How EDMbiz Is Stepping Up As The New WMC

EDMbiz began in 2012 with a vision. Pasquale Rotella, founder of Insomniac Events, had been an event promoter for more than a decade and owned one of the world’s largest EDM event companies. He had built an empire of dance music festivals that drew hundreds of thousands of music lovers from around the world each year. But still, he saw a gap

Fort those that looked to make a living off of dance music, there was yet to surface a platform for the industry’s power players and aspiring individuals alike to come together in a format for all to exchange experiences and learn from one another. There was Winter Music Conference/Miami Music Week: a week consisting of keynotes speakers, conferences, workshops, parties, and of course, Ultra Music Festival.

However, as WMC/MMW progressed annually and EDM gained more attention, the week of festivities started to become a game of who could attend the most parties or the most exclusive. It was still a platform for the industry’s most influential figures to meet in one location and network, but there was a divider for those aspiring future players whether they be students, beginning entrepreneurs, young artists, or anything in between.

EDMbiz attempts to break this divide. Held in the center of Sin City, EDMbiz is the perfect forum for not only the most elite EDM influencers to network with each other, but the conference and expo provides the perfect platform for young individuals with little or no experience in the industry to buy a badge and have access to network with thousands of the industry’s biggest success stories. At EDMbiz 2014, Jake Udell held a panel called “#20Something” with Adéllyn Polomski – Director of EDM Initiatives, Clear Channel Media, Andrew Keller – Director of A&R, Columbia Records, Danny Bell – Director of Marketing & Talent Buying, HARD Events, Michael George – Artist Manager, Scooter Braun Projects. Mike Darlington – CEO, Monstercat/The District, and Nathan Lim – Cofounder, TH3RD BRAIN.

Mike Darlington made the point that two years before hand, he had attended EDMbiz alone with no one knowing who Monstercat was and talked to as many people as possible in the attempt to learn from everybody. This is why EDMbiz is becoming a WMC of its own. It contains the parties – opening and closing (this year including Afrojack and Alesso) – it has handful of the world’s most elite clubs down the strip, and it is a three day gathering just before EDC Las Vegas.

What will 2015’s EDMbiz bring? Who knows, but based on previous years, it is sure to be a networking and learning experience like no other for those aspiring to be the next EDM hotshot. Badges are still available on the EDMbiz website. You can also check out the full video of Jake Udell’s #20Something panel below.

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