It may appear to be ‘just’ music and dancing to some, but there is a whole industry that works behind the scenes to bring you fantastic nights out and cutting- edge electronic dance music records. A whole ecosystem of producers, DJs, promoters, record labels, agents, managers, PRs, publishers, festival organisers, streaming sites, lighting techs and so on co-exist in order to make the wheels of the industry move in motion — electronic dance music has become a global business. And all businesses need conferences and networking opportunities, places to nail business deals and chances to chew the fat in person with those in the same game as you.
Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) started nearly 30 years ago (1996), and has grown to become the biggest and most important conference in the worldwide electronic music calendar. Deals are signed, artistic hook-ups agreed, and friendships are cemented — but what’s more is the wealth of amazing events that ADE has to offer. Every conceivable space seems to be commandeered for a show, a party, a pop-up something-or-other in the delightful, UNESCO world heritage-certified city of Amsterdam. And meanwhile, official ADE daytime panels and tech showcases see professional experts imparting wisdom to those still coming up in the scene. ADE is egalitarian, it’s affordable, and it’s become pretty damn unmissable for many in our beloved industry. The DJ Mag crew will be at ADE in full force again this year. See you by a canal.
Carl Loben
Editor