The vinyl record industry has witnessed a significant resurgence in recent years, driven by a combination of nostalgia, the desire for physical music collections, and the distinct audio quality that vinyl offers. (IMG: Musique Mode)

Often decisions about merch are made on an “as needed” basis rather than on a fully realized sell-thru, minimizing return on investment.

There are stark differences between how fashion collections are developed and sold versus music merchandise. What can be learned by connecting the two?

A recent visit to a vintage shop uncovered an original Morrissey tee, selling for $500. How much can merch be worth? (IMG: Musique Mode)

There is much that the music merch industry can gain from fashion’s focus on customer desires and retail strategy. (IMG: The Djay Company)

When artists treat their fanbase as a monolithic group, they overlook critical aspects such as fit, cut, silhouette, design details, color choices, and price points.

Screen printing on apparel became increasingly popular in the 1960s as a tool for the counterculture to express their message. Over time, innovation in printing has led to wider range of printing techniques and an important part of music merch. (IMG: Sex Pistols)

While music merch has become more important than ever, the experience of buying has stayed largely the same—and as bad as ever. (IMG: Musique Mode)

The music merchandise industry has largely stayed the same for the past 60 years, focused primarily on logos and graphics. It’s a massive missed opportunity. (IMG: Electric Zoo)

EDM music got its start in the underground, often in abandoned buildings and raves. Now it is mainstream. (IMG: Electric Daisy Carnival, 1990)

Gabi Asfour, acclaimed fashion designer and innovator, leads the Musique Mode design studio In New York City. His objective: collaborating with artists to create the perfect merch. (IMG: Gabi Asfour)

London is a vibrant EDM scene, offering unique and accessible venues and a wide array of international artists and new talents. Most recently DRUMSHEDS opened as the new premier club. (IMG: DRUMSHEDS, Broadwick Live)

Shake things up. We curate a weekly weekend work-out playlist, featuring 14 songs, just for you. This week we feature the catchiest dance hits from the past decade for a perfect cardio workout! (IMG: Musique Mode)

The 66th Grammy Awards celebrated the best in music in the past year, including three EDM categories. Who won and what does it mean for the genre? (Skrillex, Fred Again.. Flowdan; © EDM Identity, 2024)

Electronic music started off as a niche, even academic, creative pursuit. While some bands integrated early electronic sounds into their music, it wasn’t until the 1980s that the genre exploded into popular culture. It would take another decade for it to fully integrate into pop music and beyond, becoming a major force in the how music is made. (IMG: Depeche Mode)

This weekend (Feb 4th), the music industry celebrates the the best of the best at the Grammy Awards, including some competitive EDM categories. (IMG: 2024 Grammy Awards)

EDM and DJing is still largely a self-taught art, stemming from classical music training or no training at all, as formal institutions have not embraced the music genre. The web has changed all that. (IMG: LP Giobbi, Femme House)

Borne out of the modern tech revolution, EDM artists continue to integrate new technologies to their repertoire, often going beyond the music itself, including gaming and the metaverse.

With the growth of touring and musicians as pop-culture icons, the artist manager emerged as a key role in the management of the full professional spectrum of a musician. (IMG: Bono and Paul McGuinness, U2tourfans)

The Hacienda was an iconic nightclub in Manchester England in the 1980s and 1990s helping to launch and define rave culture and modern EDM. (IMG: Manchester Evening News)