Interesting read here:  “Has EDM Lost its P.L.U.R?” by Ty Meyers at BeatsMedia. 

I personally love Dubstep AND Trance, and definitely agree with the sentiment that Dubstep should NEVER be played at any ASOT (A State of Trance) event, but I am very disappointed in the hatred towards FeiFei as outlined in the article.  Download the full FeiFei set from ASOT 550 Los Angeles here c/o BeatsMedia.

What really stood out to me was the following discussion in the article:

“It used to be that EDM events were few and far between. Part of the fun was all the tension and anticipation leading up the event. There was a certain mystique about the underground nature of it, the abandoned warehouse, the rave-like apparel and the freedom to do whatever you wanted. Not being inundated with the music all the time meant it all sounded so fresh and unique every time you heard it.
 
Today, there are massive parties every weekend virtually everywhere you turn. They are over-hyped and over-commercialized. The venues are filled over capacity without any care for the comfort of the patrons. The sole intention is to maximize revenues by overcharging at the door, overcharging at the bar, and overcharging at coat check. There is no magic or anticipation anymore. There is no mystique or underground vibe. The music all sounds the same because we live in a constant flood of EDM these days. Where’s the fun in doing something you have access to doing all the time? There isn’t any.”

I feel like here in Seattle, we don’t have the inundation that has come with the popularity explosion that is present in L.A. or other large markets, but I see the shift in that direction already.  For example, this blog would not be created or be successful without the popularity increase surrounding EDM, however it is such a double-edged sword!   We need the popularity and revenue in order to bring the big name artists that we never would have had a chance to see, but we also need to find a way to keep the events special and unique at the same time.  I just hope that our promoters don’t get too greedy and that we all can find a balance between making money and providing the experience that the music deserves.  Time will tell…

Full tracklists and mp3 downloads of all of the sets from ASOT 550 Los Angeles available here c/o BeatsMedia:  http://beatsmedia.com/podcasts/download-tracklists-armin-van-buuren-a-state-of-trance-550-los-angeles-2012/