Thread: DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs 2009

Every year thousands of electronic music listeners worldwide take part and send their votes to DJ Magazine which holds clearly the most recognized and famous annual poll for DJs. Voting usually starts in summer and ends mid-autumn. On Wednesday October 28, this year’s results have been announced. We present you the prestigeous top 100 with the additional 50 artists that didn’t make it so high.

Obviously there have been a lot of speculations about the names in the top 3 and top 10. The list has generally been dominated by trance DJs, which for recent years has been reflected in the top trio with Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk and Tiesto exchanging places. Would this year’s situation change and have French David Guetta or the Swedes from House Mafia taken over? House artists generally did better in the poll last year, but would this be enough?

To make answer short: NOPE. Armin is still the best or, which is more appropriate, the most popular. The host of the most recognized trance show ASOT has won it for the third time in the row and evened the record of Tiesto, who for the second consecutive time finished as a runner-up. There has been a change in podium, though, as the French-house-school representant took over the third place, finishing two steps above the last year’s position. Paul van Dyk went in the exactly opposite direction. Above & Beyond, who over the last year have been everywhere and done everything, separate those two and finnish the same as last time, at fourth.

8 out of 10 positions in the top 10 have been taken by artists linked to trance. Apart from Guetta, only Deadmau5 has made it there, going 5 places up and takin 6th. Ferry went slightly down and took 7th, Markus Schulz remains in 8th . The most interesting and, let’s say it, surprising names close the top 10. Gareth Emery, who does far better in the studio than behind the decks finnished 9th above Sander van Doorn. The clearly roughest producer among those previously mentioned has finally made it to the top of the charts. Two questions though – why so late and why only in 10th? He seems to be the most desirable name, at least if you ask the audience of numerous trance events worldwide.

Quite surprising that The Swedish House Mafia didn’t make it to the first 10, but two of its representants finnish in the second one. This must have been a great year for Steve Angello as he stormed whole 43 positions up and finnished 20th. This by the way was the biggest progress comparing to last year’s results, something that the German forever-young-duo Cosmic Gate managed to achieve by finnishing a step ahead Angello. Axwell was 14th, while Eric Prydz suffered a remarkable and surprising fall of to 34th. Those who prefer progressive will be happy to find out that both Sasha (13th) and John Digweed (17th) are still in top 20 although they both lost a couple of positions this year. Some other genres like techno and psy-trance are also represented, which is good news for Carl Cox and Infected Mushroom, who finished 12th and 18th respectively. The second twenty is musically more diversed and interesting.

There have been some major changes on the list this year as quite a few artists moved up or down by a lot. From the most spectacular falls this year: Eddie Halliwell (down 22, finished 41st ), Yahel (down 34, finished 90) and Andy C, who went down by a whole 50 positions and closed the first 100. A few made impressive progress as well, including Roger Shah (up 37), John O'Callaghan (up 36), and Trancesonic.fm reisident Leon Bolier, who went up 32 places and finished 63rd.

Among the most spectacular new entries there’s a number of artists that have worked hard to conquer the hearts of the listeners and have finally made it. The crew of Trancesonic, as an obvious bunch of trance lovers, are happy to see a lot of guys notoriously delivering some wonderful musical experiences getting recognition. Better late than never! This is especially dedicated to Marcus Schössow (79th), Super8 & Tab (82nd), Sied van Riel (85th), Daniel Kandi (87th) and Myon & Shane 54 (91st).

To sum up, the DJ Mag ranking was little surprising and shows the current position of trance music among other genres as well as it tells how lucrative and powerful it is to host a well known radio show. It’s hardly a coincidence that the hosts A State of Trance, Club Life, Trance Around the World and Global DJ Broadcast are all in top 10. It’s quite dissappointing to see Armin on the top again, because – let’s be honest – his productions as well as the selection of tracks is not necessarily the absolute best the trance world has to offer. When it comes to DJing skills there are few better than Richard Durand and Eddie Halliwell, but these two hardly make it to the first 50. Probably the results would be a lot different if the poll was divided into producers and DJs. But the beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the matter of taste is not something that should be discussed. And let’s stick to it.

The official results of DJ Mag Top 100 DJs 2009 Poll:

001. Armin van Buuren [NL] (<>)
002. Tiësto [NL] (<>)
003. David Guetta [FR] (up 2)
004. Above & Beyond [GB] (<>)
005. Paul van Dyk [DE] (down 2)
006. Deadmau5 [CA] (up 5)
007. Ferry Corsten [NL] (down 1)
008. Markus Schulz [DE] (<>)
009. Gareth Emery [GB] (up 14)
010. Sander van Doorn [NL] (up 3)
011. ATB [DE] (up 14)
012. Infected Mushroom [ISR] (down 2)
013. Sasha [GB] (down 6)
014. Axwell [SE] (up 6)
015. Andy Moor [GB] (up 3)
016. Bobina [RU] (up 12)
017. John Digweed [GB] (down 8 )
018. Carl Cox [GB] (down 6)
019. Cosmic Gate [DE] (up 43)
020. Steve Angello [SE] (up 43)
021. Roger Shah (up 37)
022. Aly & Fila (up 9)
023. Paul Oakenfold (down 9)
024. John O'Callaghan (up 36)
025. Sebastian Ingrosso (new entry)
026. Benny Benassi (up 13)
027. Laidback Luke (up 19)
028. Richie Hawtin (down 13)
029. Fedde le Grand (<>)
030. DJ Feel (up 25)
031. Lange (up 6)
032. Hernan Cattaneo (down 16)
033. Daft Punk (up 5)
034. Eric Prydz (down 13)
035. Bob Sinclar (up 5)
036. Joachim Garraud (down 9)
037. Kyau & Albert (down 15)
038. James Zabiela (down 21)
039. Umek (down 6)
040. Christopher Lawrence (re-entry)
041. Eddie Halliwell (down 22)
042. Simon Patterson (up 22)
043. Offer Nissim (up 8 )
044. Judge Jules (down 12)
045. Sean Tyas (up 9)
046. Dubfire (down 16)
047. Martin Solveig (up 5)
048. Sven Väth (down 24)
049. Richard Durand (up 17)
050. Marco V (down 6)
051. Kaskade (<>)
052. tyDi (new entry)
053. Erick Morillo (up 17)
054. Matt Darey (down 20)
055. Astrix (down 12)
056. Menno de Jong (down 8)
057. The Thrillseekers (down 12)
058. Nick Warren (up 26)
059. Dirty South (up 15)
060. Roger Sanchez (down 3)
061. Mark Knight (down 19)
062. Wally Lopez (up 13)
063. Leon Bolier (up 32)
064. Blank & Jones (down 3)
065. Justice (up 8 )
066. Laurent Wolf (up 1)
067. Astral Projection (up 27)
068. Boys Noize (new entry)
069. Ronski Speed (up 28)
070. Sander Kleinenberg (down 11)
071. Ricardo Villalobos (down 35)
072. Chuckie (new entry)
073. Sharam (new entry)
074. Marcel Woods (up 9)
075. Lisa Lashes (up 2)
076. Moonbeam (new entry)
077. Rank 1 (re-entry)
078. Sebastien Leger (up 11)
079. Marcus Schössow (new entry)
080. Steve Lawler (up 11)
081. Skazi (re-entry)
082. Super8 & Tab (new entry)
083. Pete Tong (down 5)
084. Tocadisco (up 14)
085. Sied van Riel (new entry)
086. Tiga (re-entry)
087. Daniel Kandi (new entry)
088. Mike Koglin (down 1)
089. Luciano (re-entry)
090. Yahel (down 34)
091. Myon & Shane 54 (new entry)
092. John B (new entry)
093. Simon Posford (new entry)
094. Fatboy Slim (down 2)
095. Robbie Rivera (re-entry)
096. Antoine Clamaran (new entry)
097. Nic Fanciulli (down 1)
098. Gui Boratto (new entry)
099. Alex M.O.R.P.H. (new entry)
100. Andy C (down 50)

101. Greg Downey
102. Talla 2XLC
103. Armand Van Helden
104. Deep Dish
105. Dash Berlin
106. The Chemical Brothers
107. Danny Tenaglia
108. Sesto Sento
109. Peter Rauhofer
110. Dj Vibe
111. Danny Howells
112. John Dahlbäck
113. Showtek
114. David Vendetta
115. Dj Dan
116. Laurent Garnier
117. Magda
118. Crookers
119. Loco Dice
120. BT
121. Chris Lake
122. Anderson Noise
123. Pendulum
124. Chris Liebing
125. Gabriel & Dresden
126. Nitrous Oxide
127. Yoji
128. Marco Carola
129. Chicane
130. Adam Beyer
131. Mauro Picotto
132. Mstrkrft
133. Joris Voorn
134. Jody Wisternoff
135. Bad Boy Bill
136. Stoneface & Terminal
137. Don Diablo
138. Valentino Kanzyani
139. Darude
141. Tritonal
142. Spartaque
143. Heatbeat
144. Victor Calderone
145. The Bloody Beetroots
146. 2Manydjs
147. Manuel Le Saux
148. Hybrid
149. Lisa Pin-Up
150. Mat Zo

This rank is tricked, where is THRILITRON