About EM:DEF

Mission Statement

To raise and provide funds for legal assistance to innocent professionals in the electronic dance music business who are targeted by law enforcement in the expanding campaign against "club drugs". In addition to providing funds for legal efforts to protect the industry, EM:DEF will serve as a spokes-agency for the electronic dance music industry -- providing an independent voice on behalf of industry professionals, while allowing professionals to avoid public association which could result in retaliation by law enforcement.

Priority of funding of cases will be based on the following (in order):

• Impact on the electronic dance music industry's ability to remain economically viable
• Impact on the broader music industry's ability to remain economically viable
• Impact on members of the electronic dance music community including fans and industry
• Impact on members of the broader music community including fans and industry.

Why EM:DEF?

The current approach to the War on Club Drugs places professional men and women's jobs at risk. By targeting promoters and venue owners, the DEA intimidates the people who make electronic music events possible.

Raves, parties, clubs, and other performance opportunities are central to the efforts of record labels and artist managers working to break an artist or to keep an established act in contact with their fans. They also provide an opportunity for people with similar taste in music to meet and talk about artists they've been listening to.

One can see how an attack on venue owners and promoters is in fact an attack on all professionals in the electronic dance music genre. With an application of the Crackhouse Law is upheld in a Federal Court, a nationwide precedent has been set that may reduce access to venues. With a decrease in venues, the jobs of booking agents, promoters, and all record label and artist management teams will become more challenging.

It isn't that professionals in electronic music aren't capable of accepting challenges in their work. In fact, the genre is one of the toughest to work in - constantly evolving, tastes changing, and a never ending stream of new talent. But, law enforcement pressures are making the work of industry professionals increasingly tough. EM:DEF was formed to protect professionals, and to encourage a more legitimate approach to fighting illegal drug use.

History of the Anti-Club Message

The Federal Government launched its "Club Drug Campaign" on December 2, 1999. With a budget of $54 million, The National Institute on Drug Abuse aimed to equate dance culture with ecstasy, painting the false picture that electronic music events are nothing more than an excuse to buy and consume drugs.

See "Club Drug" campaign home page

In addition to distributing 300,000 postcards and 250,000 community drug alert bulletins, NIDA helped to frame the club drug issue as an electronic dance music issue. EM:DEF does not take issue with the effort to curb drug abuse, but linking the message to an industry by calling the drugs "club drugs" is unjustified, and detrimental to our industry.

In January of 2000, following a press release issued by NIDA, congress introduced The Club Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2000. The effect of the law that concerns EM:DEF is a profiling of the entire electronic music industry as somehow involved in an underground drug scene.

January of 2000 was also about the time that Operation Rave Review launched in New Orleans. The government and media have certainly jumped on the "club drug" issue, ignoring drug use at other concerts and sporting events.

Charges were filed against Donnie Estopinal, Brian Brunet and Robert Brunet under the "Operation of a Crackhouse" statute demonstrated a dramatic shift in Law Enforcement Policy from the method of targeting users, dealers and manufacturers. The specific targeting of electronic music venues, despite drug use by fans of many genres of entertainment, has instigated several members of the dance music industry to form EM:DEF.

EM:DEF does not have a political agenda. Following a meeting between several attorneys, activists, promoters and others from the industry, EM:DEF was formed to provide funds for legal assistance to cases that threaten the electronic dance music Industry. The New Orleans case was selected as our first project because of the precedent it would set nationally, and the effect that a guilty verdict - whether by plea or trial - would have on our community.

The ability of legitimate record labels, artists, promoters, booking agents, publishers, distributors, and many more professionals to conduct business is being threatened by an anti-drug campaign which targets public perception through media campaigns and legislative efforts. The profiling of one musical genre is unconstitutional. Legislation, public relations campaigns, editorial partnerships with media corporations, and application of laws outside of their intended use are all contributing to the stereotyping of the electronic music industry and fans.

This is effecting the ability of our industry's top talent to sign deals with major record labels, to tour through large venues, and generally, to remain competitive in the music business. It is effecting our niche media outlets bottom line as sponsors shy away from the drug association to the music. This is resulting in lay-offs at some of our top companies. In short, EM:DEF is working to reduce the effect of profiling against our community by defending innocent professionals who face charges due to the behaviour of others.

Please stay tuned to this site for further developments in the club drug attack. Please also donate to the fund. And last, please forward the link to this site among all of your friends.

Description of the Fund

The fund is covered under Drug Policy Alliance's 501(c)(3) status. Drug Policy Alliance will prepare an annual report on the fund as a part of their annual report for Drug Policy Alliance as a whole.

EM:DEF is a Project of Drug Policy Alliance

Copyright © 2001-2004 Electronic Music Defense and Education Fund - EM:DEF.  All Rights Reserved.
Continued operation of this project made possible by a grant from
the Drug Policy Reform Fund of the Tides Foundation.