deadmau5 Turning Down Disney and the Future of Corporate/EDM Collaborations

With news of deadmau5 revealing that Disney wanted the (possibly similar to Mickey Mouse-logo'd) DJ/producer to re-imagine Fantasia, it's as good of a

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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With news of deadmau5 revealing that Disney wanted the (possibly similar to Mickey Mouse-logo'd) DJ/producer to re-imagine Fantasia, it's as good of a time as any to stop and discuss brand development, progressive models of brand engagement, the music industry, and electronic dance music. Ask anyone in a tall marketing/advertising building wearing a gray suit these days, and they'll happily tell you that DJs are the new rappers and both are the update on the rock star tradition. However, what may be most intriguing about EDM–and highlighted by the Disney versus Deadmau5 trademark case–is the lack of desire for DJ/producers (in some cases) to not want "rock stardom," but rather be perfectly happy in being "punk rock" stars thumbing their nose at the establishment and marching to the four-on-the-floor beat of their own drummer.

However, in the money being there on the table for the taking, or possibly rather easily (and independently) accessible in the marketplace, who's winning, why are they winning, and how can everyone potentially be a winner, too? There's certainly the potential of there being enough money for everyone, so if either wanting to mimic the Rolling Stones or Bad Brains, the potential for "rock stardom (from classic to punk)" as an EDM act is more than attainable.

Control distribution (of everything)

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The corporation must accept the uniqueness of your brand

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Contemplate the future

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