Detroit Electronic Music Festival

Concert organizers Paxahau announced today that Movement 2009, the Detroit electronic music festival, brought 83,332 people to Hart Plaza during the three-day Memorial Day Weekend.

“Movement 2009 was an overwhelming success on so many levels,” said festival producer Jason Huvaere. “People loved the lineup of performances we were able to put together this year. Our sponsors and vendors really stepped up this year despite the tough economy. The recycling program surpassed last year’s totals for collected items. And we had great weather the entire weekend, which definitely contributed to the record breaking turnout.”

Carl Craig Becomes Movement 2010 Creative Director

The announcement of Techno Music legend Carl Craig being named Creative Director for Movement 2010 dominated much of the conversation on blogs and among groups of festival-goers.

“We have received nothing but positive feedback from the announcement about Carl,” said Huvaere. “His involvement will strengthen the future of the Movement festival in Detroit.”

Craig will be involved in various creative aspects of Movement and serve as an ambassador for the Movement festival as he travels the world. Read more…

This is a selection of photos from the Detroit Electronic Music Festival DEMF, Movement 2009.

Photos from days 2 and 3 below.
Read more…

Detroit electronic music festival Movement promoters Paxahau have announced that techno Music legend Carl Craig has been named Creative Director for Movement 2010.

“Movement is already a great festival and a successful brand,” says Craig, “it is an honor to be involved with Movement in this new capacity.”

Craig will be involved in various creative aspects of Movement including artist bookings and the festival’s brand image. He will also serve as an ambassador for the Movement festival as he travels the globe performing for throngs of electronic music enthusiasts.

“Detroit is such a wonderful music town,” Craig continued. “With Movement we have such a great opportunity to remind people from around the world and those that are right here in our own backyard that electronic music in Detroit is very powerful and that our annual festival is the best stage for showcasing the most talented artists of this musical genre.”

The annual Memorial Day Weekend festival has gone through several reincarnations since its beginning in 2000. Paxahau earned the right in 2006 to produce the festival.  Paxahau is credited with bringing financial stability to the festival, but some feel they’ve whitewashed the Detroit electronic music festival in the process.

Movement 2009, the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, kicks off this weekend, and promises to be a blast for fans of electronic music.

Last year’s attendance reached close to 80,000 over three days at Detroit’s Hart Plaza, and this year’s attendance could be even higher, with some big names like Carl Craig & The Prodigy on the lineup.

DJ Count Zero raises some interesting questions about the state of the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, though, in the hands of concert producers Paxahau:

The population of the city of Detroit, Michigan is 80% black, 12% white.  Now, granted, it would probably be unrealistic for the ratio of white to black artists at the festival to ever approach the population figures, but you’d think that the idea would be to represent the character of the city pretty closely, right?  Well, for the first few years that was the case:

Year    % Black
2000    58.73%
2001    48.68%
2002    66.18%
2003    45.57%
2004    37.70%
2005    52.69%
2006    21.43%
2007    27.71%
2008    24.47%
2009    32.88%

From 200-2005 the percentage of black performers at DEMF never dipped below 37%, and usually was above 50%.  In 2006, though, something happened.  Paxahau took over the event and the number of black performers dropped dramatically, to 21%!  Why?  That same year the percentage of Detroit area performers dropped too, from 62% in ‘05 to 33% in ‘06!

What possible excuse could Paxahau have to take what was a succesful event regardless of who was in charge and turn it into a homogenous rave party with so little Detroit flavor?

Paxahau’s “excuse” is pretty clear.

They took a event that was financially failing and turned it around by featuring more and more mainstream electronic music artists, who are less a reflection of Detroit’s make up or music than a reflection of the world of popular electronic music.

DJ Count Zero makes a valid point, though – that Movement’s success comes at the price of an event that’s less black, less a reflection of Detroit, and, arguably, less unique in the world of electronic music.

For its part, Paxahau has announced that Carl Craig will be the creative director of the Movement 2010 Festival.

What do you think? What’s more important to the Detroit Electronic Music Festival – the Detroit, or the Electronic Music?

Detroit electronic music festival organizers Paxahau and 323East have announced a limited edition Movement 2009 poster, created by rock concert poster artist Mark Arminski.

Each psychedelic print depicts eight crazy-haired heads wearing green-lens eyeglasses surrounding an Old English D. The four color image has been silk screened on an 18 x 19 piece of cotton rag. Each print has been signed and numbered by Arminiski. Prints can be purchased at 323east.com for $40 plus shipping and handling. Read more…