I sit here uncomfortably writing this, myself being a contributor to DJ magazine. Of course Im talking about the DJ magazine poll yet again. I somehow feel the trust is going from the readers towards the magazine. Every year we sit as outsiders and spot the blatant cheats who get into this chart. We spot them, so why doesnt a magazine that specializes in this music industry, with a plethora of resources, not spot them? Hence my opening paragraph. Im in the industry and spot groups of friends/DJs that have been placed closely together in the chart for the past few years who obviously have a system in place together. DJ agencies are in on the game too. Making sure to get their roster into the chart as they know a placing will get their guys bookings. Then we see the wild cards enter the chart that cause much controversy. Also why are producers in a DJ chart? I had to explain that one to a friend the other daywell tried to. Wouldnt it be fun to see a producer at the number 1 slot.the worlds number 1 DJerr but hes not a DJ explain that one?!
I think the world is starting to distrust DJ magazine and they are devaluing the meaning of the chart. Have you noticed how clubs/festivals no longer blag the DJs poll number on flyers anymore as it no longer an accurate benchmark. If they do its because agents would have forced it onto them to try and sell them, this is a very dangerous thing to do. These DJs who fight/cheat for a chart position are selling themselves off the back of a number. So what happens if they lose this number; they have nothing. This is the reason why they sprint off the line at midnight on the day of voting to get as many votes as they can, because they are sold on that number alone and have nothing to fall back on.
So what makes a great DJ in this day and age? Unfortunately its not the actual skill of being a DJ, but its the person who can create the most powerful marketing team together or have a group of IT guys working for you. Is this fair? In a word no, and there is a serious side to this, and its this side that really disturbs me, hence my yearly outbursts.
New DJs are being discouraged from pursuing a career as a DJ because this poll was drummed into us/them as being the be all an end all for you to achieve a career as a DJ. Without it you are worthless and after failing to get local support, this is how they feel and eventually give up. Its not just the new DJs that feel this. I even know established DJs that have hung up their headphones out of depression as they knew that they didnt stand a chance to get a fair placing amongst the multiple voters in this day and age of computer technology and wont lower themselves to these depths to gain more votes. Its an uneven battleground, so they give up DJing. For this reason alone it really upsets me, especially after having seen a number of close friends getting depressed due to this chart and its why I often speak out.
For the last few years the media has jumped on this poll and made it the power to be. It could make or break a DJs career, and we all saw that. But my opening paragraph shows there is change happening due to the mishandling of the charts. Instead of me wanting to pull the chart down and verbally attack it, I want to show those new DJs (and my colleagues that have given up) that I am living proof that the chart isnt needed for a career in this industry. Im not in the chart! I now look at the chart from an entertainment point of view, kind of an X-factor/Pop idol view. I sit back and watch these people who are desperate for fame and want to fast-track their careers, with flash enhanced Eflyers (how do they find my email??) and Myspace/Facebook networking campaigns. Its great fun and I think DJ Mag have come To this reading the words in the back of the magazine. After all, it is an impossible task trying to police the electronic voting system from being hacked by these clever IT guys and hackers out there, so from that point of view, I feel for them. The Top 100 has become the new Top 40 pop charts! Then I ask myself, do I want to be a part of this? Certainly not. Im not in this industry for the glitz & the glamour, the VIP rooms and the champagne. Im in it due to my love and passion for music and thats why I find myself moving miles apart from what the Poll is promoting.
I want to show DJs that you do have a chance to make your mark without a number. The World is changing and we desperately need fresh talent in this scene. I havent been in the charts for the past few years and didnt even bother campaigning, yet I still play at the biggest clubs and festivals across the world, and my last mix compilation outsold many of the big guys albums by double! Theres only so many times that a promoter will lose money on a number in his club before he realizes that its not working. Its taken a few years and it may take a little more before promoters and club owners finally realize that a number does not necessarily equal talent. The day will come when DJs are valued for their ability to deliver and not because of a number next to their name. The numbers dont matter and we are starting to see it now.
I hope these few words of encouragement will boost the moral of the people that have been affected by this poll. DJ magazine Top 100 poll is purely for entertainment purposes; so dont get sucked into it. Get on with the job in hand and focus all that energy into finding and producing great music. Let the others waste their time and money on planning huge campaigns to gain their desperate prize of a number. There is a new clubland currently being born for music specialists like us who have no care for numbers and popularity charts. Ive been in this industry for over 20 years and have seen these cycles of commercialism come and go, its part of clubland. If this didnt happen, a new underground culture wouldnt be born.
The birth of a new culture is on its way and Im enjoying it first hand, so be happy and love what you do.
Signed,
A certain super-awesome DJ
