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A. Wow, never seen so much change from one year to the next. Think this is attributed to explosion of dance music of past two years. Have feeling that lot's of people voted for first time this year and our newbies to EDM. I was shocked to see such a dramatic change. Usually poll moves very slowly from year to year and can predict who is moving up 5-10 spaces and who is moving down. Not this year. Think rise will continure next year also.
B. Guetta wins it. Not shocked but by comments all over Internet mainstream dance fans are not happy about this. Think this comes from disconnect of people who really know nothing about electronic music and ones who think Guetta is what EDM DJ is. Yes, Guetta is a DJ technically, but hard to say he is EDM DJ. Guess main point is that he is not much different then if rap DJ won it. People would go pissy just like they are with him.
C. Swedish House Mafia and Armada have hijacked half the poll. It's amazing how fast SHM have taken over the poll and brought there support DJ's into it. Read on some forums where people are like who the fuck is AM21 and (whatever I don't even know correct initials nor care to) what do they play? It's amazing that they have pretty much all there support DJ's in the poll in a year. And secondly Armada, DAMN promotion machine. I can't even count how many DJ's they have in the poll, it's a lot for sure. True most of ones that were in it last year dropped a few places but also several new entries and continual rise of Dash Berlin ( and his shitty anthem vocal trance).
D. Hey Gareth how is broadening your sound working out for you? Seems like he tried to copy Tiesto to some degree and it's not paying off. Surprised he fell the way he did. Think for the most part it pays to be true to your sound. Think DJ's get kinda high in poll then purposely try to broaden there sound and make it more commercial thinking they will get voted even higher. I don't think it works very well for them. I think Tiesto would still come in at number 3 if he was still playing only trance. I don't think his move to broaden his sound has made him any bigger. He was massive 5 years ago when he only played trance.
E. Afrojack, and to some extent Chuckie. I thought dirty electro died, I was wrong it just came back invited as Dutch House. Here is where I was way wrong. Two years ago I thought Tech House and Techno were going to take over everything. Instead they were at there peak then and Electro and a cheesy style of progressive house have grown to be massive. Egg on my face. Course wish my prediction would have come true.
F. Of all the high ranking electro artist I give it up to Avicii, think he does a good job of making quality tracks and has good sets. Commercial doesn't have to be pure cheese and Avicii proves it. Secondly, really surprised Kaskade isn't higher up considering where SHM are at and Avicii. Guess he is mainly a US phenomenon. Sitting about where he was last year. Though his style isn't really mine I think again he makes good music overall unlike SHM. Think SHM set's out to make records that are big anthems instead of just trying to make good music and it ends out sounding terrible. Also, as Gareth calls out in his top 100 interview it's ridiculous to pay dj huge amount of money to come on and play pre recorded set where they don't do anything besides turn gain up and down for a few vocal drops. Also think SHM is still Axwell making most of the music with the other two along for the ride. Don't think Ingrosso or Angello are the brains or add much to the operation.
G. Overall trance is really falling in the polls I think (minus Armada, Anjunabeats and there marketing machines.)
E. Daft Punk and Boy George in poll at all? Come on
F. Mark knight, maybe kind of low in the poll but as DJ Mag points out his lable practically owns the Beatport top 100, regularly having at least half of the tracks.
G. After seeing all the new entry's this year I am rethinking how I vote next year. Past few years my voting has been based on artist I want to see as poll plays a big part in determining who promoters book. This didn't always lead to people that could make it into the poll. Now I will vote for people who's style I like, even if don't want to see them the most, or there my favorite in that genre and have good chance to be in the poll.
This year I voted 1. Jerome Isma-Ae, 2. Jody Wisternoff, 3. Nic Fanciulli, 4. Mat Zo, 5. Koen Groeneveld
Knowing what I know now I would have voted Jerome Isma-Ae (Still think he will be in the next 50), 2. Nic Fancuilli (also think he will be in next 50), 3. Markus Schulz, 4. Mat Zo, 5. Manuel De La Mare (next 50 maybe I think) or Dubfire.
H. Suprised at lack of dubstep artist in poll. Maybe people don't consider dubstep EDM beings it is lacking a 4 4 beat most of the time. Wishfull thinking on my part I bet.
Anywho that's my semi instant analysis. Thinking I will like the Trance Addict pole that comes out a lot better, as assuming all people I voted for will actually make it in that. Kinda sad who promoters will book based off of the new DJ mag poll I think. Yes, I am probably getting old.
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