Yesterday Beatport put in their two sense on the future of electronic music. Using three quotes by some top dance producers they insinuate the strike out and decline of electronic culture. Some people say the bubble is about to burst, I on the other hand believe not just yet. So maybe Beatport tries to be unbiased and doesn’t voice their opinion, but the strike out analogy is to much for me.  In my opinion a credible source to speak for dance music culture and the ‘scene’ does not include a bubble wrapped superstar with a team of managers in his ear, or snide Canadian who thrives on negativity. The intrusion of big business into ‘EDM’ seems like a pretty decent indicator that this party should go late, and maybe we are only at the pre-game. If a team of Wall St. analysts can determine it is a smart investment to purchase a rave promoter’s event brand for double digit millions, this industry isn’t sinking any time soon. I’ll take the side of the suits above a guy in a mouse head saying one day we will wake up and it’s all gone. Lets take a look at Beatport’s reasoning for the impeding doom about to strike us.

Beatports Strike 1: Calvin Harris to the CBC: “A lot of dance music now, it’s about being in the club and popping bottles over this cheap-sounding synth that people can make so easily.” (full story)

Nothing against good ol’ Calvin, but after his lengthy stay on the Billboard charts, the only clubs that can afford him are the airheads catering to bottle popping bimbos. Just like Tiesto’s view from the private jet, Paris Hilton and friends are blocking his sight to the 99% still raging in the pit. In the age of Dj Legos and rave birthday parties, the next generation is being bred to dance. Sorry Beatport, just because the ballers of the world have finally caught on to 128 beats per minute doesn’t mean its all over yet.

Beatport Strike 2: Avicii is concerned about the corporatization of “EDM.” (full story)

Wow, funny concern coming from THE corporate name in dance. This plaid-clad Swede almost single handedly took dance music to big business, all with one riff. Tim Berg took Dj fame to new ‘Levels’ when appearing as the poster boy for Bud Light during the infamous Super Bowl commercials. Hey, at least America’s king of beer spent some time away from the race track and decided to pay attention to thick-walleted clubbers instead of mullet-wearing rednecks. Timmy, hate to break it to you but look in your wallet and smile, then look in the mirror and punch yourself in the face. It’s you and David who took EDM corporate. As for you Beatport, one phrase sums up corporate Western capitalism: ‘Too Big To Fail.’ Those suits won’t let their investments die without a fight.

Beatport Strike 3: Deadmau5 to Billboard: “Burn all electronic music down, I don’t care. At the end of the day, scenes don’t evolve. Scenes are scenes. They’re there and then they’re not.”

Oh more woes from the self-proclaimed button pusher. Joel, we know you hate the fact that your life revolves around a huge mouse head. If you’re not happy just go back to the Canadian wilderness. The big cheese loves to complain about everything dance, put every producer down, even wonder why he isn’t making enough cash but we still see him taking the stage. The scrawny superstar producer peaked early with an original sound and a bad attitude. Once the world caught on and competition hit the market, the gripes came fast. Hopefully the Mau5trap will slam shut soon, because what started as a funny catty outlook is now just plain annoying. Finally Beatport, we all know this mau5 is full of nothing but cheese, why take him seriously anymore?

In my opinion if you really want to know the future of dance there are plenty of people to ask, but these guys that are blinded by the spotlight are not the experts. How about starting with names like Gary Richards or Pasquale Rotella, founders of some of the world’s favorite event productions. Talk to Adam Beyer or Wes Pentz, label owners who are truly leading their nations’ youth movement as not only record producers but lifestyle brands. Finally, stop on Wall St or head down to Seoul and ask how much big businesses are betting on bedroom producers to be the face of their brand. I’m sure none of these people see the dance world heading to the sidelines anytime soon. Commercialization and cash flow into the industry doesn’t mean a decline in any way. If anything, more producers will step into the game. In the meantime Beatport, your future doesn’t look like a win. As music sales decline, and more producers give away tunes for free, you need to step your game up. Adding a blog and some badly run contests isn’t going to change the world of music sales. With more and more labels complaining of troubles in release, the age of Beatport’s leading streak seems to be staggering. As for the dance industry, this series is just beginning, and tomorrow’s turntable rock stars are going for a home run.