In response to a sold out 2007 program, the Amsterdam Dance Event announced that the program will kick-off on Wednesday. This will allow an extra day for meetings as well as night time events. According to ADE General Manager Richard Zijlma "We feel that the need is there for professionals to arrive on Wednesday to the conference centre. So we now want to offer a ‘kind of soft launch’ of the conference on Wednesday, to make it possible to pick up your badge, but also to make your first meetings."
With a festival audience of 72,000 and 1,800 industry professionals attending, ADE 2007 broke records and sold out. ADE 2008 will take place October 22nd-25th and over 2000 industry people from over 34 countries are expected to attend. Toolroom Knight label founder and international DJ Mark Knight called Amsterdam Dance Event "the dance remix of Midem."
The 2008 day time program presents a focus on different sectors of industry that showcase electronic music including online video, music synching, branding, advertising funded music, and soundtrack composition. "As an internationally gateway for the electronic music scene, we aim to build bridges between all creative industries who are interes ted in the use of music, be it the games sector or with those of the advertising and film," explains Zijlma.
The 2008 night time program will feature DJ sets from: Paul van Dyk, Armin van Buuren, Trentemøller, Shapeshifters, Groove Armada, Kraak & Smaak, Mousse T, Don Diablo, Fedde le Grand, Tommie Sunshine, Audio Bullys, Mason, Seamus Haji, Steve Bug, Ron Carroll, Richie Hawtin, Robert Owens, Erick Morillo, Michel de Hey, The Cube Guys, Layo & Bushwacka!, Âme, Kevin Saunderson, Joey Negro, Sander Kleinenberg, Eddie Thoneick, and more.
Live performers for 2008 night time program include: Aril Brikha, Bangkok Impact, Barbara Tucker, Detroit Grand Pubahs, Georgie Porgie, Guy Gerber, Lucien Foort, Lulu Rouge ,Secret Cinema, Seymour Bits, The Advent, Tobi Neumann.
Industry people who plan to attend ADE can register online at the ADE Website where they will find a database of all registered attendees. ADE Registration includes admission to all daytime and nighttime programs. A special animated ADE video is available on YouTube.