Rolling Stone continues to establish their presence in the realm of electronic dance music, releasing their list of the 50 Most Important People in EDM. These pioneers have played an integral role in facilitating the growth and popularity of the genre throughout the last decade, and beyond. These innovative, forward thinkers are responsible for the explosive growth of festivals, hottest record labels, most popular producers, nightclubs, and everything in between.
Ultra Music Festival Founder Russell Faibisch as well as Insomniac Founder/CEO Pasquale Rotella earned a nod along with innovators Daft Punk, the man behind Avicii’s explosive growth – Ash Pournouri – and DJ Mag Top 100 staple Armin van Buuren. BBC Radio 1 staples Annie Mac and Pete Tong found their way in to the list in addition to OWSLA Founder and Grammy winning artist Skrillex.
From marketing gurus and businessmen to lead singers, DJs, and producers, the Rolling Stone Top 50 travels to every corner of the industry to capture those key players in the game.
What do you think about the list? We are interested to hear your thoughts!
Check Out the Entire Top 50 Below
50. Tristan Richards & Blaise Bellville – Boiler Room
49. Paul Clement & Nick Sabine – Resident Advisor – Founders
48. Annie Mac – BBC Radio 1 – DJ
47. James Murphy – Former LCD Soundsystem Lead Singer
46. Tony Andrews – Funktion-One – Founder
45. Steve Aoki – DJ, Founder of Dim Mak Records
44. Jason Huvaere & Sam Fotias – Movement
43. Sean Horton – Decibel Festival – Founder
42. Dave Rene – Interscope, A&R
41. Disclosure – DJ, Producer
40. Afrojack – DJ, Producer
39. Glenn Mendlinger – Astralwerks – General Manager
38. Carl Cox – DJ, Producer
37. Kathryn Frazier – Biz3 Publicity, OWSLA
36. A-Trak – DJ, Producer, Fools Gold Records – Co-FounderA
35. Vello Virkhaus – V Squared Labs & Martin Phillips – Bionic League
34. Richie Hawtin – DJ, Producer
33. Eelko van Kooten & Roger de Graaf – Spinnin’ Records
32. Many Ameri & Torsten Schmidt – Red Bull Music Academy – Founders
31. Diplo – DJ, Producer, Founder of Mad Decent Records
30. Liz Miller – Big Beat Records – General Manager
29. Nile Rodgers – Producer
28. Ash Pournouri – At Night Management – Founder
27. Mark Gillespie & Dean Wilson – Three Six Zero Group – Founders
26. Disco Biscuits – Band, Founders of Camp Bisco Music Festival
25. Gary Richards – Hard – Founder
24. Deadmau5 – DJ, Producer
23. Paul Tollett – Goldenvoice – President
22. Alexander Ljung – SoundCloud – Founder/CEO
21. Maria May – Creative Artists Agency – Senior Agent
20. Matt Adell – Beatport – CEO
19. Daft Punk – DJs, Producers
18. Disco Donnie Estopinal – Disco Donnie Presents – Founder
17. Neil Moffitt – Angel Management Group – CEO
16. Patrick Moxey – Ultra Music – President, Sony Dance/Electronic Music – President
15. Jason Strauss & Noah Tepperberg – Strategic Marketing Group – Founders
14. Craig Kallman – Atlantic Records – Chairman/CEO
13. Armin van Buuren – DJ, Producer, Armada Records – Founder
12. Tom Windish & Steve Goodgold – The Windish Agency
11. Dave Grutman – Miami Marketing Group – Founder
10. Amy Thomson – ATM Management – Founder
9. Steve Wynn – Wynn Resorts – Chairman/CEO
8. Skrillex – DJ, Producer, OWSLA Records – Founder
7. Pete Tong – DJ, Producer, BBC Radio 1 DJ
6. Russell Faibisch – Ultra Music Festival – Founder
5. Paul Morris – AM Only – Founder/President
4. Joel Zimmerman – William Morris Endeavor – Head of Global Electronic Music
3. Robert F. X. Sillerman – SFX Entertainment – Founder
2. Pasquale Rotella – Insomniac Events – Founder/CEO
1. James Barton – LiveNation – President of Electronic Music
