Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you are sure to know by now that ace produce/DJ, Hardwell claimed the #1 spot in DJ Mag‘s Top 100 DJ’s poll for 2013. In conformity with the #1 title, Hardwell was also featured on the cover of the current issue of DJ Mag, which included an interview.

As part of the interview, Hardwell discusses his relationship with his friend Tijs, better known as Tiesto with whom he shares the same hometown. The Dutch DJ also goes on to reflect over the vast number of shows and gigs he did in his home country before he ever played a show internationally, and explains why his European roots makes him uncomfortable to use the term ‘EDM’.

Moving ahead, one of the more controversial topics which Hardwell touches on in his interview is the rising price of booking DJ’s. Upon being asked if this price increase is going too far, he staunchly chooses to answer saying, ‘no’.

He goes on to say, “People always say ‘DJs are the new pop stars’ but when Rihanna, Jay-Z or Lady Gaga is selling out an arena and get a ridiculous amount of money, everyone is handling that okay. If a DJ like Tiësto or Calvin Harris does it, everybody is like, ‘Wow, can they take that amount of money?’ But they are doing the same thing”.

Whatever opinion one may hold, its true that by the day, DJ’s are increasingly becoming more & more like superstars and artists such as Hardwell are in support of the rising costs of booking these megastars.

We hope that with such persistent rise in costs, the smaller venues and fans likewise, are financially able to maintain the flow of their events, especially if the future of dance music keeps heading in this direction.

Source: inthemix