Armin van Buuren wins DJ Mag Top 100 DJs 2017 highest trance category

Armin van Buuren has been revealed as the winner of the Highest Trance category in this year’s DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll. Armin came in at No. 3 overall.

When it comes to long-term success in the Top 100 DJs, every other DJ in the poll could learn a thing or two from Armin van Buuren.

First placing way back in 2001, the Dutchman jumped in at No. 27. The next year he made it all the way to fifth place, and hasn’t left the top five ever since!

And, while there are still other DJs who’ve won a spot in the poll more times than Armin — Coxy and Paul van Dyk, for example — he still holds the titles for most wins (five) and most wins in a row (four). Now that’s gonna take some beating!

Moving back up one spot into the top three in 2017 reflects yet another momentous year for the trance legend.

Top of the agenda was celebrating 20 years as a DJ and producer, and Armin tells DJ Mag his personal highlight was, of course, marking the occasion with two massive sell-out performances at the Amsterdam ArenA in May (becoming the first DJ to hold a solo show at the venue in the process).

Armin also released his singles ‘I Need You’ (a collaboration with Fernando Garibay featuring the vocals of Olaf Blackwood) and ‘Sunny Days’ (with singer Josh Cumbee) — which have accumulated over 11 million and nine million plays on YouTube respectively.

And then, of course, there’s the Dutchman’s beloved radio show, A State Of Trance. Just as his Top 100 career did, the programme launched in 2001, and now boasts well over 800 episodes and tens-of-thousands of listeners worldwide.

This year, however, Armin brought the broadcast bang up-to-date by streaming full video versions from a custombuilt radio studio at his Armada label’s office in Amsterdam.

16 years in and it looks like Armin van Buuren isn’t going to be slowing down anytime soon. Still at the top of his game, he’s adored by legions of fans all around the world.

Martin Garrix was revealed as the winner of the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs Poll 2017, with the 21-year-old Dutch superstar retaining his title after becoming the youngest ever No.1 DJ last year.

There were over a million legitimate votes cast for the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs Poll this year — a marginal increase on 2016’s million-smashing achievement — with the standings seeing 15 new entries, seven re-entries and 5 non-movers.

The rise was undoubtedly due in part to further opening up the voting process to China this year via a fully updated and translated validation mechanism.

The influence of the White Isle is still strong. Solomun has had another massive year in Ibiza with his +1 residency at Pacha, and this has paid off with a debut chart placing for the DIYnamic man at No.81.

Similarly, Maceo Plex has also had another successful year at Pacha and charts 10 places lower, while South African hero Black Coffee debuts at No.85 — almost certainly due to his hugely successful residency at Hï Ibiza, the new superclub that occupies the same space in Playa d’en Bossa as the fabled Space.

Bridging the gap between the underground and the mainstream, Eric Prydz has also had a good year. The ‘Pjanoo’ man took on his fi rst weekly Ibiza residency — also at Hï Ibiza — and is up 32 places to No.34.

Australian trap n’ bass DJ Alison Wonderland is a new entry, while several stalwarts have reversed back into the Top 100 — as befits their stature.

Richie Hawtin is back in the poll at No.80 after slipping out last year, but he’s not the Highest Techno DJ as the one and only Carl Cox has once again taken that accolade. Coxy is up 12 places to No.62, without so much as a sniff of a vote-for-me campaign.

Also representing main stage techno, Paul Kalkbrenner is back in the 100 for the first time since 2012, while in the next 50 Loco Dice, Marco Carola, Adam Beyer, Jamie Jones, Green Velvet, Seth Troxler, Nina Kraviz and Kolsch have all made an appearance.

Meanwhile, Disclosure have popped their toes back into the Top 100, and Andy C — once again the Highest Drum & Bass DJ in the poll — has reaped the rewards of a hectic year by doubledropping himself back in at No.77.

The Top 100 DJs poll used to be swamped by trance spinners until the rise of EDM a few years back, but it seems like the sound is having a resurgence. Not only is trance fi gurehead Armin van Buuren up, but former winner Paul van Dyk is up nine places and the Above & Beyond trio are up 20 places off the back of their huge arena shows. ATB is also up to No.54, while Ferry Corsten jumps up nine places in the wake of his ‘Blueprint’ album.

There’s still a smattering of hardstyle DJs in the hallowed hundred, and Angerfist has had to surrender his Highest Hard hat to Headhunterz, who has returned to the hardstyle scene after a spell exploring more mainstream music.

Check out the full DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll results here.