I don't really understand the big deal here. It sounds like some artists collaborate or have some help writing parts of hit songs... what am I missing on why this is important?
When I mention that I make electronic music and people ask me 'oh, is it like David Guetta' or suchlike I just want to cringe in embarrassment. Not because I consider myself a musical genius or anything, but being good at it requires years of study and practice like any other musical discipline, so it's depressing to see the market leaders that perpetuate the stereotype of electronic music as pushing a button and waving your hands in the air. I hope the fad either blows over over or audiences wise up a bit and demand a better standard of artistry, but that probably isn't going to happen :-/
I technically know what all the buttons and knobs do, have a basic understanding of music theory sufficient to make it sound like I almost know what I'm talking about, and half my friends are DJ's and some of them are producers, actually getting an idea out of my head and into the speakers is not something I care enough about to put the effort in to. I'm a physical infrastructure guy.
When people ask me what kind of music I listen to I'm a little cautious about saying "Minimal Techno, Drum & Bass, Psytrance, Dubstep, Trip Top", so now I just say "I used to listen to Minimal Techno, now I just to nothing", and see if they get the joke.
In my arrogant opinion, many of the "EDM" 'top earners' give 'electronic music'a bad name to those who think "EDM" and "Techno" are synonymous. My audiophile friends and I have introduced lots of people, young and old, to electronic music genres they didn't even know existed, and it's got them on their feet dancing.
Skrillex uses Prime Loops! [1] Anyone with GarageBand can do that. I always say "Skrillex isn't Dubstep, it's 'Commercial Shit-step".
[1] http://primeloops.com/blog/index/post/title/skrillex-uses-pr...
Which means absolutely nothing. Lots of very talented producers use loops and samples, and there's nothing wrong with that. As long as you use them creatively it says nothing about your skill as a musician or producer.
Yes, anyone with Garageband can use loops. But not everyone with Garageband can produce to a professional standard, or write a decent melody, or chord progression, or arrange a song, or create the perfect synth patch, or create something new-sounding etc.
This is an observation from where I stand: EDM as a trend looks to the underground dance music-sphere and plucks ideas. Right now Deep/Minimal House has begun to enter the EDM world. All things considered this is an established sound that has been around for a long time. Now, its "new" and "innovative." Of course, it only counts as new if a current "EDM" dj is producing the track.
I have no moral judgement. But, it is an interesting trend. Dance music evolves fast! EDM has sped up the process, they take a popular trend, only a few year old, re-shape to please the masses, and create a movement to backlash to.
Right now techno is huge, in the dance music world. I expect EDM to jump on it not too long from now.