Musician Fred Again has got his hands on a new record – being voted the best DJ of all time by Gen Z. A poll of 1,168 respondents, aged 18-24, saw the 30-year-old electronic artist top the list, ahead of superstars Calvin Harris and David Guetta.
And Fatboy Slim, one of the biggest musical stars of the late 90s – before any of those polled were even born – placed fourth on the list.
Swedish DJ and producer, Avicii, who died in April 2018, ranked among the top three in the top 10 list, which also contained just one woman, Peggy Gou.
The research also found almost a third of Gen Z (32 percent) aspire to spin records themselves as a career – and 71 percent of these are confident they’d set the dancefloor alight with their skills.
The research was commissioned by Jägermeister, which has launched the Best Nights DJ Akademie – an immersive, three-day DJ Bootcamp, offering 10 students the chance to learn the craft.
Peter Kennedy, from the brand, said: “We’re all about nurturing the next generation of talent, to make sure everyone has the opportunity and guidance to help them thrive. The Best Nights DJ Akademie is exactly this for us, and represents our dedication to education and innovation.”
The study also found DJing topped the list of dream jobs for young people – ahead of being a lawyer (19 percent), a doctor (13 percent), or a teacher (11 percent).
And 41 percent expressed the belief that people should “never” stop going clubbing, and instead continue throughout their lives – highlighting the generation’s steadfast commitment to inclusivity and celebration.
Although a DJ’s life involves working nights, respondents felt the excitement of the position is the main draw. Other selling points were cited as travelling the world and meeting people (44 percent), sharing music (21 percent), and setting the “vibes” for the club or event (20 percent).
Girls Don’t Sync DJ, Gaia, aka “G33”, who is also a mentor and teacher at DJ Akademie, said: “The music scene is proving even harder to access at the moment, particularly for that next generation of talent coming through.
“I’m so proud to be part of nurturing the next generation of DJ’s and music artists, helping them develop their style, earn their stripes, and learn from my experiences. There’s so much talent out there – it’s just about finding it and helping it grow.”
