Electronic Cities: Music, Policies and Space in the 21st Century

Description

This book examines Electronic Dance Music (EDM) scenes in 18 cities across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, North America and Australia. It focuses on the historical development of these scenes, with an emphasis on the post-2000 context, including the COVID-19 pandemic and its far-reaching effects. Expert contributors highlight the influence of geographical contexts, as well as cultural and political histories, in the development of mainstream EDM scenes and underground Electronic Dance Music Cultures. This expansive work offers additional insights on cultural and creative policies, planning interventions and regulations associated with nightlife management, and provides a detailed analysis of current challenges inherent to the governance of EDM scenes in contemporary cities. Acknowledgements Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures 1: Introduction: Electronic Music, Policies and Space in the Contemporary City Overarching Aim Defining Electronic Dance Music in the Urban Context Electronic Dance Music (EDM) and Electronic Dance Music Culture (EDMC) Intelligent Dance Music (IDM) Underground/Mainstream Subgenres, Production Technologies, Commodification, Public Policies Defining Policies and the Governance of Electronic Music Scenes Defining Spaces for Electronic Music Selection of City Case Studies Part I: Historical Electronic Music Scenes Part II: Established Electronic Music Scenes Part III: Emerging Electronic Music Scenes References Part I: Historical Electronic Music Scenes 2: Düsseldorf: On the Golden River Rhine Introduction The City The Bands The Clubs The Labels The Present Conclusion Reference 3: Resisting that Fascist Groove Thang: Sheffield as the Epicentre for Electronic Music (1973–2020) Introduction The City: Contribution to Electronic Music The Electronic Scene: Historical Perspective Governance and Spaces Conclusion References 4: Berlin and Manchester Compared: An Interview with Mark Reeder 5: London’s Underground Acid Techno Scene: Resistance and Resilience in the Global City (1993–2020) Introduction The Electronic Dance Music Revolution in London The London Acid Techno Scene: The Sound of the Underground The Sound of a Community Defining Underground Culture and Music Governance and Spaces Public Policy and Nightlife: Recent Progress in London Conclusion References Part II: Established Electronic Music Scenes 6: Overlooking the Scene: Electronic Music and Toronto’s Music City Project (1999–2019) Introduction The City The Electronic Scene: Historical Perspective Governance and Spaces Conclusion References 7: Arbutus Records and MUTEK: Two Models of Experimental Electronic Music Promotion in Montreal Introduction The City: Contribution to Electronic Music The Electronic Scene: Historical Perspective MUTEK and Montreal as a ‘Digital Culture City’ The ‘Arbutus Records Scene’ and the ‘Mile End’ Electronic Music Funding and ‘Scene Governance’: Two Distinct Approaches Conclusion References 8: Compression Aesthetics: Transducing Segregation in the Los Angeles Beat Scene Introduction The City The Electronic Scene: Historical Perspective Governance of the Scene and Spaces Conclusion References 9: Electronic Łódź, Poland: From Freedom Parade to Managed Entertainment Introduction Łódź’s Cultural History Electronic Scene in Łódź Governance and Spaces Conclusion References 10: Budapest, Hungary: Techno Scene (1988–2018) Introduction The City The Electronic Scene: Historical and Spatial Perspective Governance of the Scene and Spaces Conclusion References 11: Helsinki, Finland: Liberalisation, Shifting Night Clusters and Gentrification (2010–2020) Introduction The City The Electronic Scene Governance and Spaces Conclusion References 12: “You’re Not the Boss of Me!”: The Relationship Between EDM and DIY in Australia Introduction A Brief History of Electronic Music in Australia The Rise of the Rave and Club Culture on the East Coast History of Government Intervention DIY in Action Conclusion References Part III: Emerging Electronic Music Scenes 13: Cluj-Napoca, Romania: Electronic Dance Music and Local Policy (2015–2020) Introduction The City The Electronic Scene: Historical Perspective Governance of the Scene and Spaces Conclusion References 14: On the Fence: Electronic Dance Music Cultures in Hong Kong and Shenzhen Introduction The City: Hong Kong An Overview of the Contemporary Electronic Scenes in Hong Kong EDMC in Hong Kong: XXX Gallery as a Case Study Community Building at XXX The City: Shenzhen EDMC in Shenzhen Spaces for EDMC: Oil Club as a Case Study Audiences at Oil Club Music at Oil Club Community Building at Oil Club Conclusion References 15: Embodied Listening: Grassroots Governance in Electronic Dance Music Venues in Accra (Ghana) Introduction Accra: A Historic Centre of Political and Cultural Afrocentrism The Electronic Scene: Hiplife and Hip-Hop to Afrobeats Governance of the Scene and Spaces The Policy Gap: Building, Noise and Copyright in Ghana Ground-up Governance, Entrepreneurship, and Community Conclusion References 16: Tehran, Iran: ‘Experimental’ Electronic Scene (2000–2020) Introduction The City and the Ever-Changing Cultural Policies of the State The Progressive Development of Electronic Music in Iran Governance of the Electronic Music Scene in (Semi)public Spaces The Mutations of the Listening Experience of Electronic Music in Public and Private Spaces Conclusion References 17: Conclusion Electronic Music Underground Electronic Music Scenes Cross-pollination Between Electronic Music Scenes/Genres and Other Music Scenes/Genres in the City Policies and the Governance of Electronic Music Scenes Stakeholders in the Informal Development of Electronic Music Scenes The Multiplicity of Public/Cultural Policies Affecting Directly or Indirectly EDMCs The Different Forms of Commodification of Electronic Music in the Context of Targeted Urban Policies Public Strategies, Real Estate Pressures and Communities’ Tactics: The Spatial Dynamics of Electronic Music Scenes References Index