Los Angeles – The ballots are in and JAUZ has been voted America’s Best DJ 2017.
The top five finishers in DJ Times magazine’s annual fan poll of U.S.-based jocks were JAUZ, Seven Lions, Marshmello, Markus Schulz and Diplo.
After a season of online voting and balloting at events on America’s Best Summer Tour Presented by Weedmaps & DJ Times, the L.A.-based DJ/producer—aka Sam Vogel, 24—has become the youngest jock to take the title.
“I never thought I would even get to do this for a living, much less be nominated or win an award,” said Vogel after being notified of his win. “The fact that so many of you fans took time out of your day to vote for me means the world and is the reason that I do what I do.”
Another product of L.A.’s renowned Icon Collective music-production institute, Vogel began to gain traction with original productions like 2014’s “Feel the Volume” on Mad Decent. In addition to a series of collaborations with industry bigshots like Skrillex, Tiësto and Marshmello, JAUZ has dropped a flurry of quaking remixes for tracks by Porter Robinson, Duke Dumont. and The Chainsmokers. Since 2016, his DJ sets have rocked festivals across America and he’s already become a main-stage staple. (JAUZ was featured in a DJ Times cover story this past February – it can be read here.)
DJ Times Editor Jim Tremayne chimed in with praise: “JAUZ certainly has risen in the ranks quickly, but after seeing the fans’ enthusiasm for him, especially at the bigger festivals this summer, I wasn’t shocked to see such a level of support. In addition to his already prolific discography of productions and remixes, his live mix of bass, trap, EDM and classics never failed to connect with festival audiences. Again, congrats, Sam!”
Indeed, the Weedmaps-sponsored tour hit major festivals like Detroit’s Movement, Chicago’s Spring Awakening, Denver’s Global Dance Fest and Baltimore’s Moonrise, plus major American nightclubs like the recently closed Webster Hall. At all ABDJ-related events, DJ Times reps were there with an activation booth, handing out magazines and Weedmaps swag, and taking votes from fans supporting their favorite U.S.-based DJs.
The America’s Best DJ promotion, annually sponsored and operated by DJ Times, has run since 2006. The magazine nominates 100 U.S.-based DJs each year and fans have the opportunity to vote for the ABDJ winner. (No DJ can win the title in consecutive years – the 2016 winner was Claude VonStroke, so he was ineligible for 2017.) Additionally, the promotion is supported by a slate of Summer events (in clubs and at festivals), which run from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.
Stay tuned for information on the America’s Best DJ Closing Party/Award Ceremony. Here’s the Top 50 finishers for 2017 America’s Best DJ:
2017 America’s Best DJ Voting
1 Jauz
2 Seven Lions
3 Marshmello
4 Markus Schulz
5 Diplo
6 Kaskade
7 Skrillex
8 Porter Robinson
9 Bassnectar
10 A-Trak
11 Steve Aoki
12 Dillon Francis
13 Chainsmokers
14 DJ Shadow
15 GRiZ
16 Lee Foss
17 Questlove
18 RL Grime
19 DJ Craze
20 Jazzy Jeff
21 Maceo Plex
22 DJ Mustard
23 Dubfire
24 Josh Wink
25 Danny Tenaglia
