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DJ Mag Top100 DJs
14
Calvin Harris
3

2016 has been another eventful year for the Scots superstar. Besides dodging death in a nasty car crash, enduring a very public split with Taylor Swift, appearing on X Factor and scoring Forbes’ highest paid DJ slot for the fourth year running ($63 million, in case you’re wondering), he’s also enjoyed another decorated year musically at the top of the electronic pop pile.  

Amid a slew of trophies such as two MTV VMAs, GQ Artist Of The Year and Caesar’s Icon Of The Future Award, the 32-year-old DJ/songwriter/producer/pant model has also peppered the year (and charts) with four key productions: kick-starting in April with the No.2-tickling, pop house Rihanna collaboration ‘This Is What You Came For’, he then reunited with Dizzee Rascal for the first time since 2008’s ‘Dance Wiv Me’ with the fittingly-titled EDM banger ‘Hype’. He also wrote John Newman’s reggae-themed break-up song ‘Ole’ before slipping into a more tropical sound with his latest self-sung chart-smasher, ‘My Way’. 

These successful singles haven’t got in the way of his headline-hogging DJ career either. His performances — renowned for their high production drama — have been top of the bill from Coachella to Wireless, and his residencies at Hakkasan and Omnia, two of the world’s most illustrious (and expensive) clubs, are still a major deal. 

Other notable achievements for the unstoppable songwriter include becoming the first electronic music producer to receive diamond certification for ‘We Found Love’. His first collaboration with Rihanna released five years ago, it hit over 10,000,000 sales in September. He also announced that he’s considering never writing another album, and only concentrating on singles, and that he’d like to make a documentary using footage of his self-described ‘golden era’ in EDM between 2011-2014. 

Don’t grab the popcorn quite yet, though… He will only release it in 20 years time. Sounds like someone’s got their eyes on the long game… DAVE JENKINS