OT - The World's Highest-Paid DJs Of 2019

[Philip Clark]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicamercuri/2019/07/29/the-worlds-highest-paid-djs-of-2019/?fbclid=IwAR2kYK4ZPpAcT4Hjzi1hnBFbZn6odWLUpPsqC2-LDv_enR_KbsG1hkuOAeY#64cf61467a97

 

Electronic Cash Kings 2019: The Full List

15. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike ($11.5 million, tie)

15. DJ Pauly D ($11.5 million, tie)

15. DJ Snake ($11.5 million, tie)

14. Afrojack ($12 million)

13. Alesso ($12.5 million)

12. Skrillex ($13 million)

11. Kaskade ($14 million)

10. Armin van Buuren ($15 million)

9. Zedd ($17 million)

8. David Guetta ($18 million)

7. Martin Garrix ($19 million)

6. Tiësto ($24 million)

5. Diplo ($25 million)

4. Steve Aoki ($30 million)

3. Calvin Harris ($38.5 million)

2. Marshmello ($40 million)

1. The Chainsmokers ($46 million)

[Outkaster]

So what DJ's aren't musicians, why would you post that here?

[SamuelBLupowitz]

So what DJ's aren't musicians, why would you post that here?

And here I thought I wouldn't see any controversy on this thread.

 

[Outkaster]

It comes up every once in awhile Sam. It's beyond me why it continues to happen.

[Philip Clark]

So what DJ's aren't musicians, why would you post that here?

 

This statement is begging for better punctuation.

 

Is it:

 

So what? DJ's aren't musicians.

 

OR

 

So, what DJ's aren't musicians?

 

Pretty big difference.

 

Also, it's marked OT. Maybe I should post another Forbidden parody thread?

[zephonic]

At least four Dutchies on that list. What am I doing wrong?

[Synthoid]

Yet another Martha Stewart job.

 

 

[RudyS]

At least four Dutchies on that list. What am I doing wrong?

 

My thought exactly!

[Joe Muscara]

At least four Dutchies on that list. What am I doing wrong?

 

My thought exactly!

Me too. I'm always wondering what the heck Zeph is up to.

[Song80s]

Don't try to run to the bank with those #;s:

 

"Estimates" are based on numbers from Nielsen, Pollstar, Bandsintown and Songkick, as well as interviews with industry experts and "many of the stars themselves."

[Bill H.]

You can debate whether or not they're musicians in the traditional sense, but practically all on that list have written and produced hits - some multiple #1 singles. They prefer to perform as DJs rather than assemble musicians to recreate what they did in the studio because...

 

It's a lot more money that way. Those figures (if accurate) are pretty astounding.

[Docbop]

Guess someone should tell Tom Holkenborg (AKA Junkie XL) he's not a musician so he doesn't keep scoring movies and occasionally going back to his DJ roots and doing a concert. I guess Christian Henson falls in to that world too since he started doing DnB and now is a media composter with a number of TV shows to his credit.

[Synthaholic]

So what? DJ's aren't musicians.

 

So, what DJ's aren't musicians?

Correct.

 

All of them (in their capacity as DJs)

[Doerfler]

The Chainsmokers making almost 1 million dollars a week is impressive regardless of what they are doing.

[Bill H.]

The Chainsmokers making almost 1 million dollars a week is impressive regardless of what they are doing.

Here they are with Halsey and at least a semblance of a band performing their signature track Closer (a song that I personally cannot stand but that every woman under 25 knows by heart) :

 

[video:youtube]

 

It's kind of odd to see them listed primarily as DJs, but I guess they do some of that. I believe when someone I know saw them a couple of years ago they presented themselves as a keyboard playing duo with backing tracks.

[Jazzmammal]

This kind of thing reflects the musical world we all live in so I like to read about this stuff. Not every day but certainly once in a while. I also do not agree that most of these DJ's are not musicians and I've pointed this out before with some example vids that I won't bother to post here. I'll just talk about one of them. 4 well known producers took a new song done by an apparently very well known girl singer and did their thing with the tracks she gave them. It was pretty amazing to watch. They all came up with radically different takes on what she did and one of the producers was Skrillex whose only #12 on this list at 13 mil so this was not some little BS video. Two of the producers had keyboards right in front of them, a guy and a girl. These were all separate segments btw, nobody was in the same room or anything. Both were describing what they were doing and at one point the girl said I think it need some strings right here so she put both hands on the keyboard and played around with some string pads. It's obvious she had some training, she's a player. The guy was exactly the same except he wanted a synth line and he did the same thing, put both hands on the keyboard and very casually ripped a couple of nice 2 bar synth lines and picked one to use. I think he may have been better than she was just because he had that casual "I'm a monster and you're not" vibe happening.

 

Google these names listed and check out their vids, see what they're doing. They all love to work together. Remixing is huge and it doesn't mean what we think it means. To us a remix it to correct the vocals in an already done song or maybe clean up a bass part or something. To them a remix is taking the original multitrack stems freely given to them by other artists live on stage and creating a whole new thing right there in front of the audience. And when I say a whole new thing I can't describe how far they take it from the original recording. .I certainly don't particularly like the music but as a long time Vegas show group guy I certainly know a good show when I see one.

 

Don't tell me they're not musicians and don't be so close minded. Jeesh. I'm only 73 and I seem to have an open mind about this, whats with some of you? You realize you've become your parents? Think about it.

 

A question: How can you tell when your whole cultural music scene is beginning to leave the stage? When your rock hero's start showing up in Vegas. Journey is there now. Pat Benatar was at Pechanga Casino two years ago and Elvis Costello and Blondie are there in two weeks.

 

Bob

[Jazzmammal]

I just listened to the Chainsmoker vid. I think it's great. I know I'm speaking to the deaf and dumb here (not everybody, don't slam me) but I'm going to tear this vid apart anyway. First, the chords and structure is simple and basic. Got it. That's not the point. The point is the Beat. These guys became famous for creating unique Beatz I know it's a struggle for some of you but take the cotton out of your ears and listen to whats happening in this vid, the rhythm, the drums, the Beat. That's the hook for the song. Try to visualize how you would cover it. Pick it apart and you'll see it's a pretty unique Beat they have going on. Is it somewhat similar to other tunes, sure. LIke BB King was similar to Alvin Lee but are they really the same? Hell no. Check out the crowd, they're all singing along, they know these artists and their music intimately. Sound familiar? Most of us here can tell you all kinds of little details about our favorite bands and artists too, When so and so group changed bass players, why some tune was changed at the last minute, a tune was dropped from some album and when it was put back in a reissue we all went crazy. Somebody used a different producer and suddenly they had a big hit. All that stuff. Why? Because back in the day we were total and complete music geeks too, that's why. These kids are no different and that's the reason that few of us understand it or can relate to it but I at least do try just a bit.

 

Listen to the refrain "We're never getting older". Does that sound familiar to anybody? This vid only has 99.5 million views. Do I hear a hundred? Maybe not it's from 2016. Too bad it must be a real dog.

 

This is music guys and a good show too. I liked it when the guy was "this close" to feeling her up. Pure Vegas and harmless fun.

[yannis D]

Well

Most of today's DJs are well rounded musicians who know their studio and their tools, most of them playing more than one traditional musical instrument. They're not virtuosos, but who cares Debating if they're "real musicians" or not is just obsolete - we have to get over it once and for good.

I'm happy to see two greeks -actually, brothers- in the list.

 

 

[Outkaster]

So what DJ's aren't musicians, why would you post that here?

 

This statement is begging for better punctuation.

 

Is it:

 

So what? DJ's aren't musicians.

 

OR

 

So, what DJ's aren't musicians?

 

Pretty big difference.

 

Also, it's marked OT. Maybe I should post another Forbidden parody thread?

 

Maybe you should have I just don't understand why this comes up when it's not really that relevant. I mean there is so much we can talk about related to our own instrument. If you just meant it as information I guess I get it.

 

[MoodyBluesKeys]

Well, just listened to the Chainsmoker video - I'm 77, soon to be 78, but it sounds a lot better than a huge amount of the "Pop" stuff that the artists who usually show up on TV.

Kind of laid back - so much better than the screaming stuff.

I wouldn't seek out that type of music, but at least if I'm exposed to it, I won't really dislike it.

 

I've done some form of electronics or others professionally for about 55 years - numerous different kinds, but Adapt has been the key to paying the bills and enjoying life. Don't see any reason why they shouldn't. So much better than a lot of the really profane and disrespectful "music."

 

I've also been a DJ decades ago on AM radio, but that was a lot different than today's DJ work.

 

The key is entertaining those who wind up paying your bills (directly or indirectly).

[zephonic]

At least four Dutchies on that list. What am I doing wrong?

 

My thought exactly!

Me too. I'm always wondering what the heck Zeph is up to.

 

 

You know, half the time I have no idea what I"m up to...

[Spider76]

The compose. They play. They record. They sell. And they perform live (with band or not).

 

How there can there be a discussion if they're musicians or not, escapes me.

 

This reminds me of the "Kraftwerk are not real musicians because their instruments are electronic" argument.

Or "Orchestra directors are not musicians because they don't play any instrument".