Trade Body For EDM

Sony Music, Live Nation, William Morris Endeavor, Creative Artists Agency and others are to launch a worldwide trade body to represent electronic dance music, it was revealed at Midem Jan. 28.

What’s to be called The Association For Electronic Music is the first new genre-based trade organization to be launched since 1958 and the Country Music Association.

It aims to bring together representatives of artists, DJs, managers, labels, promoters, publishers, agents, retailers and broadcasters to form a global advocacy and lobbying group.

Coordinated by Graphite media chief Ben Turner – who’s also a partner in the International Music Summit – and entertainment industry lawyer Kurosh Nasseri, the AFEM has already put together a 16-strong advisory board.

It  has such dance music big-hitters as Cream-founder and now Live Nation president of electronic music James Barton,  WME agent David Levy, Sony Music president of electronic music Patrick Moxey and Maria May from CAA, agent for David Guetta.

Legendary producer and dance music pioneer Nile Rodgers — currently producing the forthcoming Daft Punk album – has agreed to serve as an AFEM Ambassador.