World's new No. 1 DJ on social media 2020

List of DJ Mag is dated during corona period, time for new ranking: DJ FACT TOP 100!

Marshmello is the DJ who ranks best on social media. Over the past five years, the artist's number of followers on YouTube grew by a whopping 2,800 percent, according to research by Denis Doeland and NXTLI. Belgian techno DJ Charlotte de Witte is also scoring high by sharing content with her followers during the corona period. The insights from the research led to the first-ever DJ FACT Top 100, which as of today will be published monthly on the site of dance platform This Is Our House.

Denis Doeland and dance platform This Is Our House have long advocated replacing the DJ Mag Top 100, also known as the Top 100 DJs, with a new, more fact-based ranking. With DJs no longer performing analogously and the DJ Mag Top 100 having been criticized for years as a subjective popularity poll, they felt the time was right to launch a data-driven alternative.

The top 10 DJs with their average Digital Reputation Score in parentheses

Continuous research and alternative parameters

"I am constantly researching how DJs perform on social media. During the corona crisis, almost no DJs were able to perform analogously, so the current DJ Mag Top 100 in its current form is dated. There is only one way we can measure how DJs are performing: by comparing how the digital relationship with their fans is. That leads to streams and views that affect performances. That's why it's time for a new list for DJs, measuring this fan relationship and the effects that come from it. Marshmello is at the top of this ranking with his impressive follower growth and engagement with his content" states Doeland.

Editor-in-chief Mark van Bergen of This Is Our House has been agitating for years against what he considers the disproportionate influence of the DJ Mag Top 100. His opinion articles in the media resonated with dance fans. "DJ Mag's list is largely about DJs winning souls with the public," he said.

In doing so, Van Bergen regularly advocated the importance of another, more objective chart. "There are so many more parameters than just popularity to determine which DJ is really the most successful. It is therefore also the intention that this list will soon be given even more body, by also embedding elements such as numbers of streams, (digital) performances and earnings. Of course, ultimately it remains a matter of taste as to who is the best DJ for you, but it is interesting to look at who really performs best based on all available measurable factors."

Marshmello as absolute standout, Charlotte de Witte on the rise

Marshmello is No. 1 on the alternative DJ rankings. Since 2016, his follower count on YouTube grew by 2,800 percent. Incidentally, he is now ranked No. 5 in the DJ Mag Top 100. Marshmello posts an average of one post per day and three YouTube videos every month; thus, he shares a constant stream of content with his fans. Doeland: "Marshmello proves that continuous performance on social media is not without reward, as his online reputation grew by a whopping 400 percent."

Techno DJ Charlotte de Witte is also throwing high points. She not only posted live streams on Facebook and Instagram, but also reposts outtakes from these streams several times a week. "This is how she ensures that, even during the lockdown, she consistently shares beautiful content. As a result, her follower count grew by an average of 50 percent on Facebook and Instagram and there was a consistent post rhythm and high engagement. With this, she realized a spot in our DJ reputation top 10," said Doeland.

DJ with the optimal fan relationship is longest lasting

This fan relationship reveals how strong, vital and happy the bond between a DJ and his fans is. This bond is particularly measurable during the corona period. Based on the digital reputation of DJs, we determine a Top 100 and an overview of the life lines of different DJs emerges. So you can see at a glance who comes out of the corona crisis well and who has to work to "earn back" his position.

Doeland: "Smart artists make sure they maintain contact with their fans precisely during this corona period. With no physical festivals taking place, they need to create and publish relevant content regularly and consistently. If they don't, the fan relationship disappears and they are forever at a disadvantage after the corona period. The opposite is also true: those who optimize the relationship with fans now will soon win over the competition."

Check out the first-ever DJ FACT TOP 100 here.