The DJ Awards, after their return in 2024, are back this year and reveal the 16 categories and the more than hundred nominees of the genre for this 2025 edition. In addition, they remind that public voting opened this Thursday, August 21. This new edition goes a step further with “a wide selection of categories” covering genres and geographies in addition to the commitment to increase to two women the minimum number of nominees in each category.
The organization reports in a press release that the novelty this year is the Balearic category, which will reward djs “who embody the sun-drenched, genre-free energy synonymous with the musical spirit of Ibiza”. They also incorporate to the awards the Hard Dance/Bounce category, which in the last year has experienced a “great resurgence.” All these additions “reinforce the commitment of the DJ Awards with the recognition of subcultures essential in the electronic scene.”
In addition to the two previous categories, this edition includes: Afro, Breakthrough, Drum & Bass, Garage/Bassline, Hard Dance/Bounce, Hard Techno, House, International DJ, Latin/Reggaeton, Live Act, Newcomer, Prog/Melodic, Tech House, Techno and Trance.
Industry Awards
The DJ Awards, as always, feature a series of industry and special recognition awards, proposed by a jury of music professionals before the winners are announced at the gala, details of which will be announced in the coming weeks. These include Track of the Summer, Party of the Summer, Icon Award, Lifetime Achievement, Eye On: MENA, DJ Livestream of the Year and Play It Back – Social Impact Award.
The DJ Awards organization highlights in the release that since “the successful relaunch” in 2024, these awards “have quickly established themselves as a key event in the international electronic music calendar.” In addition, they state that they are proud “to be an independent platform and free of payment that recognizes and celebrates talent solely on merit.”
And, as reported in the note, the DJ Awards nominations are proposed by an independent jury composed of experts and members of the industry, representing more than 50 brands and leading music companies. This ensures that “an in-depth analysis of the various genres and sub-genres of DJ culture” is conducted to provide “an authentic and comprehensive representation in the dance music industry.”
The awards, founded in 1998, returned to Ibiza after a four-year hiatus in an edition in which genre winners included Black Coffee (Afro), Sam Divine (House), Armin van Buuren (Trance), CamelPhat (Progressive House), Chase & Status (D&B), Fisher (International DJ), WhoMadeWho (Organic House), and Luciano, who received the Ibiza Icon Award.
The nominated artists
As for the artists nominated for this year’s DJ Awards are as follows:
In International DJ: Calvin Harris, David Guetta, FISHER, Honey Dijon, Keinemusik, Martin Garrix, Peggy Gou and Solomun.
In Afro: Black Coffee, DBN Gogo, Francis Mercier, Kitty Amor, Major League DJz, Shimza and Themba.
In Balearic: Andy Baxter, Clara Da Costa, Jason Bye, Jon Sa Trinxa, Mina and Willie Graff.
In Breakthrough: Ahmed Spins, ANOTR, Desiree, Dom Dolla, Franky Rizardo, Josh Baker, MAU P and Mestiza.
In Drum & Bass: A.M.C, Andy C, BOU, Chase & Status, Dimension, Friction, Mollie Collins, Nia Archives and SHERELLE.
In Garage/Bassline: DJ EZ, Eliza Rose, Girls Don’t Sync, Interplanetary Criminal, Riordan, Sammy Virji and Silva Bumpa.
In Hard Dance/Bounce: Adrian Mills, Bad Boombox, Ben Hemsley, Hannah Laing, Kettama and Marlon Hoffstadt.
In Hard Techno: 99999999, Amelie Lens, Fantasm, I Hate Models, Klangkuenstler, Nico Moreno and Sara Landry.
In House: Dennis Cruz, Gorgon City, James Hype, Kerri Chandler, Sam Divine, Seth Troxler, The Martinex Brothers and TSHA.
In Latin House/Reggaeton: DJ Foxy, DJ Riobamba, Hugel, Juan Magan, Masivo and Tony Touch.
In Live Act: Ben Böhmer, Bicep, Fred again…, Odesza, Overmono, RÜFÜS DU SOL, SOFI TUKKER, Sofia Kourtesis and The Prodigy.
In Newcomer: Anaïs, Benwal, Deer Jade, Levi, Nala, Olive F and Super Strings.
In Progressive/Melodic House: Anyma, ARTBAT, Bedouin, Blond:ish, Franky Wah, Hannah Wants, Miss Monique and WhomadeWho.
In Tech House: Carlita, East End Dubs, Jamie Jones, Joseph Capriati, Luciano, Manda Moor, Marco Carola, Michael Bibi, Paco Osuna and PAWSA.
In Techno: Carl Cox, Charlotte de Witte, Deborah De Luca, Enrico Sangiuliano, Indira Paganotto, Marco Faraone and Sven Väth.
In Trance: Aly & Fila, Armin van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, Giorgia Angiuli, KI/KI, Nora en Pure and Paul van Dyk.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.