The DJ Mag Top 100 comes out yearly and tends to go away dance music followers all around the world somewhat aggravated. The frequent complaints are that the checklist is only a recognition contest and that DJ's are inspired to spend 1000's of in promoting to obtain votes. Therefore it isn't a dependable checklist of who's the most effective or most proficient in manufacturing or behind the decks. In years previous the checklist really did have an effect on an artist's livelihood as even reserving companies and promoters took the checklist into consideration when calculating charges.

Luckily that's not the case, as there are a number of different metrics which an artist's efficiency over the 12 months will be damaged down by. This is the place we bought to considering, what if we ran all numbers to see who was really the highest DJ on the planet primarily based on their efficiency throughout a number of totally different metrics. Would it examine to the checklist that everybody likes to hate? Or wouldn't it be wildly totally different? The outcomes actually shocked us, and so they simply may go away you a bit shocked as effectively.

The Metrics

We determined to have a look at eight important classes which may very well be seen qualitatively. Many of those classes even have sub-categories. We additionally put a minimal threshold on a few of the quantity counts.

Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases

The first metric we gathered was the overall Spotify streams for the artist's 2018 releases. This was executed by including up the overall play rely for each observe that the artists launched beginning January 1, 2018, till October 20, 2018. Remixes by different artists that have been on the calculated artist's web page have been ignored on this class. Artists who collected lower than 100,000,000 Spotify streams on their 2018 releases didn't obtain factors on this class.

Limitations: This methodology does include some limitations. Sometimes Spotify incorrectly tags a remix which an artist did and options it on the unique producer's web page. We didn't work to seek out each single music, and solely pulled information from the songs featured on the artist's important Spotify Page. Unfortunately, it will have been almost unattainable to search out each single music that was not accurately attributed to an artist.

Total Soundcloud Streams For 2018 Releases

The subsequent metric which was gathered was the overall Soundcloud Streams for 2018 uploads. These numbers have been collected by totaling the play counts for each observe that was uploaded to the artist's Soundcloud web page beneath the Tracks part from January 1, 2018, till October 21, 2018. In this metric, we collected all tracks together with remixes from different artists hosted on the unique producer's web page, in addition to radio reveals and reside units uploaded to the Tracks part. Artists who collected lower than 1,000,000 Soundcloud streams on their 2018 releases didn't obtain factors on this class.

Limitations: Since we didn't discriminate on uploads to the artist's Soundcloud web page for this metric, the variety of uploads an artist had performed an element. Producers who hosted weekly radio reveals clearly had many extra uploads than those that did not.

Total Revenue For 2018

This metric was pulled from Forbes annual checklist of the top-earning DJ's in 2018. To see a full checklist of the top-earning DJ's of 2018 you may go to Forbes' checklist right here. Artists who didn't make Forbes 2018 checklist acquired no factors on this class.

Limitations: We didn't double test Forbes' numbers. Obviously, because the checklist is printed earlier than the tip of the 12 months, most of the numbers are each earned income and extrapolations for the rest of the 12 months.

Total YouTube Views For Videos Uploaded In 2018

These numbers have been collected by totaling the play rely for each video the artist uploaded in 2018. We collected view counts for each single video, regardless if it was a vlog, recap, reside set, music video, or lyric video. This was executed to grasp an artist's recognition as a model in addition to a producer. Artists who collected lower than 1,000,000 YouTube views on their 2018 movies didn't obtain factors on this class.

Limitations: The similar problem which arose when amassing Soundcloud numbers additionally appeared right here. DJ's who uploaded weekly movies, equivalent to marshmello along with his cooking sequence, had many extra alternatives to gather views. Radio pleasant tracks produced with pop-stars additionally had a lot higher YouTube numbers than producers who labored outdoors of the realm of pop in 2018.

Total Shows Played In 2018

The whole variety of reveals carried out in 2018 was collected by reviewing present totals from each Song Kick and Bands In Town. When the 2 aggregators confirmed discrepancies, the best quantity was used. This metric was collected because it demonstrates promoters and occasion organizers around the globe have a want to e book producers on this checklist.

Limitations: These two aggregator providers have their limits. They don't account for shock units and different reveals the place the artists weren't particularly billed. The reality the 2 websites had discrepancies additionally demonstrates that they aren't the tip all, be all for whole efficiency numbers.

Total Unique DJ Spins In 2018

To gauge how artists have been supported by their friends, we used 1001 Track Lists' complete checklist of distinctive DJ spins for 2018. This checklist reveals how a lot assist artist's acquired by their friends from October 1, 2017, till September 30, 2018. You can view the complete checklist from 1001 Tracklists right here. If artists didn't make 1001 Track Lists 2018 checklist, they acquired no factors on this class.

Limitations: While 1001 Track Lists is impressively thorough, they don't have information for each single set on the planet. These numbers are at greatest estimates, and since some artists solely out positioned others by just a few performs, the checklist should be taken with a grain of salt.

Most Googled Artists Of 2018

While this metric could be stunning for a lot of, over 90% of net periods start with a search engine inquiry. Therefore, we wished to grasp which artists have been being searched by followers internationally. Our information factors have been collected utilizing the Google Trends device which demonstrates how search phrases are used throughout the 12 months. Here is a pattern report of a Google Trends graph we used whereas compiling our information. We solely took outcomes for the 15 most Googled artists of 2018, as previous that the info was not vital sufficient to gather on a world degree.

Limitations: Google isn't out there in all international locations and subsequently the info is not going to be consultant all the whole world.

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard EDM/Dance Charts

As entry to Nielsen data is extremely costly, we determined the easiest way to acquire charting data was through the use of the Billboard chart archives. We pulled the quantity of weeks artists spent at #1 for “Hot Dance/Electronic Songs“, “Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs“, “Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales“, “Top Dance/Electronic Album Sales“.

Limitations: We would have preferred to tug extra data than solely the #1 spot for weeks in 2018, however the archives are restricted to solely the highest spot. Billboard information makes use of Nielsen's Sound Scan which solely data information from the United States, subsequently this isn't an correct illustration of world metrics.

How We Determined The Artists And Awarded Points

We initially began with an inventory of over 50 artists we deemed to be hottest throughout digital dance music. Very shortly it was discovered that even artists who're extremely in style in most individuals's eyes (equivalent to Bassnectar, Excision, Oliver Heldens, and lots of extra), couldn't compete with the numbers of the ultimate 20 artists we included on this checklist.

Each class carried the very same weight because the others. Some extent whole was given primarily based on the rank an artist achieved in a class. If an artist positioned #1 in a class they acquired 20 factors, if #2 then 19 factors, and so forth till the bottom rating member of a class solely was given 1 level.

We additionally made minimal thresholds in some classes the place if an artist didn't meet the numbers for they have been awarded no factors. If an artist was no featured on an inventory equivalent to Forbes' checklist of income or 1001 Tracklist of DJ performs, they acquired no factors as effectively.

If you want to see the overall numbers for all artists throughout the board, chances are you'll request entry to our findings right here.

So with all that rationalization out of the best way, let's get to the checklist. A gold spotlight is used if the artist ranked #1 out of these on this checklist for that class. A silver spotlight is used if the artist ranked #2 out of these on this checklist for that class.

19. Kaskade (USA)

Total Points Awarded: 21

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: <100,000,000

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: <1,000,000

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: $13,500,000

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 5,242,714 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 70

Total DJ Spins In 2018: Did not make 1001 Track Lists 2018 checklist

Google Trends Analysis: Data not vital sufficient to be recorded

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: zero

18. Afrojack (NED)

Total Points Awarded: 32

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: <100,000,000

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: 1,090,600

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: $10,000,000

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: eight,943,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 75

Total DJ Spins In 2018: 853

Google Trends Analysis: Data not vital sufficient to be recorded

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: zero

17. Skrillex (USA)

Total Points Awarded: 35

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: <100,000,000

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: <1,000,000

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: Did not make 2018 Forbes checklist

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: <1,000,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 17

Total DJ Spins In 2018: 1337

Google Trends Analysis: #9 Most Googled DJ within the World

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: zero

16. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike (NED)

Total Points Awarded: 37

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: <100,000,000

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: <1,000,000

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: $10,500,000

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 73,724,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 92

Total DJ Spins In 2018: 484

Google Trends Analysis: Data not vital sufficient to be recorded

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: zero

15. Axwell//Ingrosso (SWE)

Total Points Awarded: 38

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: <100,000,000

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: <1,000,000

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: $12,000,000

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 19,225,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 61

Total DJ Spins In 2018: 1157.5

Google Trends Analysis: Data not vital sufficient to be recorded

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: zero

14. Alan Walker (NOR)

Total Points Awarded: 46

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: 166,644,997

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: <1,000,000

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: Did not 2018 Forbes make checklist

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 267,401,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 60

Total DJ Spins In 2018: Did not make 1001 Track Lists 2018 checklist

Google Trends Analysis: #1 Most Googled DJ within the World

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: zero

13. Hardwell (NED)

Total Points Awarded: 49

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: <100,000,000

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: 1,775,700

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: Did not make Forbes 2018 checklist

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 24,704,600 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 73

Total DJ Spins In 2018: 1096

Google Trends Analysis: #15 Most Googled DJ within the World

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: zero

12. Armin van Buuren (NED)

Total Points Awarded: 50

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: <100,000,000

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: four,029,000

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: Did not make Forbes 2018 checklist

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 65,236,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 74

Total DJ Spins In 2018: 856

Google Trends Analysis: #14 Most Googled DJ within the World

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: zero

11. Don Diablo (NED)

Total Points Awarded: 63

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: 317,141,698

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: 1,435,110

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: Did not make 2018 Forbes checklist

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 62,641,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 94

Total DJ Spins In 2018: 1,352

Google Trends Analysis: Data not vital sufficient to be recorded

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: zero

10. Steve Aoki (USA)

Total Points Awarded: 72

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: 187,383,767

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: four,387,400

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: $28,000,000

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 24,654,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 75

Total DJ Spins In 2018: 574

Google Trends Analysis: #13 Most Googled DJ within the World

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: zero

9. Kygo (NOR)

Total Points Awarded: 77

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: 412,410,645

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: <1,000,000

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: $11,500,000

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 242,359,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 76

Total DJ Spins In 2018: Did not make 1001 Track Lists 2018 List

Google Trends Analysis: #6 Most Googled DJ within the World

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: 1

eight. DJ Snake (FRA)

Total Points Awarded: 81

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: 200,120,734

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: 5,zero75,800

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: $11,000,000

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 370,000,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 74

Total DJ Spins In 2018: 674

Google Trends Analysis: #eight Most Googled DJ within the World

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: zero

7. Diplo (USA)

Total Points Awarded: 100

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: 618,631,607

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: 28,660,600

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: $20,000,000

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 290,974,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 91

Total DJ Spins In 2018: 995

Google Trends Analysis: #12 Most Googled DJ within the World

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: zero

6. Tiesto (NED)

Total Points Awarded: 101

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: 394,294,664

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: 6,959,600

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: $33,000,000

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 140,983,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 109

Total DJ Spins In 2018: 1,086

Google Trends Analysis: #11 Most Googled DJ within the World

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: zero

5. Martin Garrix (NED)

Total Points Awarded: 106

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: 532,524,876

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: 6,317,600

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: $13,000,000

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 479,685,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 99

Total DJ Spins In 2018: 954

Google Trends Analysis: #three Most Googled DJ within the World

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: zero

four. Zedd (GER)

Total Points Awarded: 112

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: 653,857,913

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: 11,300,300

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: $22,000,000

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 222,zero65,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 113

Total DJ Spins In 2018: Did not make 1001 Track Lists 2018 checklist

Google Trends Analysis: #9 Most Googled DJ within the World

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: 86

(Tied) three. Calvin Harris (UK)

Total Points Awarded: 113

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: 832,177,504

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: 1,560,692

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: $48,000,000

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 632,897,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 48

Total DJ Spins In 2018: 548

Google Trends Analysis: #5 Most Googled DJ within the World

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: 1

(Tied) three. The Chainsmokers (USA)

Total Points Awarded: 113

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: 601,893,220

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: 1,608,966

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: $45,500,000

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 485,040,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 117

Total DJ Spins In 2018: Did not make 1001 Track Lists 2018 checklist

Google Trends Analysis: #10 Most Googled DJ within the World

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: 34

2. David Guetta (FRA)

Total Points Awarded: 117

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: 1,008,190,000

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: 5,506,300

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: $15,000,000

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 367,401,00 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 71

Total DJ Spins In 2018: 783

Google Trends Analysis: #four Most Googled DJ within the World

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: 2

1. Marshmello (USA)

Total Points Awarded: 130

Total Spotify Streams For 2018 Releases: 1,138,738,000

Total Soundcloud Plays For 2018 Uploads: 38,670,200

Total Revenue Earned In 2018: $23,000,000

Total YouTube Plays On 2018 Videos: 584,704,000 views

Total Shows Played In 2018: 100

Total DJ Spins In 2018: Did not make 1001 Track Lists 2018 List

Google Trends Analysis: #2 Most Googled DJ within the World

Total Weeks At #1 On Billboard Charts: 35