DJ AWARDS 2025 ANNOUNCES NEW NOMINEES AND PANEL INITIATIVE

The DJ Awards proudly announces the formation of the Grand Jury, a groundbreaking initiative designed to bring greater transparency, and industry expertise to the awards process. This distinguished panel will play a pivotal role in shaping the categories, nominating artists and industry figures and ultimately ensuring The DJ Awards remain truly reflective of the global electronic music scene.

As one of the longest-standing and most prestigious celebrations of electronic music we recognise excellence, The DJ Awards continues to honour the artists, clubs, festivals and industry professionals who shape the global dance music landscape. 

To reinforce this commitment, a powerhouse of industry leaders has been assembled for this year. The DJ Awards Grand Jury will ensure a fair and data-driven selection of categories and nominees, provide expert industry insights, reflect current trends and achievements, by incorporating perspectives from a diverse, global panel.

The DJ Awards Grand Jury is composed of representatives from every key sector of the electronic music industry and members are selected based on their affiliation with leading businesses rather than individuals, which reinforces a collective and unbiased perspective. 

The panel spans booking agencies, club operators, festival organisers, media, streaming platforms, PR agencies, record labels, and other essential industry institutions.

Each year, The DJ Awards Grand Jury will invite new members, ensuring fresh perspectives and ongoing relevance. The goal is to create a dynamic and respected institution that not only honours excellence but also advocates for the industry’s future. 

The DJ Awards Grand Jury marks a new era for the awards, one that prioritises authenticity and expertise and reaffirms The DJ Awards's mission to celebrate the true pioneers, visionaries and game-changers in electronic music.

Stay tuned for the unveiling of nominees, categories and special industry recognitions.

The DJ Awards Grand Jury (A-Z) 

The DJ Awards Founders: Lenny Krarup & Jose Pascual

Booking Agencies: CAA, Wasserman, WME 

Club Operators (America & Europe):  Broadwick Live, Gospel NYC, Space Miami, UNO Malta

Club Promoters & Festival Organisers: elrow, Factory Town, Music On, Pyramid, Space (Miami), Superstruct entertainment

Ibiza Clubs: Amnesia, Chinois, Eden, Pacha, Hï Ibiza, Ibiza and [UNVRS]

Industry Institutions: Association For Electronic Music, B:Electronic, Riot Noise, theHUB.Ibiza 

Management Companies: Prime Culture, Purple Wall, Three Six Zero

Media & Digital Music Store: Billboard, Cercle, Mixmag, Traxsource, YouTube

PR Agencies: Jukebox, Listen Up, The Media Nanny

Radio: BBC Introducing, Ibiza Global Radio 

Record Labels: Armada Music, Defected Records, Mindshake Records

Vendors: Dice, Ibiza Spotlight, Skiddle

GALACTICA RETURNS HOME: THE HARD TECHNO FESTIVAL LANDS AT COCORICÒ.

INDIRA PAGANOTTO, 999999999, GIORGIA ANGIULI, AND CERA KHIN LEAD THE LINEUP FOR THE TWO-DAYS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RETURN TO ITS HOME BASE IN RICCIONE

After a string of high-profile international dates, GALACTICA - Italy’s first itinerant hard techno festival - returns to where it all began: Cocoricò. On April 24 and 25, the iconic pyramid-shaped club in Riccione will once again host GALACTICA, for a two-day celebration of cutting-edge electronic music, bringing together the past, present, and future of club culture. GALACTICA’s return to this legendary venue is marked by a stellar lineup.

Headlining the event is psy-techno queen INDIRA PAGANOTTO, alongside 999999999, the globally revered Berlin-based duo originally from Veneto. The program also features a live set by multi-instrumentalist and producer GIORGIA ANGIULI, and a fast-paced DJ set by Tunisian force of nature CERA KHIN.

Other standout performances include Belgian talent MARHU, signed to Indira’s Artcore label; Berlin techno icon FREDDY K; avant-garde duo ANKKH; and rising UK hard techno star AZYR.

Following its homecoming at Cocoricò, GALACTICA will continue its interstellar journey with summer editions on Pag Island in July, and in Malta, with events scheduled for both July and August—further expanding its tour and confirming its role as a driving force in contemporary electronic music.

INDIRA PAGANOTTO | 999999999 | GIORGIA ANGIULI | CERA KHIN | MARHU | FREDDY K | ANKKH | AZYR | DAISY | MATTIA TRANI | JAZZY | FJUSHA | SCARLETT | A.D.A.G. | ALEX BILANCINI | JACOPO FORLI | N4C | V111 | ANDREA SCOPSI | PURPLE MASH | SMASH

Since 1989, the legendary club of the Riviera Romagnola has continued its path of research and experimentation, always honoring the rich past of club culture. A place where culture, music, respect, and inclusion have always found and will continue to find a home—a symbol of global electronic music.

The new Cocoricò, completely renovated both internally and externally, recalls its glorious past through its iconic aesthetics and artistic direction choices. A club that drives a constantly evolving scene, playing a key role in the history of music and Italian pop culture, bringing together passionate audiences and the most prestigious and interesting artists of the moment.

Cocoricò has become the reference point for Italy’s electronic music and club culture scene, maintaining a balance between past, present, and future.

In May 2024, Cocoricò inaugurated MUDI – Museo Discoteca, the first contemporary art museum inside a club, featuring a collection of works by Italian artists. Some of the exhibited works will soon be available for purchase, with proceeds going toward commissioning new pieces—ensuring a constant renewal and keeping the museum vibrant and current.

CHRIS LAKE ANNOUNCES HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DEBUT ALBUM CHEMISTRY DURING HISTORICAL COACHELLA DAY ZERO PERFORMANCE

CHRIS LAKE’S GROUNDBREAKING COACHELLA CAMPGROUNDS PERFORMANCE HAS
KICKED OFF THE FIRST FESTIVAL WEEKEND

Acclaimed DJ and producer Chris Lake is setting the stage for a landmark year with the major announcement of his debut album, Chemistry, during his historical Coachella Day Zero Campgrounds performance. Chris Lake rewrote the Coachella playbook with a first-of-its-kind performance at the Coachella campgrounds on Thursday April 10, the night before Weekend 1 officially begins. In a historic moment, he became the first-ever artist to officially kick off the festival a day early, delivering an unforgettable, high-energy set that set the standard for what’s to come. Fans were treated to an exclusive first listen of tracks from his upcoming album Chemistry, set to release independently on July 11 via Chris’ own Black Book Records imprint.

With the announcement of the album comes the release of its second single, In My Head with singer/songwriter Amber Mark, today. First debuted at the iconic Hollywood Boulevard shut down with FISHER, In My Head is finally here. At last, Chris Lake and Amber Mark give listeners the ID they’ve been screaming for. 

The track showcases Chris Lake’s signature house sound, blending seamlessly with Amber Mark’s soulful, genre-defying style—an electrifying mix of alternative R&B, tribal rhythms, and deep-rooted soul. Tastefully setting the stage for the penultimate summer anthem, this earworm lands just in time for festival season.

“This album has been a long time in the making, and it features some really special artists I’ve been lucky enough to work with,” says Chris Lake. “In My Head has been one of the most requested tracks from my sets—so people can finally stop asking me when it’s coming out. It felt like the right sound to announce the album with, and I’m very excited to release a lot more music in the coming months.”

His upcoming album, Chemistry, promises to be the soundtrack of the summer, with additional singles dropping in the coming months leading up to the album’s full release on July 11. The first album single Ease My Mind has already soared to the top of the ARIA Club Charts and amassed over 5 million streams on Spotify alone, marking it as an early standout hit. Meanwhile, Chris Lake’s collaboration with Ragie Ban, Toxic, recently claimed the #1 spot on Beatport, further solidifying his dominance on both global streaming platforms and club charts.

As Chris Lake continues to push boundaries in both production and live performance, the momentum behind Ease My Mind signals the beginning of an unforgettable year for one of the most dynamic figures in electronic music.

For Chris Lake, making people dance is more than a career: It’s an obsession. Over two decades, the GRAMMY®-nominated artist has become one of house music’s most compelling figures. In that time he’s lived many lives as a producer, DJ, and label head, all connected by his ability to create big moments both onstage and in his music. Since breaking through with a string of No. 1 singles in the late 2000s, Lake has helped redefine America’s house music scene in the post-EDM age. His music is a regular fixture on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, including hits like “Summertime Blues,” “Beggin’,” and “More Baby.” He has headlined EDC Las Vegas and Coachella stages, shut down Hollywood Boulevard for over 12,000 fans, and spread the dance floor gospel through his Under Construction events with FISHER. Alongside DJing and producing, Lake is the founder of Black Book Records, which has helped elevate rising talent such as Cloonee, Miane, and Mochakk. The label’s reach is also expanding through events like Black Book On The Pier and an exclusive MNTGE fashion collaboration. Perhaps more than simply making people dance, Lake leaves dance music’s people and culture better than he found it.

“It gives me this increased love of the power of a single song and the effect that it can have on anyone's life,” he says. “I love the idea that I can make a song and give people that feeling. It's just amazing, and I feel like as the years go on, I get better and better at doing it.”