What is EDM? Here’s Everything You Need to Know (2025 Update)

You’ve heard the term. You’ve probably danced to it. Maybe you’ve even said, “I want to make EDM”… then paused and thought, wait… what is EDM?

Is it House? Dubstep? Techno? Just anything with a drop?

The truth is, EDM means different things depending on who you ask. For some, it’s an umbrella term that covers all electronic dance music. For others, it’s loud festival bangers and DJs jumping on stage.

In this guide, we’re going to break down what EDM really is, where it came from, and how it fits into today’s music scene. Let’s explore 👇

So… What is EDM? 🤔

EDM stands for Electronic Dance Music. It’s not one genre. It’s a catch-all term for music produced electronically, designed for dancing, and often played by DJs.

It includes subgenres like:

• House
• Techno
• Trance
• Dubstep
• Drum and Bass
• Future Bass
• Trap
• Hardstyle
• And plenty more

Each genre has its own codes: tempo, type of instruments, rhythmic feel etc, effects used, etc.

So, pretty simple right? EDM is just an umbrella term for a wide range of dance music. Well, not quite…

What is EDM: What It Means vs. How People Use It

Here’s where things get a little messy.

Technically, EDM is an umbrella term. It includes all genres of electronic dance music, from Hard Techno to Progressive House and everything in between.

But in practice, most people don’t use it that way.

Say “EDM” at a party, and odds are people will picture:

• Big-room festival tracks
• Polished production and anthemic drops
• Bright synths, clean builds, and radio-friendly vocals
• Artists like Martin Garrix, Hardwell, or Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike

This version of EDM is what you’ll hear on the main stage at Tomorrowland or in Spotify’s “mint” playlist. It’s more commercial, more structured, and made to hit hard in massive venues.

So, depending on context, EDM can mean two different things:

• A broad category of all electronically produced dance music
• A specific style of high-energy, mainstream festival music

Neither usage is wrong. But understanding the difference will help you make sense of what people mean when they talk about EDM.

In the rest of this guide, we will be using the second definition of EDM: the high-energy, mainstream festival music.

A Quick History of EDM

When people say “EDM,” they’re usually referring to the wave of high-energy, festival-ready dance music that exploded globally in the late 2000s and early 2010s. It’s polished, loud, and obnoxious (but in a good way). It’s built for main stages and massive crowds.

But it didn’t come out of nowhere.

Pre-2000s: The Roots

Long before “EDM” became a catchphrase, dance music was already evolving. House music came out of Chicago. Techno took root in Detroit and Berlin. Trance, drum and bass, garage, and electro were all doing their own thing in clubs across the world.

These underground scenes were laying the foundation. People just weren’t calling it EDM yet.

Early 2000s: The Build-Up

As production software got cheaper and more accessible, more artists could make music from home. Trance and progressive house were starting to get radio play. Songs like Darude’s Sandstorm or Benny Benassi’s Satisfaction hinted at what was coming.

2010 to 2015: The Boom

This is when EDM, as most people know it, exploded.

Big synths. Bigger drops. Mainstage energy.

I’ll bet my house that you at least know 3 or 4 of the following anthems:

• Avicii – Levels
• Calvin Harris – Summer
• Swedish House Mafia – Don’t You Worry Child
• Hardwell – Spaceman
• Martin Garrix – Animals

These names were suddenly headlining major festivals and topping charts worldwide. Even pop acts were calling up dance producers for collabs.

Festivals like Ultra, EDC, and Tomorrowland scaled up production and visuals. Pyro, lasers, confetti, and crowds of 150,000 made EDM the center of global dance music.

2016 to Now: Diversification

Today in 2025, we can definitely say that the initial wave has cooled off a bit. EDM didn’t disappear, it just branched out.

Some artists leaned into pop. Others got heavier or more experimental. Future bass and melodic trap rose. Tech-house and techno returned to the spotlight. But the signature EDM style (bright, big, euphoric) still headlines festivals and draws massive audiences.

EDM: the Pop of Electronic Music?

Here’s something worth thinking about.

Pop music isn’t a fixed genre. It shifts constantly. What was considered pop in 2003 doesn’t sound like pop in 2025.

That’s because pop isn’t defined by a specific sound. It’s defined by what’s popular at the time (hence the name). EDM follows a similar pattern.

It doesn’t stick to one blueprint. While genres like Techno or Drum and Bass keep roughly the same codes over the years, EDM constantly borrows from other styles. At one point, it leaned into trance melodies. Then came the dominance of big room house. Later, future bass took over. You’ll hear trap drums in some tracks, deep house grooves in others.

The core always stays danceable and high-energy, but the edges keep shifting.

Just like pop, EDM adapts to what’s resonating with audiences. One year, the drop is all about massive saw stacks. The next, it’s vocal-driven with massive reverb tails. The genre reacts to trends rather than resisting them.

What Defines the EDM Sound?

With all that said, can we still try to define what is the EDM sound?

Mainstream EDM definitely has several recognizable traits. Here’s what makes it different from other styles of electronic music.

1. Polished, High-Energy Production

Everything is clean, loud, and built for impact. Expect:

• Supersaw synths
• Pumping sidechain compression
• Saturated leads
• Tight snares and massive builds

It’s engineered for big systems and big spaces.

2. The Build and Drop Format

Instead of a classic verse + chorus structure, most EDM tracks follow this sequence:

Intro → Build → Drop → Breakdown → Build → Drop → Outro

The tension builds, the riser kicks in, drums cut, and the drop lands. This format is everywhere in mainstage sets because it works.

3. Melodic, Emotional Hooks

EDM leans on catchy melodies and vocals. Chord progressions are often uplifting, dramatic, or nostalgic. The topline is designed to be remembered.

4. Mass Appeal

EDM is built for easy connection. Rhythms are straightforward. Melodies are bold. Emotional direction is clear: usually energetic, happy, or powerful.

Key Artists and Anthems

Understanding EDM starts with its biggest names. These are some of the artists and tracks that helped define the style:

Artist	Essential Track
Avicii	Levels
Swedish House Mafia	Greyhound
Martin Garrix	Animals
Hardwell	Spaceman
Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike	Tremor (with Martin Garrix)

These tracks share a formula: massive leads, powerful builds, and explosive drops.

Making EDM Yourself

If this is the style you want to make, you’re in luck. The tools are out there, and the learning curve is manageable.

Here’s what you’ll need to start making EDM:

• DAW. This is the central hub, the main piece of software your need to make EDM. FL Studio, Ableton Live, or Logic, pick one of these to get started. Or check this guide to help you choose.

• Plugins and samples. To be honest, you could just stick to the stock plugins that come with the DAW you pick. But if you’re serious about making EDM, you’ll need at least additional plugins and sample packs. We recommend checking out Splice or Loopcloud, as well as getting Serum 2 for sound design.

What is EDM – Final Thoughts

That’s it for this guide! Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what EDM is.

Got any questions? Need help learning to make electronic music yourself? Drop us a line at [email protected] 🙏