DJ Mag Top 100 DJs Poll – Is It All Worth It?

I’m going to state a shocking fact upfront right now. I haven’t voted this year…well not yet.

It’s not that I don’t want to support the hundreds of artists out there, but I just feel “Is it all worth it?” What good becomes of voting in the main players again?

As the final weeks approach to the close of voting we are being bombarded with the “Please vote for me!” Emails, status updates, tweets and videos. For many, they are going to make the Top 100 anyway. My guess is that it is just another bragging right and helps their agents get a better price the higher up they are.

Supporting New Talent

Don’t get me wrong, it is good for artists and managers to have goals and to achieve them, the poll has its uses in the industry. It just leaves me somewhat disillusioned about the scene though. This is down to my personal beliefs, what I set out to do by writing, and always have when I talk about music – Support up and coming artists.

Even in the early days of writing here, I mixed it up by supporting the big guns alongside the unknowns. I like seeing artists progress and get to the point that are being recognised for their work. The DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll is a standard that artists like to achieve, but I think it is disillusioning for the scene, and not just the trance scene. For many EDM artists, it is just not attainable, their scene is too small meaning they can not complete with, trance, house and techno artists all getting their votes in.

For example; I know of some great hardcore DJs, but they’ll never in a month of Sundays be able to get into the Top 100. I’ll be surprised if any make it into the Top 200, unless Darren Styles had a fair run at it after his commercial success… Actually just looked and Kutski got in at 124 (if anyone is interested).

And there is the other thing…

Isn’t The DJ Mag Top 100 Poll Just A Popularity Contest?

DJs with the most votes get in the Top 100?
Yes.

Does it mean the they contributed to the scene in the last year?
It must do.

Did they revolutionise the scene?
Maybe… There are those who deservedly break through really quickly, but I think you’ll find those in 200th or 300th place are the ones really doing the groundwork. They are the ones changing the sound of trance as we know it and in later years are going to be fighting the fight for the title of Numero Uno.

Is It Worth Voting?

I think it is worth voting, but only if we do so in a way that encourages new talent and rewards them for their efforts. I dislike the fact that it is a popularity contest and I am thankful for sites such as TrancePodium who have developed their own Top 50 DJs poll. It is no different than DJ Mag yes, though it is specific to our genre, therefore it gives a better view about the affect that artists are having on the scene.

If I didn’t vote it would make me a heretic. Here is me saying support new talent, and then refusing to vote. It conflicts with my beliefs.
So, I’ve decided I’ll make a new rule for myself that is inline with my ethics. From this year on, I will vote for what I believe are talented artists which were not in the Top 100 the previous year, and primarily have never been in the Top 100 before. They will be the artists that I firmly believe have something special to offer our scene (even if it is not obvious to others).

Everyone starts somewhere, so I’m sure those in the Top 100 understand where the up and coming artists are coming from and they won’t mind missing my votes

If you are one of those Top 100, I tip my hat to you, you put the hard work and effort in and made it, congratulations to you. Hell, if you are reading this, thank you for making the scene what it is today!

The rest of you looking to reach those heavenly heights? Don’t dispair if you do not get voted in to the top on any contest. Concentrate on the now and be the best you can! I really can’t say anymore than that, because that is what counts for making people/fans vote in the future.

Who Am I Voting For…

Whilst writing this post I had plenty of time to think and my 5 votes will go as follows:

Ben Gold – A phenomenal DJ and producer that I have had the pleasure of seeing DJ years ago and more so recently. I hope many of you agree, he deserves to make the Top 100 this year.

Robert Vadney – An absolutely amazing producer. My only hope is he settles a little with keeping focus on the the euphoric banging trance that he produces so well in my view. I don’t expect him to appeal to everyone, all the more reason for the vote; because he is doing his own thing and has developed his own sound!

Fei-Fei – DJ, producer and record label owner. FEIDED has produced some killer sounds and established itself in less than a year that it had what it takes with download charts set ablaze. Fei-Fei is versatile and works really hard to please her fans. If you wanted a business case study of how to break into the EDM world, she was a role model to watch over the last few years.

Steve Anderson – Since I have been working on this blog, Steve has always been there working hard with releases, his label and collaborating with other artists. His passion for the music is embedded deep within, I haven’t found any artists who express it quite like him. I know he is serious about his career and I hope to see him up there.

Vic Light – Vic is a dear friend who I have known for a number of years. I wouldn’t be putting him in here unless I really thought he had what it takes (Vic, my reputation is on the line here endorsing buddies Haha!). He may not make the Top Whatever, but this is me believing in someone that many of you have not heard of – You have to start voting for them at some point.

Good luck to all five, I hope they have a fantastic future no matter where they end up in the poll.

Everyone else, get cracking, it could be you I’m voting for next year

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Photo credit: schatz