Richard James Burgess
Inside the Origins of “EDM” With the Man Who Coined the Term—And Transformed It Into a Global Movement
It was a Tuesday night in London when Richard James Burgess found himself on the doorstep of Blitz for the very first time. He was dressed in ripped jeans and a t-shirt, surrounded by people with “amazing clothes and amazing hair.” Unbeknownst to Burgess at the time, that door was, in reality, a gateway that would ultimately lead him to coin the term “electronic dance music” in 1980. It landed him at the forefront of a sonic revolution—one marked by experimentation and a desire to “electrify” the acoustic instruments of the heyday. And it all started out with a drum set and a dream. Richard James Burgess is now the President and CEO of The American Association of Independent Music. c/o American Association of Independent Music Born in London and raised in New Zealand, Burgess was drawn to ...
Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing? How Spotify’s Discovery Mode May Harm Artists and Listeners
This is an opinion column. The thoughts and viewpoints expressed are those of the author, Richard James Burgess. Burgess, who is credited for coining the music genre terms “EDM” and “New Romantic,” is the CEO of the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM). On its face, Spotify’s Discovery Mode might seem like a boon for some artists. Agree to accept a reduced royalty rate and the platform’s algorithms will suggest that artist’s music to more users—in hopes of expanding their base of listeners. But the scheme will most likely generate more profit for Spotify while hurting the very people Discovery Mode is alleged to benefit: artists and listeners. Spotify’s Broken Promise to Listeners When Spotify launched, its premise was an exci...
