EDM music, more specifically its sub-genre, house music, has taken the world by storm in the last three years. This new era of house has been marked by the rise of global superstars like John Summit and FISHER, with house acts landing near the top of almost every major festival bill seemingly overnight. But why?
Many of us were first introduced to house music during the EDM boom of the 2010s. The genre became a global phenomenon with the high-energy beats of Calvin Harris, Zedd, and Skrillex bringing electronic sounds to the mainstream.
The EDM festival Ultra Miami saw its highest recorded attendance to date in 2013, and pop-EDM hits like “This Is What You Came For” dominated radio stations, retail stores, and middle school dances alike. This EDM boom brought people together in ways that hadn’t been seen since 1970s and ’80s disco culture, and it’s worth noting its cultural significance in shaping other early-to-mid 2010s trends.
As with any genre that gains popularity quickly, by 2015, EDM’s spark began to fade from popular culture and was topped on the charts by hip-hop and R&B. However, many of the people who found the scene and became part of the culture stuck around, even as EDM slipped back out of the mainstream.
This all changed in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, TikTok gained massive popularity. Formerly called Musical.ly, a lip-syncing app associated with teens and not much else, TikTok became a platform for all ages and turned into a major space for expression, social commentary, and even news for many.
House hits “(It Goes Like) Nanana” by Peggy Gou and “Deep End” by John Summit found their fame on TikTok, and the virality of the genre has followed suit, continuing to grow by the day. House is largely regarded as the fastest-growing genre in the world currently, far outpacing other genres on Spotify and racking up a 200% increase in house playlist streams, with TikTok as the main driver of this engagement.
However, many house fans feel the genre’s magic and the culture built around it have taken a hit because of the algorithm-driven viral moments the app pushes. Here are some of the reasons why.
When Virality Comes First
The “TikTokification” of music is happening in every genre, but especially house. A huge component of house songs is the buildup. With roots in disco and the use of melodies with electronic rhythms layered under strong vocals, house was never meant to be consumed as a 15-second clip.
Early house music was built around love, connection, and a space where people could exist without judgment. While the genre was still planting its roots in culture, many experienced it as something “spiritual.” Pioneer Frankie Knuckles famously described those early house clubs as a “church for people who have fallen from grace.”
Devoted fans claim, “house is a feeling,” but that feeling gets lost when DJs and producers chase virality and clippable moments instead of focusing on a story in their tracks.
Virality is now what the industry rewards most, with 84 % of songs on Billboard’s Global 200 first blowing up on TikTok. This encourages artists to make songs with short, viral-worthy moments while letting the rest fall flat. Clearly, it’s become the easiest path to recognition and success.
“Too Bad No One Got a Video of That”
There’s also been a rise in fans going to see DJs only for one song, which many agree can ruin dancefloor chemistry. House shows, like any other concert, should be about experiencing the moment.
It’s normal for fans to record their favorite song, but it becomes a problem when they show up for that moment only, dance for one track, and then check out for the rest of the set. DJs want to take the audience through a story during their sets, not just play all their viral songs in a row.
This also includes excessive filming on the dancefloor. Many venues and event companies, such as Circoloco Ibiza and Raw Cuts TV, have implemented no-phone policies to prioritize the dancefloor experience and deter people from going to shows just to get a clip for their social media accounts.
Where Did PLUR Go?
The core of rave and EDM culture is PLUR, an acronym that stands for Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect. PLUR is treated as more than just a slogan; it’s a shared code of conduct that shapes how people treat each other in the space.
Many rave newcomers who have discovered the genre from TikTok don’t adhere to this code, which has become a major complaint among long-time festival goers in recent years.
The Flip Side: TikTok as a Catalyst
Despite the negatives, fans can’t deny that TikTok has been key to reviving the genre, pushing it into the forefront of culture once again, and giving fans more opportunities to experience it live.
As someone who loves house music, it’s been amazing to see the rapid growth of artists like Fred again.. going from playing a small mid-day set at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival to co-headlining in just one year.
TikTok is also a platform for DJs to be discovered. Josh Baker, a UK DJ and founder of Hide & Seek Festival, admits in a podcast interview that while phones and filming can hurt dancefloor energy, smaller artists gain a lot from the exposure a viral TikTok clip of their sets can bring, and for many, that exposure makes it worth it.
So, has TikTok ruined the dancefloor? I think it’s a bit of both. While it has created some real issues we can’t ignore, it’s also brought in new fans and given house artists a chance to thrive.
This isn’t about keeping people out of the scene, but making sure they’re honoring the culture and remembering the point isn’t content. The dancefloor is a shared space, and it’s about something much bigger: connection.
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