Billboard Announces Top 30 EDM Power Players

Billboard has released an all-telling article today, listing and briefly describing the artists, executives, and influences in electronic music that have all of the power to sway, build, and progress the EDM community. The list includes names from companies like Live Nation, Mad Decent, Insomniac, SFX, Owsla, and a number of DJ’s.

A notable and interesting choice on the list is SiriusXM’s radio host and DJ, Geronimo. I am a frequent listener of BPM, Electric Area, and Chill , which Geronimo does all of the programing for, so it makes me very excited that they are reaching to all realms of the business to decide their list. Without Geronimo, I wouldn’t know most of the music that I know today, so three cheers for Geronimo!

https://soundcloud.com/lil_jon/turn-down-for-what-dj-snake

Another name who makes the list is DJ Snake. I often feel like DJ Snake flies under the radar and doesn’t always receive the recognition he deserves, but apparently I was wrong. Appearing on this list is a big deal for the relative newcomer, making a name for himself with the worldwide hit “Turn Down For What” in 2013. Despite the already massive success of the song, he has come quite a long way in two years making appearances at Coachella, Ultra, and even being a part of the incredibly successful “Lean On” with Major Lazer. The Parisian DJ states that his pinch-me moment was when he was “at the Grammys, standing between Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney.” He’s obviously not quite a Beetle and doesn’t hold the same clout in the industry as Stevie Wonder, but never say never.

According to the article, the merits on which people the list consists of were decided by the following criteria: “business influence and impact, money earned and overseen, chart performance, touring performance and cultural influence over the past 12 months.” The names were decided by an internal panel of experts, and it would seem that these experts truly did know what they were talking about. With names like Martin Garrix, Gary Richards of HARD, and Neil Moffitt of Hakkasan Group present, there is no denying that this list consists of some remarkable power.

Read the full article HERE and check out the list below:

1. James Barton, President of electronic music, Live Nation
2. Diplo, DJ-producer; founder, Mad Decent
3. Pasquale Rotella, Founder, Insomniac Events
4. Skrillex, DJ-producer; co-founder, OWSLA
5. Paul Morris, Founder/president, AM Only
6. Calvin Harris // Mark Gillespie // Dean Wilson
Harris: DJ-producer; Gillespie/Wilson: Co-founders, Three Six Zero Group
7. Ritty Van Straalen, CEO, SFX Live
8. Joel Zimmerman, Partner/head of electronic music, William Morris Endeavor
9. Gary Richards, Founder/CEO, HARD Events
10. Patrick Moxey, Founder/president, Ultra Records; president of electronic music, Sony Music
11. Scooter Braun, Founder/owner, SB Projects
12. Kaskade, DJ-producer
13. David Guetta, DJ-producer
14. Ash Pournouri, Founder, At Night Management
15. Kathryn Frazier, Owner, Biz3 Publicity; co-owner, OWSLA
16. Deadmau5, Producer; founder, Mau5trap
17. Neil Moffitt, CEO, Hakkasan Group
18. Pete Tong & Annie Mac, DJ/hosts
19. Tiesto, DJ-producer
20. Martin Garrix, DJ-producer
21. Geronimo, Director of music programming for electronic and dance formats; host, BPM/SiriusXM
22. Tim Smith, Founder, Blood Company
23. Neil Jacobson, Senior vp A&R, Interscope Geffen A&M
24. Steve Aoki, DJ-producer; CEO/owner, Dim Mak Records
25. Disclosure, DJ-producers
26. Amy Thomson, Founder/CEO, ATM Artists
27. DJ Snake, DJ-producer
28. Zedd, DJ-producer
29. Steve Angello, DJ-producer; founder, Size Records
30. A-Trak, DJ-producer; co-founder, Fool’s Gold Records

Catch EDM Power Players, Zedd, at Mesa Ampitheatre on September 12, and Diplo a week later at Mad Decent Block Party performing with Major Lazer.