In conjuction with The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) and Association for Electronic Music (AFEM), researchers from the University of Leeds and University of Central Lancashire have published a new report showcasing the positive impact of dance music on communities, well-being, arts and culture.
Featuring forewords from Michael Kill (CEO, NTIA) and Silvia Montello (CEO, AFEM), highlighting the heritage of club culture in the UK and the need for increased societal awareness of its importance, the report synthesises cross-disciplinary research under 8 key themes, evidencing the wide-ranging positive impact dance music plays in our society. The report draws upon empirical findings and insights from over 45 peer-reviewed academic sources, including feature articles published in Dancecult.
The compelling evidence of the report comes at a time when recent reports state that 1 in 3 nightclubs in the UK are at risk of closure in the coming months, with the nightlife industry still reeling from the aftermath of the pandemic. The industry is at the behest of a government, that the NTIA and AFEM says, does not recognise its importance, particularly outside of its economic value.
The report goes beyond focussing exclusively on the economic value of the nightlife industry, and evidences the cultural, community and psychological importance of dance music and club culture in the UK.
The report serves as an example of fruitful collaboration between academics and industry organisations, facilitating important public dissemination of electronic dance music research, and aims to be a spingboard from which similarly impactful collaborations may take place in future.
The NTIA press release of the report can be read here or the full report standalone is avaliable via dropbox.