Maria May @ Dance Music 101

Maria May is a senior music agent at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). May works in the London office and represents many of the world’s leading DJs and electronic music artists, including David Guetta, Robin Schulz, Oliver Heldens, Empire of the Sun, Pretty Lights, Skream, and Jamie Jones. May, who has and joined CAA in 2012, is now a vital part of the agency’s electronic music group and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Association for Electronic Music. She began her career more than twenty years back at International Talent Booking.

- Life: when was the moment you figured out that Dance Music was meant to you?

Back in 1988, the UK was a melting pot of the Acid House explosion... I grew up in West London and was introduced to Acid House at around 15 years old. There really was no looking back.  I decided to pursue a career in the music industry and a few years later I was working in a recording studio by day and being part of one the UK’s biggest rave organizations by night.

- Laugh: when was the last time you had real fun?

This summer in Ibiza. On a boat out at sea or just being at DC10 with all my friends.

- Love: name the one thing you love more than anything – and why is that?

My children. They are my greatest achievement. They are bright, happy and healthy. I could not ask for more. My friends also are a massive support to me in my life and I love them dearly. 

- Past: name a significant moment in your career in Dance Music – and why is that?

Taking the job at CAA in 2012 and working with every single one of my artists over the last 20 years. I’m a trailblazer.

- Present: what do you think that is trending today in music, clubs and festivals?

Underground and overground. Different sounds, different genres but the beat just goes on and on and on.

- Future: where is industry heading in the years to come?

Good music always gets through!  I’m looking forward to seeing if any new sounds coming through really do redefine the Electronic scene in the same way as my client David Guetta has. 

I see a new wave of the Headline artists capable of headlining large events coming through. 

There is actually a place for both underground artists with massive fan bases who sell lots of tickets to headline an event as well as for mainstream electronic artists who sell records and who are played on commercial radio. 

I think a lot of the current headliners are no longer relevant to the younger audience or meaningful tickets wise. 

It’s time for these younger, more relevant artists to headline these events overall and not be propped up by the old school industry who seem to find it hard to let go off the past.