating artist pages and utilizing Spotify’s Canvas feature, which pairs visual loops with songs, were highlighted as ways to boost engagement and attract more listeners.
10. Spotify’s Redesigned Events Feature: The repositioning of an artist’s upcoming events on their Spotify page led to a 70% increase in views and a 15% rise in ticket sales. This feature enhances artists’ ability to earn income through the platform.
ADE 2023 proved to be an invaluable source of information and inspiration for the dance music industry, offering fresh perspectives on everything from sustainability to emerging markets and innovative strategies for success. The event continues to be a vital platform for connecting industry professionals and artists, driving positive change in the world of electronic music.