Grassroots promoters are the backbone of electronic music culture. From DIY club nights to locally rooted festival initiatives, they create the spaces where artists develop, scenes grow, and communities connect. Yet despite their cultural value, the realities facing grassroots promoters today are often under-documented and poorly understood.

To help address this, AFEM is collaborating with Master’s students from the University of Groningen’s Popular Music and Sonic Cultures programme on a new global survey exploring the current state of grassroots electronic music promotion.

Why this survey matters

The survey aims to build a clearer picture of how grassroots promotion is evolving across different regions, identifying both the pressures promoters face and the conditions that allow local scenes to thrive. The findings will feed into a final research report designed to support future advocacy, policy conversations, and practical resources for the electronic music ecosystem.

Key themes explored include:

• Career pathways and roles within electronic music

• Financial risk, sustainability, and barriers to promoting events

• The impact of social media and digital platforms

• Access to knowledge-sharing resources and peer support

• Audience behaviour and discovery of grassroots events

The survey also recognises that grassroots promotion is not limited to one job title. Artists, promoters, managers, industry professionals, and engaged fans all play a role in shaping local scenes — and all perspectives are welcome.

All responses are fully anonymised. Only the information you choose to share will be included in the final report, and no identifying data will be used or disclosed.

Who should take part?

We encourage participation from:

• Grassroots and independent promoters

• DJs, live performers, and artists

• Managers, agents, and industry professionals

• Fans and audiences who regularly attend grassroots events

Whether you are directly involved in promotion or experience its impact from the dancefloor, your insight is valuable.

Have your say

By taking part, you are contributing to a broader understanding of how grassroots electronic music functions today — and how trade associations like AFEM can better support the people sustaining local scenes around the world.

Take the survey at the link below.