The increasing profitability of EDM has been a theme throughout the year in both Music Times as well as numerous financial publications. Many businessmen and promoters are looking to make a buck off the trend, but one the producers themselves are definitely cashing in, as Forbes' list of the highest paid DJ's indicates. Calvin Johnson topped the list for 2013, bringing in more than $46 million (a total that topped Jay Z's earnings for the year).
"The rise of dance music has been astronomical in the last three years," he said. "I happened to be in the right place at the right time."
Some might argue that Harris was more than "in the right place at the right time," as he made $14 million more than the list's no. 2 placer, Tiësto. So what sets Harris and the rest apart from those who made less than $10 million this year? Three suggestions:
01) Write and produce for other big names
This applies mostly to Harris, and how he got into a tax bracket so much higher than his fellow DJ's. Many performers produce, but this Scottish turntablist also wrote hits including Rihanna's "We Found Love."
02) Affiliate with the Hakkasan Club in Las Vegas
MGM Grand's premier nightclub came up in four of the Top 10's descriptions. Harris signed on to play more than 70 shows at the club over two years, and Tiësto opted to conduct a summer residency there versus his usual stint in Ibiza. Deadmau5 reportedly brought in more than $200,000 a gig there, and Afrojack said the club offered him twice the money he currently gets from the Wynn Las Vegas to perform.
03) Have a huge single
Why produce or write for others when you can have your own single? Avicii made $20 million during 2013, and much of it can be attributed to "Wake Me Up!," one of the year's top-selling tracks.
Here's the list of 13 as reported by Forbes:
01) Calvin Harris...$46 million
02) Tiësto...$32 million
03) David Guetta...$30 million
04) Swedish House Mafia...$25 million
05) Deadmau5...$21 million
06) Avicii...$20 million
07) Afrojack...$18 million
08) Armin van Buuren...$17 million
09/10) Skrillex/Kaskade...$16 million (tie)
11) Steve Aoki...$14 million
12/13) DJ Pauly D/Diplo...$13 million (tie)
