As a business owner, it is your job to delight your customers. If you can bring your customers joy, they are more likely to visit you again. They might also be more likely to tell their friends and family members about your exceptional service.
On the surface, electronic dance music (or EDM, as it is commonly known) seems like a perfect fit. After all, when people are happy, they tend to dance. Why not add music that compels them to dance? Wouldn't that automatically make them happy?
This argument is logical, but it might not be accurate in all situations.
EDM Is Hard to Define
There are several different types of music that fall under the EDM heading. According to Complex, there are certain known EDM genres.
- House, which was heavily influenced by disco at its inception
- Techno, which added a dash of soul to the disco beats
- Trance, which is known for repetitive waves of sound that rise and fall
- Dubstep, known for an aggressive beat attack
- Drum and bass, which emphasizes the rhythmic part of each song
- Garage, which samples vocals and shifts the beat
- Grime, which is influenced by all other genres mentioned here but has a slightly grittier feel
- Trap, which is typically associated with southern rap
- Hardstyle, which uses catchy melodies and distorted drum sounds
- Moombahton, which is influenced by reggae
- Juke, which is a very fast, rhythmic form of music
- Breakbeat, which includes classic soul influences
- Downtempo, which is a bit like ambient, slow trance music
This is a long list, and EDM purists might say that this list omits other genres. People who pay close attention to the EDM genre are passionate about the music, and they spend long hours debating one another about musical styles, definitions, and beats.
People who follow EDM might also say that this isn't just a form of music: It's a lifestyle. In an article in Psychology Today, a therapist writes that EDM could be defined as a culture influenced by the 1960s. People who participate in that culture head to concerts (or raves) and spend time together, promoting what they call PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect). People like this may buy EDM music, but they might think of EDM as a group activity best handled in a concert arena.
Positive Effects of EDM Dance Music on Mood, Mind & Body
EDM is designed to be enjoyed. This form of music is meant to be uplifting and positive. The goal is to promote happiness.
Music helps to stimulate the production of dopamine in the brain. This activates feelings of pleasure while also helping to enhance focus, learning, and attention.
Music, and particularly EDM dance music, can have positive impacts on the brain and mental health. Benefits include the following:
- Reduces stress
- Invokes positive memories
- Helps to relieve tension and promote relaxation
- Elevates moods
- Improves concentration
- Lessens symptoms of depression
Electronic dance music is often repetitive and can induce a trance-like state. This means that even if you are not moving physically, your brain is still engaged and dancing and singing along. Listening to EDM can also bring up memories and emotions that had been forgotten, reminding us of good and happy times.
There are many different genres and types of EDM within this form of dance music, and each of them can have different effects. For example, more upbeat and fast electronic dance music can make you want to move your body, enhance creativity, and create feelings of inclusion and belonging.
EDM crosses many demographic barriers, and a wide variety of people can enjoy this type of music. More chill or relaxed EDM can potentially help with relaxation and promote better sleep.
Reaching a Commercial Audience With EDM
EDM is often associated with the young. As an article in The Guardian puts it, this is music that appeals to people ages 18 to 25 who often listen to the tunes while taking drugs and hoping to experience something transformative.
Reaching young people can be difficult for traditional businesses.
You might find it hard to get these customers away from their phones and computers long enough to really understand what is happening with your business. Playing this music in your business could help you to demonstrate that you speak their language and are worth their time.
But young people can be fickle, and their tastes can change quickly. There is at least some evidence that suggests EDM music is moving out of favor with the young. According to an article in Page Six, some celebrity DJs in the EDM genre are seeing decreases of 50 percent in their concert fees in Las Vegas. There are too many shows playing this music, owners say, so it is becoming passé.
Since EDM is made for dancing, it is also incredibly fast. According to research published in the journal Psychology and Marketing, that makes it difficult music to listen to while waiting. When people wait while listening to fast music, they tend to feel more annoyed. When the music is slower, they feel less irritated. If you have long lines in your business, fast music could send the wrong message.
Get the Music You Need
Whether you need to play EDM in your business or something else altogether, we can help. We have long playlists you can access with one easy app, so all you must do is pull up the songs and press play.
All of the music in our app has been protected by copyright, and we make payments to those copyright holders, so you do not have to. Many small business owners are familiar with threatening letters that come from music copyright holders. When you work with us, you simply will not get those letters. We will handle the details.
Call us and we can tell you more about our program, our pricing, and our setup.
Sources
- An Idiot's Guide to EDM Genres. (October 2017). Complex.
- EDM and Well-Being: What Is EDM? (May 2013). Psychology Today.
- Why Music Purists Love to Hate Steve Aoki and EDM. (December 2014). The Guardian.
- Vegas Turns Up Nose at Superstar DJs. (March 2016). Page Six.
- Musical Tempo and Waiting Perceptions. (July 2003). Psychology and Marketing.
- Trance Music and Mental Health. (August 2022). EDM World Magazine.