Demystifying dance music one word at a time.

As with any community, the EDM scene is full of jargon that can be confusing for newcomers to understand. The EDM Dictionary helps explain some of the most confusing terms you may come across. For the most part, these are words that are common, and difficult for a Google search to answer. Want to see a word on the list? Contact me!

Artist Album (n.): The phrase “artist album” refers to an LP showcasing original work by the artist or group. Read more.

B2B (back-to-back) (adv.): B2B or b2b indicates that two DJs will be performing onstage at the same time. Sometimes b2b sets will be listed on lineups as “vs.” Read more.

Big Room (n. or adj.): Big room is a commercial style of EDM made for big clubs, festivals, and arenas. Like pop music, it is designed for mass appeal in order to generate large profits for the artist. Read more.

Bootleg (n.or adj.): A bootleg is an unofficial or unauthorized production – usually a remix or a mashup of another artist’s work. Read more.

DJ set (n.): On set lists, DJ set indicates that the DJ(s) will be mixing pre-recorded music, not creating music or incorporating live elements onstage. Read more.

Dub mix (n.): A dub or dub mix is a version of a track in which the main vocals have been removed. Also known as an instrumental version. Read more.

ID – ID (n.): ID is used as a placeholder in tracklists and setlists for unknown information, such as the track name or artist. When neither the song title nor the artist is known (or not able to be revealed on the tracklist), it is written as ID – ID. Read more.

Massive (n.): In EDM, massive can refer to 1) a large-scale rave (“a massive”), typically a festival, or 2) Native Instruments’ Massive, a popular software synth used by producers. Read more.

Producer (n.): In EDM, a producer is a person who creates electronic music. Producer is a distinct term from DJ, although producers often are DJs. Read more.

VIP Mix (n.): A VIP mix is a special edit of a song made to be played as part of a DJ set. VIP stands for “Very Important Person,” meaning it has been designed for DJs. Read more.