Pete Tong Warns Big Business Could ‘Destroy’ The EDM Scene

Pete Tong has revolutionized the world of Electronic Music since the infancy of his radio career in the early 80′s. He has since gone on to become a legend, breaking fresh talent through his infamous BBC Radio 1 Podcast. Today, Tong addressed the EDM community taking a stance against corporate involvement warning that it could “destroy the scene”. Record breaking concert sales and festival turnouts have gained the attention of big business. Historically, parasitic investors are always eager to hop on any lucrative emerging trend. Tong lectures, “If allowed to run riot with their corporate machinery, these same people will destroy the scene. Wikipedia the word ‘stampede’ and I think you’ll get the picture”

After years of neglect from American audiences, does EDM deserve a spot in corporate pop culture? Or should DJs and Producers become puritans, taking strides to remain underground? Can there ever be a balance between the two?  Tong adds, “Dance music’s history should come as a warning shot to all about selling the genre short and being seduced by chequebook-waving billionaires with no care or vision for the long-term game.”

Next month some of the biggest names in EDM will gather in Ibiza for Tong’s fifth annual International Music Summit. Guest speakers will include Diplo, Loco Dice, Luciano, Carl Cox, and Paul Oakenfold. The role of Big Business in the industry is sure to be one of the key topics of discussion at the panels.