It’s official, the most lucratively paid position in the music career is behind a mixing desk, providing the all-important ‘drop’ to teeming mass of EDM fans.
DJs have reclaimed the title of being the most highly paid acts in the music world, and the biggest earning among them is raking in revenues that outstrips the fortunes of Jay Z ($43 million) and Country star Toby Keith ($65 million).
Forthcoming Stereosonic 2014 headliner, Calvin Harris has topped a list of the Highest Paid DJs of 2014, as calculated by the financiers of Forbes, with earnings of $66 million; a figure made even more staggering given it’s $20 million more than the Scottish producer made when he topped the same poll last year.
“The rise of dance music has been astronomical in the last three years,” Harris modestly tells Forbes. “I happened to be in the right place at the right time.” Indeed he has, but he’s not the only one who’s bank account is benefiting greatly from the ballooning EDM boom – now estimated to be a $6.2 billion industry.
Coming in at second place on the ‘Electronic Cash Kings’ list is 46-year-old French DJ David Guetta, with a payroll of $30 million thanks to collaborations with Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and a lucrative tour with Rihanna. Guetta also commands some of the largest booking fees in Las Vegas, while still raking in fees from regular Ibiza residencies.
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Tied for third place – each banking $28 million in the last 12 months – is 24-year-old EDM poster boy Avicii and Dutch superstar Tiësto, who is also headed out for this year’s two-day Stereosonic, along with other top paid DJs like party-starter Steve Aoki (#5 with $23 million) and dupstep linchpin Skrillex (#8 with $16.5 million).
Others bragging bulging chequebooks include the ‘World’s No #1 DJ’, Hardwell (#11, $13 million), while Deadmau5 slides down to #10 with earnings of $16 million (from #5 in 2013 with $20m). Ex-Swedish House Mafia member Steve Angello however, continues to prove that splitting was a sound financial move.
The Greek-Swedish producer, who partnered with The Temper Trap’s Dougy Mandagi for the lead single of his forthcoming solo debut, was tied at #12 with Armin Van Buuren with $12 million.
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Wondering how DJs manage to out-brag the dollar signs of the rap game and the burgeoning Country music scene? Well aside from splashing little on overheads (USB stick + plane ticket for one = instant touring), DJs and producers can pocket exorbitant fees from live residencies, all-star collaborations, and a growing demand for what they’re supplying.
“It’s just grown gigantically because it’s such a great business,” says Angello of EDM’s growth. “And it’s a great business model because you have all these kids that want to go to all these events, and that’s a great way of making a business stand very fast.”
The Highest Paid DJs Of 2014
Source: Forbes
1. Calvin Harris $66 million
2. David Guetta $30
3. (TIE) Avicii $28 million; Tiesto $28 million
5. Steve Aoki $23 million
6. Afrojack $22 million
7. Zedd $21 million
8. Kaskade $17 million
9. Skrillex $16.5 million
10. Deadmau5 $16 million
11. Hardwell $13 million
12. (TIE) Armin van Buuren $12 million; Steve Angello $12 million
