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THE FACTS, FIGURES & TRENDS…
Words: Carl Loben
The results of this year's Top 100 DJs poll are put under the microscope as we delve into the facts, figures and trends…
So here we have it — the much-anticipated Top 100 DJs 2007 results, all neatly packaged together in this indispensable special issue. And yet again it's been a record-breaking year with 345,000 legitimate votes, smashing last year's total of 217,000 – an increase of nearly 60%.
Overall, we received votes from a staggering 220 different countries. Most votes were received from the United States this year, followed by the UK. But after that it starts to get really interesting…
The country with the third highest share of the vote this year was China, followed by Germany and then that other huge emerging dance music territory – the Russian Federation.
Brazil, Netherlands, Mexico, Turkey and France followed in what is undoubtedly the most globally represented Top 100 yet.
Spell Check
An unbelievable 89,393 different DJs were voted for in the poll this year — from obvious superstar DJs down to aspiring bedroom jocks. And some of your spelling is atrocious! For instance, there were 637 different spellings of Armin Van Buuren, while Paul van Dyk was spelt Paul van Dyke or shortened to PvD and other permutations by assorted different fans. Thankfully, our eagle-eyed mapping procedure made sure that, despite different spellings, each legitimate vote counted.
Vibrant
With 15 new entries, 12 re-entries, four non-movers and 45 DJs moving up, it's a fascinatingly vibrant chart that hosts the new young gunslingers alongside the established party rockers.
As you've probably already noticed, we've got a new No.1 DJ this year. Six years after exploding into the Top 10, Holland's Armin Van Buuren has edged his way up the rankings to finally take the top spot. So it's heartfelt congratulations to Armin, his unsung work and constant touring finally paying off.
In a remarkably close-fought contest, Armin held off Tiësto to rob his fellow Dutchman of the chance to regain the crown he held from 2002 – 2004.
Last year's No.1 Paul van Dyk has slipped to No.4 this year, with John Digweed climbing back up to the No. 3 spot. It's been a good year for Diggers' old mucker Sasha too — he's up a couple of places to No.5.
Another former winner, Carl Cox is back in the Top 10 — up four places to No.7 — and two-fold winner in the late-'90s Paul Oakenfold is also up to No.12, even though his DJing gigs are fewer than before.
Staying with that all-important Top 10, trancers Above & Beyond and Ferry Corsten hold fast, while riotous psy-trancers Infected Mushroom crash up to No. 9 and scoop the Highest Psy-Trance award we've created this year in recognition of the global popularity of that scene.
David Guetta, meanwhile, leaps 21 places to No. 10 and secures the Highest House DJ award, reaping the rewards of his Fuck Me, I'm Famous parties and international chart success the last couple of years.
Techno is Back!
The Top 100 is still dominated by trance DJs but it seems as though the genre's stranglehold on global dance culture is leveling off. For while there are healthy climbs up the chart for Sander Van Doorn, Gareth Emery, Blank & Jones, Ronski Speed, Matt Hardwick and Agnelli & Nelson, just as many trance DJs have dropped or slid out of the chart completely.
And if there's one trend that leaps out of the Top 100 this year it's that techno is back — with a vengeance.
Richie Hawtin is deservedly up a healthy 14 places to land back inside the Top 20, and German überlord Sven Väth climbs 17. Sultry Slovenian Umek is up a whopping 53 places, his mate Valentino Kanzyani is a new entry, and Mauro Picotto — who mainly plays techno these days — moves 37 places up the chart.
Anderson Noise from Brazil, who only entered the chart last year, rises 25 places to No.54; there's a re-entry for Richie Hawtin's mate Ricardo Villalobos at No.49; and Marco Bailey, Jeff Mills, Magda, Laurent Garnier and Adam Beyer also bust back into the chart having dropped out last year.
Back at the more minimal techno end of things, Luciano, Booka Shade and Sébastian Léger all slip into the Top 100 for the first time — recognition for the more subtle and sublime sounds they've been pushing for the last few years.
DJs who like to mix it up — cats like James Zabiela and Nic Fanciulli, Tiga, Lee Burridge, Dave Seaman — haven't suffered from not being identified with one particular narrowly defined genre. All have moved up in the Top 100, indicating that scene tribalism could be in decline as barriers break down.
House About That?
Most of the big house DJs seem to have fared this year. Following David Guetta's meteoric jump, the two highest new entries are electrifying Dutchman Fedde Le Grand and Pryda man Eric Prydz.
Fellow Swede Axwell is this year's Highest Climber, up a massive 60 places, Steve Angello is also up 20 places, and stalwarts Roger Sanchez and Erick Morillo are both up.
There are also new entries for Toolroom chief Mark Knight, Australian remixers du jour Dirty South and Pacha man Wally Lopez, while Chus & Ceballos and Martin Solveig are re-entries into the Top 100.
It's been a good year too for dance scene diehards Pete Tong, Danny Tenaglia and Fatboy Slim — each are up a respectable amount of places, while Armand Van Helden also booms back into the 100 at No.86.
Noiseniks
It's been a good year for live electronic acts who also sometimes DJ, too. French noiseniks Justice are one of the highest new entries, while fellow countrymen Daft Punk — back on the circuit this year — are also new in at No.71.
Trentemøller, currently making waves with his live act, is a new entry at No.76, and The Chemical Brothers zoom back into the Top 100 even though they only DJed a handful of times this year. A No.1 album and Glastonbury headline spot undoubtedly helped.
Andy C is again the highest placed junglist, but he's up an impressive 30 places on last year. Ganja Kru chief DJ Hype also reclaims a place in the Top 100, and Aussie blitzkriegers Pendulum slam into the Top 150 in advance of their imminent new album and live international tour.
The same can't really be said for hard dance, though. Once in the Top 10, Lisa Lashes is the highest placed hard dance DJ at No.83 this year. It may entitle her to an award at our Top 100 party, but she's pretty much on her own in the 100 from that scene. She's also one of only two women DJs in the Top 100.
There are no breakbeat DJs in the Top 100 this year. The Stanton Warriors have just dipped to outside the 100, while Krafty Kuts, The Plumps and James Lavelle only appear in the next 50. German techno legend WestBam, a surprise new entry into the Top 100, is apparently playing mainly breaks these days but isn't really recognized as a scene figurehead as such.
The DJmag Top 100 DJs 2007 is an invaluable snapshot of a DJ's current popularity and visibility — as voted for by YOU. The results make for fascinating reading — here they are… |
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