Alison Wonderland's Independence Is the Power Move, Not the Fallback
On her 40th birthday, Alison Wonderland released her first fully independent single in 15 years, on her own label. That's not an artist stepping down from the majors — that's one finally stepping into full control.
EDM Has an Authenticity Problem, and It's Not Just About AI
Fred again.. says the messy human process is the actual magic. The same week, deadmau5 and The Chainsmokers are calling out DJs who fake crowd reactions with dubbed-over audio. Different tech, same question: what's real anymore?
Kaskade, Boys Noize, and a New Supergroup Just Proved the Album Isn't Dead in Dance Music
Three unrelated drops this week — Kaskade's genre-spanning ORIGIN //, Boys Noize's first solo album in five years, and supergroup HALŌ's debut — all bet on the full-length over another one-off single. That's not a coincidence, it's a signal.
Three Legends, Three Old Records: Why Dance Music's Elders Are Suddenly Looking Backward
Carl Cox reworked an industrial classic, Darude finally remixed his own 'Sandstorm' after 25 years, and Paul van Dyk built a whole new live show around the 303. Three unconnected stories, one thesis: the genre's veterans are treating their own history as material, not nostalgia.
1.6 Million People: Calvin Harris Just Set the DJ Record That Ends the Argument
Guinness confirmed it — Calvin Harris played to 1.6 million people in São Paulo, the biggest solo DJ set in history. It's a number that dwarfs most rock and pop concerts and reframes where dance music sits.
$158 Million: RÜFÜS DU SOL Just Ended the 'EDM Can't Fill Arenas' Argument
The Inhale/Exhale tour grossed $158M and sold 1.7M tickets — the highest-grossing, best-selling electronic run in Billboard Boxscore history. Live dance music now plays on rock-and-pop's field.
Above & Beyond Are Turning 25 Years of Anjuna Into an Ambient Record
'Anjuna:Chilled 01' reworks 16 catalog classics as beatless, downtempo versions — including a 'Sun & Moon' with a verse you've never heard. For a label's 25th, stripping it all down is the flex.
Beatport Bans AI Tracks, Apple Labels Them. The Reckoning Started.
Beatport is banning fully AI-generated music outright; Apple Music is tagging it. Two platforms, two philosophies, one turning point — the industry is finally drawing lines around AI before the catalog drowns.
Paul van Dyk Is Playing the 303 by Hand, No Laptop Safety Net
'The Essence of Acid' is Paul van Dyk performing Roland's 303, 808, and 909 recreations live, in real time. It debuts at Dreamstate SoCal on November 21 — and it's a quiet rebuke to press-play DJ culture.
Dolly Parton Understood PLUR Better Than Most Ravers Ever Will
Dolly Parton died at 80, and the dance world is mourning harder than you'd expect. Her Galantis collab and blessed 'Jolene' remix are only half of it — her real legacy is how she treated people.
Avicii's Final Set Just Surfaced in Full, 10 Years On. Play It Loud.
A decade after his last show at Ushuaïa, Avicii's complete final set is out for the first time, with unseen GoPro footage. It lands right as dance music is commercially bigger than ever — a full-circle moment.
Swedish House Mafia Got Rained Out, Then Gave Gothenburg a Free Show
Severe weather killed SHM's massive Ullevi homecoming. Instead of sending everyone home, they played a free street-level set in Gothenburg — a masterclass in turning a cancellation into a moment.