This is the only post to round up 2011 that is in a specific order. We think it’s easier to rank artists than to rank songs, so we’ve put together a list of 2011′s top 10 artists. Since EDM grew so much this year, it was extremely difficult for us to sort out each ranking, but we finally came to a consensus after debating about it with one another. It’s difficult to weigh the amateurs who had an outstanding 2011 with the EDM veterans who continually amaze us year after year. Let us know what you think down below in the comments section!
3. Skrillex
4. Avicii
5. Swedish House Mafia
6. Armin Van Buuren
7. Deadmau5
8. Afrojack
9. Kaskade
10. Above & Beyond
Glad to see Kaskade in the top 10. He gets the least amount of respect out of all the commercial EDM artists. Above and Beyond should be top 5 no question.
Trance is Dead. Above and Beyond, AVB, and Tiesto are on the way out and will continue to slide down the polls. Take a look at John Dahlback and Nicky Romero’s year! These guys are producing quality bangers month after month. Lets not forget about Thomas Gold as well!
i absolutely agree
tiesto is probably not going out very soon he’s still alive trust me.
are you kidding me…tiesto is not on his way out. He is a legend and he has adjusted his style of his music to stay popular. If you are anywhere in the scene you would know that tiesto’s music is not longer trance and has more of a house type of sound. Not to mention Sirius XMs recent addition to their line up with tiestos own channel Although trance may not be big in North America you cant say that its dead. Trance is still alive in europe and produce huge shows. Get your facts straight
TIESTO is not out yet becoz he is now started producing house music(like HELL YEAH, CHASING SUMMERS etc) and for trance, quality music is produced by some grert producers like dash berlin, gareth emery, arty etc.
BUT i must say that producers like axwell tommy trash , alesso, hook n sling etc are making lot in house music
Hey guy i love skrillex so much, he probably has a big penis and i really want i cos he so sexxyy <3 <3 <3
does anybody have his number or email or anthinggg!??
U R 2 WRONG!
Dub is on the down slide. Just as Electro House was the undoing of Trance, the extreme of dub will cause a pushback.
Electro Trance is on the way in!
W&W leading the way
also glad to see Kaskade makin it in the Top 10 after makin it as No.1 US DJ but still is No. 30 on the DJ Mag world rankins which doesn’t do him justice…
I agree, Kaskade is respectable. and afrojack has been doing his thing too. Although, I think you could squeeze Dada Life in there as well ;)
Dada Life, Nicky Romero and Zedd should def be in the top ten!
This is the biggest fucking joke. Skrillex at 4? Above & Beyond only 10? Kill urself
Totally agree. Kaskade should be in top 5 too.
@DERK quit your bitching or make your own site you fucking bender. Just because not everyone spends there friday fucked on ecstacy jamming out to trance like you, doesnt mean you can wine about your favorite artist not being at certain spot on the top ten.
people are titled to their own opinion. relax.
Well done, these are good rankings.
terrible. just a terrible list.
I think David Guetta shouldn’t be number one. He makes too much pop these days and when he does make house it’s easy to beat. Only good house song is Sunshine and I’m sure Avicii took care of most of that track. Kaskade should be a little higher as well.
list is bs
Take David Guetta off the list. or at least move him down a few places.
Pretty Lights?
exactly…
What @Gary said. Guetta is not top. He makes wayy to much hip hop/pop music now. I dont like him very much. My favorites are deadmouse, skrillex, kaskade, zedd, pretty lights, porter robinson, overwerk, etc
I like most of the placements of the artists but wtf is above & beyond doing on this list there are so many other artists that deserve it dada life, r3hab, alesso, you get my point other than that i love u guys at remix nation the only problem that i have with your site is that your music comes out alittle later than other websites witch i understand because u blog about it but even so you guys should put out songs as early as possible to keep your webite at number 1 thanks email me back
jordan
Hi Jordan, above and beyond is on the list because they are without a doubt one of the most influential groups in edm. They had a great year including their massive group therapy tour and their massive group therapy album. Did I also mention how Sun & Moon is one of the best trance songs ever made and how that song alone is what has influenced a new breed of trance, all happening within the space of one year? That’s why we decided to put them on the list, and we think they deserve to be there. If you have any other questions about our decisions Jordan, please feel free to ask.
-Gordon
Sun and Moon was a big hit but there is nothing original in the track itself to re-invent a genre… it’s standard vocals with standard synth and that’s coming from someone with ultimate respect for A&B.
EDM has become mainstream so I don’t expect to agree with all the results it’s just good to see recognition for the trance side of it, contrary to what people think that side is growing rapidly, look where it was even 5 years ago compared to now.
Nice list, I’d go 1. Swedish House 2. Avicii 3. David Guetta 4. Tiesto 5. Kaskade 6. Axwell 7. Alesso 8. Afrojack 9. Steve Aoki 10. Deadmau5… Skrillex was more 2010 and isn’t so much EDM as dubstep, Deadmau5 was much bigger at the beginning of the year but definitely faded… To add Steve Aoki kills every set easily one of the craziest out there, everything alesso produces is beautiful, and axwell deserves his own recognition from SHM because of songs like Ressurection, Teenage Crime, and other on his new label Axtone Records.
The fact that you’re leaving AVB out of the top 10 is insane!
Feed me anyone?
I agree that David Guetta shouldn’t be here, not if its an EDM list. I tend to think he rides on other peoples’ talents, and none of his songs are EDM or good
Apart from Guetta a good list!
I’m convinced that Skrillex is the Justin Bieber of EDM seeing that only preteen girls and confused little boys enjoy his work
umm where’s Fedde?
Thomas gold was huge in 2011!!! Watch out for him in the future. Amazing producer and his sets are even better!!!!
Skrillex ranked over Armin? Unbelieveable!
David Guetta should NOT even be up there. He is ruining EDM!!
this is top artists of the YEAR 2011, so why isn’t thomas gold or arty on there. David Guetta yeah is #1 because of his fame and progress for only 2012, but other than that, someone said it, he rides on others talents and can’t consistently produce annual hits, he sounds better as #6 or so. what did Tiesto produce this year that was incredible? 6 decent songs, that’s it. he shouldn’t be on the list. Nero should be considered hopefully for ‘Welcome Reality.’ For this year, above and beyond had two very good songs…this thing called love and sun and moon, @Gordon; debateable for a top 10, but I see your point. Fedde le Grande should be there for Autosave and Paradise instead.
@Byscuit: stop trolling.
Ahem, alchemy by Above and Beyond cough**
Guetta Sucks, Wonder why he is No.1 @ anything
y is everyone hating on David Guetta hes probably the most famous of all these artists and he deserves it. not to mention hes hosting tomorrowland this year in belgium
Come on guys, these rankings are probably based more on growth, look at how Avicii has grown, look at Skrillex taking everyone (even the not so big dub fans) by storm!
David Guetta No 1 ?
I think that’s a joke, he’s no longer a DJ since 2008 or 2009 he’s making only shit
There is no way Skrillex should even be considered for this list, and the legends Dirty South and Fedde Le Grand definitely deserve spots! The list should be:
1. SHM
2. Tiesto
3. Armin
4. Avicii
5. David Guetta
6. Axwell
7. Afrojack
8. Dirty South
9. Kaskade
10. Fedde Le Grand
Bonus 11: Sander Van Doorn
awesome ranking list keept going…..(^.^)
Tommy Trash will be on this list for 2012, no doubt!!!
top 10 if your a frat star
wow! seriously deadmau5 #7 and skrillex #4 first of all deadmau5 damn near created skrillex afrojack shouldnt be on the list and the fact tht david fagetta is #1 is dreadful deadmau5 is a pure artist not even a DJ he deserves way more respect….honestly hes the best house producer ever his music is so legit if u went to a deadmau5 concert u will her deadmau5 nobody else
PRETTY LIGHTS! should have definitely made the cut. but other than that, sick.
@BYSCUIT You are a fool. Skrillex is amazing. i dont have number ones because everyone has their own style.
Pretty lights, skrillex, deadmau5, zeds dead, flux, doctor p, alesso, kaskade, klaypex, dada life, wolfgang, mord fustang, knife party. feed me, fedde, avicii, and so on. so much more. but theese guys are all great and have their own style
Skrillex is such a fucking joke, it is incredible how many people enjoy his screech-step. And David Guetta? Way to be original guys.
Where the hell is R3hab he had a ripper of a year his remixes in 2011 were dope they were being played in all clubs everywhere think he deserves alot more credit!!!
How the FUCK is Skrillex not number 2 or even 1? And i second Chris’ opinion, where the hell is R3HAB???!!!!
Guetta #1 ?!? With his flo rida and nicki peddling crap, what a joke
Every single comment here made me facepalm… you people are obsessed with artists who only produce bangers… EDM isn’t about partying… it’s about the way the songs make you feel. Each song an artist produces should cause you to feel a specific emotion. Kaskade is very good at doing this. For example, the song I Remember by Kaskade and Deadmau5. If you look at the past 5 songs that hardwell has made that are big, all bangers along with many other artists on the list. And for whoever said Dubstep isn’t part of EDM i hope you leave the world of EDM because you are someone who is ignorant and doesn’t know what they are talking about. Go listen to some Feed Me.