My Yearly Rant on WMC and the IDMA's

[Dancerev889]

Its coming up on that time a year again and I think this maybe the worst conference so far. Seems like a lot of the major players are not going this year. I think the conference is going to become history in the next few years and its just going to be a party.


I know most have you have been whored by the VOTE FOR ME emails, but come on at least be legit. I got an email today saying vote for me, Ive been nominated for 3 categories. Um How can you be nominated when the deadline for nominations isnt over yet?

Heres just another reason this genre has problems.

BTW vote for me for best headphones

 

[whatrusaying]

Hey man those emails are like watching tv filter it brotha cause it won't stop

 

[Mid West Clubber]

Ive had alot of myspace spam from artists and DJs too. The best way to get me to NOT vote for ya is to send my spam about it. How about being legit and actually putting out a decent record that speaks for itself. I agree that the conference is pretty much a joke anymore, but Ultra fest is still pretty fun. I probably wont go to Ultra Fest for awhile though, it reminds me of being there with my EX, plus it costs alot of money for me to go all the way to Miami, and my car is a peace of crap and is getting less and less reliable with nearly 300,000 miles on it. I didnt go last year either, but I went every year before that, except for the very first year.

 

[lalumia]

do cars actually start with 300,000 miles on them?

 

[Mid West Clubber]

It barely started today since the windchill was - 14. Too many long weekend trips to Chicago and Columbus Ohio Clubs, not enough clubs to choose from in Indy, and all they play in Indy is Progressive house, unless you go to Koncrete Jungle for Drum and Bass. And now my new Girlfriend lives 80 miles away, near Louisville Ky, I met her on myspace, and sometimes we go to the clubs in Louisville or Lexington, and we went to Cicinatti once, I wasnt too impressed with the scene in Cincinatti for a city that size, Columbus is so much more Dance Friendly. Not to mention that I go to South Carolina, and Colorado 2 or 3 times a year, sometimes my car will break down 2 or 3 times on those trips. A few years ago at Ultra Fest it broke down in Miami, the water pump went out and the Auto Shop was full of Hispanics-Cubans that barely spoke any english and they tried to rip me off.

 

[lalumia]

wow, you ARE dedicated... such passion for the genre, very groovy

 

[TonySantiago]

This year, I DO intend on showing up to the WMC. Not saying what I am going to do is much, but I do want to offer some things to "the table".

I have heard in the past how some of these conferences end up being "bitch rants" with nothing progressing whereas the only thing worthwhile is getting access to the South Beach clubs promoting new music and new artists. The changes that have to occur within our genre has to be revolutionary...well, revolutionary for dance music since other genres are already there.

1. We HAVE to become commercial.
2. Getting OUT of the "underground" only creates a new "underground" therefore enhancing creativity in the genre.
3. Paid music downloads have to be available to EVERYONE. It only hurts the industry when a track on one side "of the pond" isn't legally available to people on the "other side" because of worldwide licensing issues, thereby forcing fans of the music to go "illegal", and having a good justification for it.
4. Finding ways for clubs not to shut everyone out that can't afford (or refuse to pay) table service whereas that has become a bigger priority (and yes I understand why it is). Turning people away = less potential of a fan base.

I can keep going and going and I am sure these have been mentioned before in past conferences. My only "leg" if you will is the fact that I am NOT in the industry but am a strong enough dance music fan/activist that wants to get things done and the only way that could happen is from change within.

Change IS scary, but we can't keep going on like this.

 

[lalumia]

sadly, Tony, I think the small but active clique that controls whats left of 'dance' are happy with things the way things are; they're paying their bills, and they're in control of whatever is left of 'dance',ruling over the 'empire of the ants';
as always,good luck, though...

 

[Dancerev889]

First off WMC has become a waste of time unless you are going down for parties. I dont think "the powers that be" like the way things are. There would not have been a meeting of the minds this past August in AC. Theres too much BS going on. This genre loves to push the negative instead of the positive. Remember those posts about Energy in Arizona, what purpose did they serve?

 

[Mid West Clubber]

Well, other than the fact that Energy AZ has no signal, no listeners, no money, and only plays those god awful Rod Remixes..... I'll stick to Energy 98 and BPM... My local High School Energy station is better, and even covers the market better than Energy AZ does. In fact any of the School stations, Energy SF, Dance Factory 99.9 Chicago, and Party 105 all put out a much better product than Energy AZ. Dont look at it as an insult to Energy AZ,,,instead, look at it as a compliment to the other stations that actually try to serve their audience and promote the music, instead of self promoting one's self.

 

[Dancerev889]

Well, other than the fact that Energy AZ has no signal, no listeners, no money, and only plays those god awful Rod Remixes..... I'll stick to Energy 98 and BPM... My local High School Energy station is better, and even covers the market better than Energy AZ does. In fact any of the School stations, Energy SF, Dance Factory 99.9 Chicago, and Party 105 all put out a much better product than Energy AZ. Dont look at it as an insult to Energy AZ,,,instead, look at it as a compliment to the other stations that actually try to serve their audience and promote the music, instead of self promoting one's self.

You missed the point. That BS doesnt serve the genre well. We dont need negative attention. At least Phoenix has a dance station.

 

[whatrusaying]

OK so WMC is now a music fest, have you considered how many regular consumers go down there now just to party and hear great dance music? Have you considered how great it is to have Pete Tong, XM, Sirius and who ever else live broadcast to millions of listeners. Long gone are the days where meeting were held that provided information to the DJ's and so on. Who the f.. cares? Look at all the people who just go there now to party and listen to DANCE. I might be off here but if we could convert a few of those people to purchase records....yeah now thats what we should be doing. You want knowledge and networking go to AC or ADE in Amsterdam those are actually conventions, or maybe there is some around here somewhere.

;D

 

[lalumia]

by the way, I don't think that questioning the way things are is negative;
we live in a democracy with several political parties who contantly challenge each other to try and fortify situations and make things better;
everyone having to tow the company line even when the company is in trouble is all a little too totalitarian for me...I call it as I see it, not to damage, but to attempt some much needed re modeling...public debate, anyone? maybe a little more of that at the WMC and a little less of drunken idiots vomiting off of hotel balconies is what the dance industry needs

 

[TonySantiago]

This may sound very "simple" (I really can't think of a good word for this), but how about a new meeting where you invite FANS of dance music as well as newbies in more "convention" style setting. Artists can promote their music, perhaps sing a track or two on stage. DJ's can promote their material. Online streamers can promote their "station", record labels can promote their material, clubs can showcase their facilities..but basically, it would be one where there would be giveaways and a more open access to those not in the industry that would have felt "out of the loop" at a MWC, BBDMS or DJ Times.

It would serve as an "open house" for dance music...with an emphasis on welcoming "newbies", getting them involved in learning more about dance music than they know.

Yeah...this may be "simple". But the scene will stay stagnant unless we pump some sort of new blood into this.

 

[Dancerev889]

This may sound very "simple" (I really can't think of a good word for this), but how about a new meeting where you invite FANS of dance music as well as newbies in more "convention" style setting. Artists can promote their music, perhaps sing a track or two on stage. DJ's can promote their material. Online streamers can promote their "station", record labels can promote their material, clubs can showcase their facilities..but basically, it would be one where there would be giveaways and a more open access to those not in the industry that would have felt "out of the loop" at a MWC, BBDMS or DJ Times.

It would serve as an "open house" for dance music...with an emphasis on welcoming "newbies", getting them involved in learning more about dance music than they know.

Yeah...this may be "simple". But the scene will stay stagnant unless we pump some sort of new blood into this.

Tony thats what the WMC was. But the people that run the conference are making things worse every day. I have been to several different types of conferences and not once was I told if I wanted to stay at the conference hotel, I would have to stay the whole time or I couldnt stay there. WMC this year thats what has happened. Two years ago the WMC wasnt jumping at the chance to have Cascada perform at the IDMA. THis is when they were at their peak. They have turned down having pop artists that have had hit singles at dance at the awards in favor of DJ's that the average person at the conference never heard of. These are our genres awards and you dont have star power? The Dance Music Hall of Fame when they had their awards night did it right and the IDMA's should have takens some notes.

The conference has turned into a waste of time and money. Nothing gets done to better the genre. Look at the after party. Besides Barbara Tucker who have you heard of? Hell last year I proposed a panel to talk about the state of the genre and they turned it down.


In regards to talking negative things, you missed the point.

 

[lalumia]

great post;
as i've said before, the 'powers that be' are happy with the way things are, as long as they stay in control and put some change in their purse, no matter how badly the scene deteriorates,they'll cling to the hull of the titanic until it's totally underwater...and it already is

 

[CHRles]

Ultra Music Festival is the best Dance event in America, and one of the best in the world. Attendance grows bigger and bigger every year.
And hey, what do you know - so does attendance at WMC in general. More seminars then ever before, and more press in the mainstream media (hello CNN, BBC) then ever before.
The conference breaks a lot of hits internationally. Maybe not the bubblegum Macarena type hits, nor the Circuit Anthems type. A lot of good stuff really. It's no surprise really that Hip Hop and Rock acts continue to take notice of it so IT IS doing an amazing job of promoting Dance music on many levels.

 

[Dancerev889]

Ultra isnt the WMC and I guarantee attendance is going to be down this year at WMC. CHRLES when was the last time you were there? I walked into a lot of different panels last years and a lot of them were less than half full. Does that sound like a conference thats growing?