Electronic Music Foundation (EMF), a nonprofit organization, was founded in September 1994 to disseminate information and materials on the history and current practice of electronic music.
In 2000, the Daniel Langlois Foundation provided support for EMF Institute as EMF’s historical, research, and education program.
In 2002, the UNESCO Digi-Arts Portal invited participation from EMF Institute. The UNESCO goals were twofold: First, to record the history of electronic music so that it is easily accessible by new practitioners, thereby providing models for creativity; and second, to offer and support musical creativity software that will enable people, with or without prior musical training, to work creatively with sounds.
The Digi-Arts Portal remained active for several years. Following the Digi-Arts Portal, EMF Institute remained EMF’s historical program.
In 2016, EMF Institute became a nonprofit independent organization aimed at tracing the history of electronic music with a focus on the period from 1950 to 2000.