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| DJ Awards | |
|---|---|
| Current:22nd Edition DJ Awards | |
 | |
| Awarded for | Achievements awarded in theElectronic dance music industry |
| Country | Ibiza, Spain |
| First award | 25 September 1998; 26 years ago (1998-09-25) (as DJ Awards) |
| Website | djawards |
DJ Awards is a celebration ofelectronic music, and aims to recognise and honourDJs and individuals who have influencedelectronic dance music worldwide.
Held annually inIbiza at the end of the summer season, DJ Awards has retained the same ethos since its conception. The fundamental philosophy is not that of a competition, as we are dealing with an art form whose merits are purely subjective, and therefore who can say what is the best. Rather DJ Awards seeks to shine a light on key talents in the industry.
DJ Awards was formed in 1998 byJosé Pascual andLenny Ibizarre. The ceremony is held once a year at a well known venue in Ibiza. Since 2018 the event has been held at Heart Ibiza. Previous editions were held at the Pacha club in Ibiza, Spain. The awards ceremony takes place towards the end of the Ibiza season. The awards are known internationally in the electronic dance music community asthe Oscars of the DJ industry. The event attracts a broad selection of international industry professionals and the awards reflect the wide range of creative talent of the DJs. The ethos behind the annual ceremony is for it "to be seen not as a competition, but instead, a celebration of the electronic dance music scene, that conveys the artistic ability of DJs to a global music audience". A different theme is chosen each year that is important to the organisers, which is then translated into an individual graphical and visual representation of that theme for each ceremony. The awards have managed to retain their status as one of the most important accolades that an artist can win or be honoured.
Past winners have includedArmin van Buuren,Carl Cox,Richie Hawtin,Roger Sanchez,Danny Tenaglia,Black Coffee,Solomun,Jamie Jones,Hernan Cattaneo, DjkMrpink,Stephan Bodzin,DJ Koze,Frankie Knuckles,Tiësto,Sasha,Tony De Vit,Deadmau5, and many more.
In the inaugural edition in 1998, the chosen theme was “Alien Arrival”, due to the nature of the prize (a piece ofkryptonite) and itsextraterrestrial mascot "Snuffy". In this first year the winners wereErick Morillo for the "house" category,Daft Punk for the Best DJ Band category and Fernandisco for the "Radio DJ" category, with an honorific special award for the lateTony De Vit.[1]
The second edition in 1999 explored the theme of ¨African Tribal Rhythms¨, as a source of inspiration for music producers. It emphasised the expansion of categories such as "Ambient /Experimental" or "International DJ" and winners such asPete Tong,Roger Sanchez,Basement Jaxx all picked up awards.Frankie Knuckles and Joe T. Vanelli were the first winners in the categories of "Outstanding Dedication" and "Outstanding Contribution" respectively.[1]
The year 2000 hosted the third ceremony, this time under the theme of the ¨Mythological Inspiration of the Muses¨ and under new categories, renaming the category formerly known as "Ambient/Experimental" as "Chill Out" due to the increasing flow of productions in this style. Other categories and winners featured that same year werePaul Oakenfold for "Trance",Sven Väth for "Techno" and the song "Lady" byModjo for the category "Track of the season" amongst others.[1]
For the fourth ceremony in 2001 technological advances happening in the industry did not go unnoticed in the direction of the awards, establishing the theme "Man and Machine" as a starting point. For the second timeErick Morillo won "House DJ" alongside other winners:Mixmaster Morris for "Eclectic" andCarl Cox for "Techno", andSuperchumbo the winner in the category for best production. The category of Drum and Bass was won byPeshay.[1]
In 2002, the fifth edition of the awards, the theme was "Vinyl". It was created as a romantic example of the DJs' beginnings, at a time when the CD format was becoming the standard. Amongst winners that year were prominent names such asPete Tong for "Outstanding Contribution", Mambo Cafe for "Best Ibiza Bar", "It Just Won't Do" by Tim Deluxe for "Track of the Season" or Wally Lopez as "Best Newcomer".[1]
In 2003, the theme chosen for the sixth edition was "The Essence of the Universe"; winners includedSteve Lawler for "Techhouse/Progressive",Junior Jack andKid Crème for "Best Newcomer" (also winners for the "Track of the Season" with "E-Samba") and the crowning of Manumission as the best promoter, which gave a joyful note to this gala.[1]
In 2004, the seventh edition was "The Sense of Man"; awarded DJs wereTrevor Nelson for "Urban DJ", Tania Vulcano as "Best Ibiza Resident" andShapeshifters with their track "Lola's Theme" as "Track of the Season".[clarification needed] The gala had started with the opening video of "Made in Dixland: Searching Krypto" realised by the Spanish DJ and producer Nando Dixkontrol; this video turned out to be one of the most memorable images of the ceremony.[1]
The ceremony of 2005 (eighth edition) celebrated the centenary of the "Vacuum Tube" creation, one of the first aspects of primary electronics circuits.Ferry Corsten for "Trance",Steve Angello as "Best Newcomer" andCut Killer for "Hip Hop" were some of the winners featured, with a new Honorary Award being presented to Argentine DJAlfredo Fiorito for his historic career in the industry, one of the most special moments of that year.
In 2006 for the ninth edition ¨Nature¨ broke through as the theme and served as an excuse to reward twice overBob Sinclar as Best House DJ and Best Song of the Year for "World Hold On" together with his vocalistSteve Edwards. Other special moments of that year would be, after three attempts, the "Best Ibiza Resident" to the AustralianSarah Main with the highest votes in history for this category, and also the "Outstanding Contribution" given to Brasilio de Oliveira creator, among other things, of the party "La Troya".[1]
2007 saw the celebration of the Awards' tenth anniversary under the theme of "Time". Using the graphic reference belonging to theSalvador Dalís painting "The Persistence of Memory", the prizes were handed to the DJs Cristian Varela for "Techno",Mucho Muchacho for "Urban DJ", andDavid Guetta for "International DJ", amongst others.[1]
The eleventh edition in 2008 celebrated the awards under the slogan "Do not change the climate, change yourself" withDavid Guetta as Best House DJ, Valentin Huedo as bestIbiza resident and crowningMark Knight & Funkagenda with the "Track of the Season" for "Man with The Red Face".[1]
2009 was the twelfth edition of the awards and used the theme of ¨Dreams¨ as its subject. Once again the French king of DJ David Guetta won the "House" category, andSven Väth for "Techno",Sasha for "Progressive House" and Michel Cleis for his tune "La Mezcla" as "Track of the Season" were some of the winners in a year that has included even more new categories.[citation needed]
For the thirteenth edition in 2010, the chosen theme was ¨Water¨, which urged everyone to join the onedrop organisation. Winners this year included theSwedish House Mafia boys –Axwell,Sebastian Ingrosso andSteve Angello – for the House category,Deadmau5 picked up best International DJ, International Festival was given to Kazantip amongst many others.[1]
In 2011, the fourteenth edition of this ceremony, "fire" was the chosen theme, which represented the "discovery that changed the world". Among the winners were,Axwell for "house", forTech house,Luciano took the award,Deadmau5 forElectro house andCarl Cox forTechno.[1]
The 2012, and the fifteenth edition,[2] saw light as chosen as the theme, taking it right back to the beginning...Big Bang! Winners includedArmin Van Buuren (Trance & International), Chase & Status (Dubstep/Bass),Maceo Plex (Deep House),Arty (Newcomer), plus in the Special awards collecting for (Ibiza DJ) Andy Baxter, Tomorrowland won (International Festival) and for Live Performance a new categoryLenny Kravitz for his performance at the 2012 Ibiza 123 Festival.[1]
In 2013, the sixteenth edition[3] the theme was the element of Earth. Winners presented with the Kryptonite award included Luciano for Tech House; Deep House went to Solomun. And Hot Natured for Electronic Live Performance. Cristian Varela for Techno, and Newcomer went to Uner. Armin Van Buuren who again won two awards scooping Trance and International DJ and Electro House went to Hardwell. The Lifetime Achievement went to Jerry Greenberg, and Outstanding Contribution went to Kathy Sledge (Sister Sledge).[1]
For the seventeenth edition in 2014 the chosen theme wasLove and some of the winners[4] includedCarl Cox who picked up two awards for Best International DJ and Best Techno DJ,Skrillex[5] picked up the award for Best Drum & Bass/Dubstep DJ, andDisclosure won Best Live Electronic Performance. Some of the Special Awards given on the night went toDJ Harvey for his Outstanding Contribution to EDM, Best Ibiza DJ to Iban Mendoza and Track of the Season went toPatrick Topping.[1]
In 2015, the eighteenth edition was held and the theme for the year was “Meet on the Beat” among the winners were Spanish DJ, Cuartero took the best Newcomer award,Hardwell picked up two awards in the electro/progressive house, and international categories. South Africa was voted best dance nation and South African DJBlack Coffee won the best breakthrough award.[6][7]
The 2016 ceremony was the 19th edition[8] of DJ Awards held on 3 October atPacha Club the theme this year was “Let's Dance” (Tribute to David Bowie) among others the new winners this year were DJ Anna from Brazil,Carl Cox,Black Coffee,Claptone,The Martinez Brothers, Matador andMihalis Safras.[1]
For the twenty-first edition held in 2018, the best Deep House DJ was the South AfricanBlack Coffee, the best Techno DJ wasJoseph Capriati, the best Tech House DJ wasPatrick Topping, House Master wasRoger Sanchez (United States), Best Trance DJ wasPaul van Dyk (Germany), best Newcomer DJ wasAlex Kennon, best Bass DJ wasAndy C., best International DJ wasCarl Cox (England), Best House Artist was the EnglishCamelPhat, Best Progressive House DJ was the ArgentineHernan Cattaneo. Argentina was also elected Best Dance Nation of 2018.
In 2019, the 22nd edition, the theme chosen was "Plastic No More". the best Deep House DJ wasMaya Jane Coles (England), the best House DJ wasKerri Chandler (United States), the best International DJ wasCarl Cox (England), best Progressive House wasHernan Cattaneo (Argentina), best Tech House DJ wasMichael Bibi, best Newcomer artist wasONYVAA, best Melodic House & Techno wasMaceo Plex (United States), best Electronic Live Performer wasStephan Bodzin (Germany), best Afro House artist was Da Capo, best Deep Tech was Butch, and best Trance artist wasAly & Fila (Egypt).
DJ Awards release every year online (via www.djawards.com) a list of categories and nominees which reflect the currentelectronic music industry. All nominees are recommended by a panel of 100 music industry professionals[9] who are broadly representative of theInternational Dance Music sectors: music media specialists, DJs' managers, agents, promoters, technology manufacturers and DJs themselves. The panel changes annually, and it selects the nominees for each category within the DJ Awards. These are then announced publicly, and the public are then invited to vote through the organisation's website or viaSocial Media Networks to help decide the final winners at a gala event held in the world-famous clubPacha in Ibiza.
Current Best DJ categories
Live performance category
The Special Awards is in a non-competitive category where nominees and winners are selected by a specialist panel of judges it is not open to a public vote and they operate much in the same way as theBAFTA non-competitive accolades these awards alternate and are not always given every year.
Current special awards
Highest Special Awards
Previous Best DJ/Best of categories
The organizers have renamed a number of awards that cover generally the same umbrella electronic music genre for example between 1998 and 1999 they introduced a category for Ambient Experimental DJ in 2000 the previous nominees from the former category then appeared in a new category for Chillout DJ, this category was dropped and a new one introduced for Best Eclectic/Experimental DJ until 2002 again some of the previous DJ's appeared in this category this then ceased and a similar new category begins called Best Downtempo and Eclectic in 2008. The confusion in the naming process selected by the organizers also appeared to happen for the musics genres bass, break beat, drum & bass and trip hop.
Since its creation in 1998, up until 2017, the DJ Awards have been held every year atPacha Ibiza. For the awards 20th anniversary, the ceremony was held at the newly openedHï Ibiza nightclub. Since 2019, the awards have moved to Heart Ibiza.[10]
The DJ Awards trophy is a piece of greenKryptonite.[11] The word Kryptonite descends from theGreek Kryptos (secret or hidden element), as the force hidden behind the complex language of the turntables which generate vibration and feeling, and which the DJ guides the crowd into a state of consciousness high.[citation needed]
In an interview in the September 2007 with Spanish music magazine "Deejay", José Pascual co-founder of the awards, was asked why he chose kryptonite as the model for the trophy, and he replied, "I would say that she chose us. We wanted the trophy to be something else, something with meaning. We liked the idea that it would be of natural crystal and after a survey of people around us, we chose this for its energetic component, for transparency, for ease of transport ... Somebody thought it was like Superman’s kryptonite, the alien element that removed his power to give it to the DJ. Furthermore, the etymology of the word tells us that 'Kryptos' comes from hidden message and "Nite" from night, a message closely related to DJ, so organically everything came together"[citation needed]
The DJ Awards had a mascot namedSnuffy, which is a cross between the famous symbol associated withacid house (the "bloodied"smiley) and an alien ("little green man"). Snuffy was retired in 2012 and the events have not had a mascot since then.
