Now that we know the final rankings of this year’s DJ Mag Top 100, we can begin to break down some of the surprises and nuances of this year’s list.
To start, there’s no way around it, this year’s list featured probably the biggest shake ups in the past few years. Sixteen new artists made it onto this year’s list, including a whole host of techno visionaries like Maceo Plex, Black Coffee and Solomun. Six DJs made their re-entry onto the list, with Danny Avila making the highest re-entry at #52.
By some cosmic irony, last year’s highest climber Swanky Tunes also had this year’s biggest drop, falling 72 places down to #99. Last year’s new entry Alan Walker experienced the highest rise this year, climbing 38 spots to claw his way into the top 20 at #17.
As for the presence of women on this year’s list? A paltry four entries: Miss K8, Nervo (highest ranking women), Alison Wonderland and Mariana Bo. It seems that Rezz is still too new to make a dent, and legends like Helena Legend, Anna Lunoe, The Black Madonna, or Nicole Moudaber have some other reason for being absent…
The highest new entry this year is Lost Frequencies.
Martin Garrix and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike retain their respective #1 and #2 positions, while Hardwell, who was a 2-time #1 DJ, has fallen to #4 in favor of #3 Armin van Buuren. Armin has spent an astonishing 16 years in the DJ Mag Top 5. Who’s the real GOAT here?
Oliver Heldens and Skrillex fall out of the top 10 to make room for Marshmello and The Chainsmokers, at #10 and #6 respectively. It seems difficult to push any artists out of the top 5 – between Tiësto, Armin, and Hardwell, they don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
Don Diablo moves into striking distance of the top 10, reaching #11 this year while KSHMR, despite a massive year, remains stagnant at #12.
Perhaps the most glaring difference on the list this year? The complete absence of Indian artist DJ Chetas, who caused quite a stir last year when he moved up 26 places to #33 on the list.
See the full top 100 below.
DJ Mag Top 100
100. Disclosure [Re-Entry]
99. Swanky Tunes [Down 72]
98. DJ L [New Entry]
97. Paul Kalkbrenner [Re-Entry]
96. Porter Robinson
95. Tchami [Re-Entry]
94. Julian Jordan [New Entry]
93. Quentin Mosimann [New Entry]
92. Carta [New Entry] [Highest Asian DJ]
91. Maceo Plex [New Entry]
90. Ferry Corsten
89. Alison Wonderland [New Entry]
88. Shogun
87. Flume
86. Dillon Francis
85. Black Coffee [New Entry]
84. Mariana Bo [New Entry]
83. Will Sparks
82. Steve Angello [Down 52]
81. Solomun [New Entry]
80. Richie Hawtin [Re-Entry]
79. Andrew Rayel
78. Carnage
77. Andy C [Re-Entry] [Highest/Only D&B DJ]
76. Robin Schulz [confirms DJ Mag Top 100 “leak” is fake]
75. Sam Feldt
74. Cat Dealers [New Entry]
73. Jauz
72. Vini Vici [New Entry]
71. Florian Picasso [Down 33]
70. Martin Jensen
69. Claptone [New Entry] [Highest House]
68. Jay Hardway [Up 21]
67. Da Tweekaz
66. Galantis [Down 27]
65. Warface [New Entry]
64. Lucas & Steve [New Entry]
63. Carl Nunes [Up 23]
62. Carl Cox [Highest Techno DJ] [Up 12]
61. Dannic
60. Mike Williams [New Entry]
59. Brennan Heart
58. Miss K8 [Up 30]
57. Yellow Claw
56. Diego Miranda
55. Yves V
54. ATB
53. Aly & Fila
52. Danny Avila [Highest Re-Entry]
51. Paul van Dyk
50. Nicky Romero [Down 21]
49. Deadmau5 [Down 18]
48. Kura
47. Tom Swoon
46. Tujamo [Up 32]
45. Major Lazer
44. Radical Redemption [Up 24]
43. Timmy Trumpet [Up 37]
42. Nervo [Highest Australian DJs]
41. Wolfpack [Up 22]
40. Angerfist
39. Fedde Le Grand
38. Ummet Ozcan
37. Alesso [Down 17]
36. Blasterjaxx
35. Bassjackers
34. Eric Prydz [Up 32]
33. Headhunterz
32. Vinai
31. Vintage Culture [Up 23]
30. Quintino
29. Zedd [Up 6]
28. Avicii [Down 17]
27. Above & Beyond [Up 20]
26. Lost Frequencies [Highest New Entry]
25. Diplo
24. Kygo
23. DJ Snake
22. DVBBS
21. Axwell Λ Ingrosso
TOP 20
20. Dash Berlin
19. Alok [Up 6]
18. R3hab [Up 3]
17. Alan Walker [Up 38]
16. Skrillex [Down 7]
15. Calvin Harris [Down 1]
14. W&W [Down 1]
13. Oliver Heldens [Down 5]
12. KSHMR
11. Don Diablo [Up 4] [Highest Future House]
Top 10
10. Marshmello [Up 18]
9. Steve Aoki [Down 2]
8. Afrojack [Up 2]
7. David Guetta [Down 1]
6. The Chainsmokers [Up 12] [Highest Live Act] [Highest American Act]
5. Tiësto
4. Hardwell [Down 1]
3. Armin van Buuren
2. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
Photo via Rukes.com
