The difficult relationship between commercial music and niche music is increasingly reflected in the Trance genre.
Dj Mag’s Top 100DJs has been the reference point for years for all electronic music lovers. The ranking is practically chosen by the fans themselves by vote and strongly reflects what is the current musical trend. As we have already said in the past, trance music having never been in the last two decade a commercial genre, has lost importance in this ranking year by year.
And it is a strange fact, because during the 90s, when trance music managed to obtain an important slice – if not a fundamental one – in disco music in the world, the genre was very popular and it continues to be a music genre that is still pleases today when it is played at large crowds, outside of the big trance events (and we have seen it recently at Armin van Buuren live at Tomorrowland 2019 (15 Years Tribute).
Instead, “easier” music continues to be preferred against “emotionally involving” music, and this does not only apply to the trance genre, but a little in all fields. The times have changed and in the last few years moreover, the growing use of social networks and access to voting media to anyone has made this reflect this trend. We think in any case that any musical genre can arouse emotions, but the trance music, like other genres in various fields of electronic or other music, such as classical, symphonic or new wave, seem too “difficult” for most of today’s average user.
If up to ten years ago, then, the ranking of Top100 DJs of the dj mag, especially at the highest positions, was occupied mainly by important figures of the trance scene, today, in 2019, out of 100 positions, thanks to the vote of the users, appear only 6 djs of trance music, in a constantly falling trend:
87. Paul van Dyk (down 32 positions)
59. Ferry Corsten (up 16 p.)
39. ATB (up 10 p.)
31. Vici Vici (up 3 p.)
22. Above & Beyond (up 29 p.)
04. Armin van Buuren (not mover)
(the complete Top100 DJs can be consulted here: Dj Mag’s Top100 DJs)
Obviously the undisputed leader of the trance, both commercial and more niche, inevitably remains Armin van Buuren, following a new year full of news and collaborations, he remained stable at No. 4 of this ranking compared to last year (remembering that the Dutch DJ is the one who collected the n.1 several times, well 5), here is his performance yesterday at the final event:
Later, here the Above & Beyond that happily date back to almost 30 positions and in this we find a coherence: Armin van Buuren and the english trio also represent the absolute leaders of two labels that have marked the history of trance and edm music in general, Armada Music and Anjunabeats. Vini Vici reconfirm themselves as an excellent novelty in recent years and great drivers with their psytrance and ATB, although no longer at the glories of many years ago, rises to n.39; Finally, Ferry Corsten earns some positions (and even he don’t needs a few presentations) and Paul van Dyk closes the circle at n.87, collapsing in various positions despite a stable career thanks to new intense studio albums.
It seems “incredibile” not to see Markus Schulz, Gareth Emery, Cosmic Gate and Aly & Fila into this Top100, we can’t understand the reason despite a career always full of great successes and acclamation also during last years.
In any case, we congratulate Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike who have returned to the top of this special Top100 Djs, evidently among the biggest players in this moment of EDM music.