Electronic dance music has grown from underground spaces into one of the most powerful cultural movements of the 21st century. Once thought of as a niche sound thriving only in dark clubs and late-night raves, EDM now fills stadiums, drives global festivals, and fuels billions of streams. At the center of this transformation stands the Electronic Dance Music Awards (EDMAs), an annual celebration created to honor the artists, producers, and innovators who have shaped this sound into a worldwide force.
With Behind the Beat: Road to the EDMAs, the story of dance music, the arc and growth of the EDMA’s and the community behind it is being captured on film. The feature-length documentary, set for release in early 2026, takes viewers behind the scenes of the EDMAs and explores how the awards reflect the journey of electronic music itself.
Directed by Tommy DeNucci, a filmmaker with credits including Lennox Lewis – The Untold Story and Man in Red Bandana, the film has some seriously unique optics and angles that spark intrigue. Produced by Woodhaven Media alongside Premier USA and the EDMAs organization, the project seeks to pull back the curtain on the personalities, challenges, and cultural impact that make electronic music unique.
Electronic dance music didn’t arrive overnight. Its modern explosion in the 2010s was built on decades of underground experimentation in cities like Chicago, Detroit, Berlin, and London. What started with house and techno pioneers became, by the early 21st century, a global phenomenon spanning subgenres from trance and drum & bass to dubstep and melodic techno.
The EDMAs were launched in 2016 by veteran broadcaster Sean “Hollywood” Hamilton to give this vast culture its own dedicated recognition. Originally known as the Radio Remix Awards, the show quickly evolved into the only major awards platform entirely focused on electronic music. Its timing during Miami Music Week and Ultra Music Festival positioned it right in the heart of the global dance calendar.
By honoring superstar DJs, breakout producers, vocalists, and rising artists, the EDMAs became a way to measure the scene’s growth while giving fans a chance to participate in the process through worldwide voting. The awards’ signature trophy, the EDMA Deck Award, modeled after a DJ deck, captures the link between artistry and performance that defines the genre.
What makes Behind the Beat notable is its grip on going beyond the spotlight. Rather than presenting the EDMAs only as an awards show, it digs into the personal stories of the artists and creators involved.
Viewers can expect candid interviews with legendary DJs and rising stars, offering insights into how they build their music, their struggles to break through, and their defining moments on stage. Behind-the-scenes access takes audiences into studio sessions, rehearsals, and red carpet energy, showing the less glamorous but equally important work that fuels performance.
Cultural commentary will also be central. The film examines how electronic music has become a language of connection, linking people across borders through rhythm, melody, and community. In a fragmented world, EDM’s ability to unite millions under a shared pulse is one of its most powerful traits—and one of the film’s central themes.
The timing of this documentary is no accident. Dance music is at a crossroads. On one hand, it’s bigger than ever, with festivals drawing hundreds of thousands and artists headlining arenas. On the other, questions about sustainability, commercialization, and authenticity hover over the scene.
Behind the Beat arrives at a moment when electronic music needs reflection as much as celebration. By documenting the EDMAs, the film captures a snapshot of where the culture stands in 2026 and hints at where it may go.
It’s also a chance to preserve stories that might otherwise be lost. Dance music has long thrived on word-of-mouth and shared experience, often existing outside traditional institutions. With the EDMA’s placed in a cinematic context, the film provides a historical record while also elevating the voices of those who make the culture move.
Director Tommy DeNucci brings a track record of balancing drama and authenticity in his storytelling. His previous work has taken on subjects ranging from legendary athletes to unsung heroes, and his approach suggests a similar treatment here: respect for the subject but a willingness to dig deeper.
Woodhaven Media, the production company, is in part known for it’s style in merging entertainment with meaningful narratives. Paired with Premier USA and the EDMAs themselves, the team has assembled a partnership that combines industry expertise with cultural authenticity. The backing of iHeartRadio as a media partner only heightens the spread and impact of the film.
At its core, Behind the Beat is centered around the people who make it up – across all corners. While it highlights superstar DJs who headline festivals, it also pays attention to rising producers finding their voice and industry insiders working tirelessly behind the curtain.
These stories help explain why EDM resonates so strongly. It’s the shared journey of artists and fans who create meaning together. The documentary’s exploration of personal struggles, creative breakthroughs, and cultural triumphs shows electronic music as both an art form and a community.
As the EDMAs continue to grow, Behind the Beat positions itself as a cultural marker. It honors the progress made while suggesting the potential for what lies ahead. Will electronic music push further into mainstream dominance, or will it return to more underground roots? How will technology, streaming, and global touring reshape the way artists connect with audiences?
These are questions that hover over the scene, and while the film may not answer them all, it offers a space for them to be considered.
With Behind the Beat: Road to the EDMAs, the EDMAs complete this chapter and set sights on what’s next. The film captures a global movement, a generation of artists, and a culture still finding new ways to tell its story.
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