what is IDM?

IDM is flamebait

an Intelligent sort of Dance Music. It`s also the most Stupid genre name ever created. Come to think of it, SDM would be a much cooler name.

the majority of it isn't even dance music.

IDM use to actually mean something, yet everything that is somewhat 'complex' is labeled as IDM now. the sharing of free warez has watered down what the pioneers of the subgenre established, yet has made creativity flow forthwith.

it's hard to even refer to someone anymore. You could say 'Aphex Twin', but if you mention 'Proem' people get confused because they sound nothing alike.

In my opinion, IDM was the 'Artificial Intelligence' compilations: Autechre, B12, Richard H. Kirk, Speedy J, Seefeel, The Black Dog, The Orb....etc. in the early 90's and that's that.

It's Intelligent Dance music.

Ok, that would explain the Intelligent part of the name.
Anyone know if there is an "official" story to the name?

I did a google search on IDM and this definition seemed to make the most sense:

''IDM is an acronym for 'intelligent dance music'. While the word "dance" is in the title, that does not necessarily mean this type of music is danceable.

IDM came about in the early 1990s as an umbrella term for experimental music being created by electronic music producers. IDM is so diverse that it is not easily defined. From a very broad perspective, IDM typically features intricate sample/music editing, heavy use of synthetic effects, complicated - often confusing - rhythms, and a general aesthetic of eclecticism and stretching of traditional musical boundaries.''

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the best phrase ever coined for 'that' type of music would be Braindance. Thought up, in the mind of Mr. Richard D. James.

I believe that “IDM� name came from a couple magazines in the early 90s.

I don’t think that many artists actually use it. its so annoyingly pretentious; labeling one kind of music “intelligent� infers that other genres are not.