DJ Mag

What DJ Mag does

DJ Mag is the leading independent electronic dance music media publication, founded in 1983 and operated by Thrust Publishing Ltd, a UK private limited company headquartered in London. The company runs a multi-platform media business anchored by its flagship website (djmag.com), a print magazine distributed through djmagshop.com, and eight localized international editions spanning Asia, China, France, Germany, Italy, North America, the Netherlands, and South America. The editorial product covers EDM news, features, album and single reviews, a dedicated technology section on DJ and production gear, video content (including live sets, interviews, and 'Learn to DJ Like' tutorials), and live event coverage.

The core commercial products are four annual reader-voted properties that function as industry benchmarks: the Top 100 DJs poll, the Top 100 Clubs poll, the Top 100 Festivals poll (public voting relaunched in 2022 after a 2019 panel-judged launch and a Covid-era hiatus), and the Best of British Awards. The company also operates DJTickets (djtickets.com), an integrated ticketing platform for electronic music events and clubs, and the DJ Mag Shop, an e-commerce storefront for magazine subscriptions and branded merchandise. Distribution is primarily direct: owned website, social channels (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, SoundCloud, TikTok), the printed magazine, and licensed regional editions.

DJ Mag's revenue model combines (i) magazine sales and subscriptions, (ii) advertising and sponsorship from music-industry brands, festivals, and clubs targeting EDM audiences, and (iii) ticketing transaction fees via DJTickets. The customer base spans three segments: electronic music enthusiasts (primary, consumer), DJs/producers/artists seeking industry recognition, and festivals and nightclubs seeking promotional visibility through rankings and editorial coverage. Martin Carvell serves as Managing Director; the company employs 51-100 people and has raised no disclosed outside funding, operating as a founder-led private media business.

Name

DJ Mag

Legal name

Thrust Publishing Ltd

Website

https://djmag.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DJ Mag is the leading independent electronic dance music media publication, operating a website, print magazine, and eight international editions. It serves EDM fans, artists, and festivals through editorial coverage and industry-defining annual reader-voted ranking polls.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Media & Publishing

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

akta.pro primary industry

Music & DJ Live Streaming Platforms (MPACACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

DJ & Electronic Music Venues (MPAGAIAE), Musical Instruments (Acoustic & Electric) (MPAIAJAA)

Keywords

• Electronic music media
• Music magazine publishing
• Dance music journalism
• Music event ticketing
• Music industry rankings

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Magazine Sales and Subscriptions: DJ Mag publishes a printed magazine available for purchase through djmagshop.com, offering physical and digital copies to readers interested in electronic music coverage, DJ interviews, and industry rankings.
2. Advertising and Sponsorship: The website and publication generate advertising revenue from music industry advertisers, festivals, clubs, and brands targeting electronic music audiences.
3. Ticketing Services: DJTickets (djtickets.com) appears to be a ticketing platform for electronic music events, generating revenue through ticket sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DJ Mag is an electronic dance music media company that publishes news, features, music reviews, technology coverage, video content, and live DJ sets through its website (djmag.com) and a printed magazine. It operates annual reader-voted industry ranking polls (Top 100 DJs, Top 100 Clubs, Top 100 Festivals) and the Best of British Awards, supported by an integrated ticketing service (DJTickets) and a merchandise shop (DJ Mag Shop).

Product overview

DJ Mag is an electronic dance music media company offering a multi-platform portfolio centered around its core website djmag.com, print magazine, and annual ranking polls. The core products include the Top 100 DJs, Top 100 Clubs, and Top 100 Festivals rankings, plus the Best of British Awards—all reader-voted polls that serve as industry benchmarks. Supporting content includes news, features, music reviews, video content, and live DJ sets. The company operates integrated ticket services (DJTickets) and an e-commerce shop (DJ Mag Shop). DJ Mag also publishes international editions across Asia, China, France, Germany, Italy, North America, Netherlands, and South America, with editorial operations managed by Thrust Publishing Ltd based in London.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DJTickets: Ticketing service for DJs and electronic music events
• DJ Mag Shop
• Top 100 DJs
• Top 100 Clubs
• Top 100 Festivals
• Best of British Awards

Products and services

• DJ Mag Website (djmag.com)
• Top 100 DJs
• Top 100 Clubs
• Top 100 Festivals
• Best of British Awards
• DJ Mag Magazine (print)
• DJTickets
• DJ Mag Shop
• International Editions
• Music Reviews
• Tech Section
• Video Content
• Live Sets

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025DJ Mag partners with ADE to host the annual CLUB Lab event featuring emerging DJs. The 2025 edition showcased four emerging artists performing alongside established names as part of the Amsterdam dance music conference.
• Bridges for MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDJ Mag's Top 100 DJs charity campaign raised £170,832 for Bridges for Music, a charity supporting music education and development.
• Help MusiciansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDJ Mag partners with Help Musicians for the annual Electronic Music Award, recognizing emerging talent in the electronic music industry.
• War Child (UK Festivals Partnership)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDJ Mag covers the partnership where 46 UK festivals partnered with War Child, offering free tickets to fans who donate to the Festivals Unite campaign supporting children affected by conflict.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Resident Advisor: Resident Advisor (RA) is a leading digital-first electronic music media platform and event-listing service. It directly competes with DJ Mag as a primary destination for EDM news, reviews, club listings, and event discovery, particularly among younger and more underground-leaning audiences.
• Mixmag: Mixmag is a long-running UK-based electronic and dance music magazine and digital publication. It is DJ Mag's closest print-heritage competitor, covering similar editorial territory including news, reviews, DJ culture, and club/festival coverage for the global EDM audience.
• EDM.com: EDM.com is a digital electronic dance music news and editorial platform covering festival news, artist interviews, and event coverage. It competes directly with DJ Mag for advertising and audience share in the same EDM content category, though with a digital-first publishing model.
• Dancing Astronaut: Dancing Astronaut is a US-based electronic dance music news and media platform. It competes directly with DJ Mag in the same editorial category (EDM news, features, festival coverage) but operates a digital-only model without a print legacy.

Broad incumbents

• Beatport: Beatport is the dominant electronic music download/streaming marketplace for DJs, owned by LiveXchange (formerly LiveStyle/EMP). While primarily a music retail platform, it has expanded into editorial content, news, and DJ-focused media, positioning it as a broader incumbent that overlaps with DJ Mag's audience.
• Billboard: Billboard is a major global music industry trade and consumer publication with iconic chart rankings (Hot 100, Billboard 200). While broader in scope than DJ Mag, it increasingly covers electronic music and competes for advertising and audience attention from electronic music artists, labels, and event promoters.
• Pitchfork: Pitchfork is a leading online music publication covering a wide range of genres with strong reviews and editorial authority. While broader than DJ Mag, it covers electronic music and competes for premium advertising, audience, and cultural authority in the music media space.
• NME: NME (New Musical Express) is a major UK and global music media brand covering music news, reviews, and culture. While broader in scope, it increasingly covers electronic music and competes with DJ Mag for advertising spend from festivals, clubs, and music brands targeting UK and global audiences.

Emerging players

• The DJ List: The DJ List is a global DJ directory and electronic music platform connecting DJs with venues and event organizers. It overlaps with DJ Mag in the EDM ecosystem, particularly around DJ discovery and club/festival promotion, though it focuses more on marketplace functionality than editorial coverage.

Regional players

• Ibiza Spotlight: Ibiza Spotlight is a regional electronic music and clubbing media platform focused on the Ibiza market, including club listings, event guides, and news. It overlaps with DJ Mag in DJTickets' Ibiza coverage and competes for EDM advertising in the influential Ibiza market segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/djmagazine
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/djmagtv
• Facebookfacebook.com/djmagazine
• Instagraminstagram.com/djmagofficial
• TikToktiktok.com/@djmagofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1908528

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DJ Mag