Sold Out: Amsterdam Dance Event, Music & Bits and The Top100 DJ Awards

The sixteenth edition of ADE, the Dutch conference and showcase for electronic music, welcomed more than 3,000 conference and 140,000 festival visitors from 62 different countries this weekend. The event, that took place from October 19-22, grew with the addition of ADE University, the expansion of the Music and Bits music tech gathering, the annual Top100 DJ Awards and a record number of performances, including many sell-outs.

The development and expansion of the conference program was illustrated by the ADE University, a program designed specifically for students, with lectures from Simon Dunmore, Afrojack and Nalden.

Muisc & Bits

Music and technology came together at Music and Bits, with representatives from the likes of Sound Cloud, Pitchfork and Boiler Room. The harder music styles were discussed at Hard Dance Event and ADE Next offered new talent a program full of workshops, demonstration sessions and various Q&A's including Sven Väth and Frankie Knuckles.

For four days, 3,000 visitors came together to do business, network and attend a comprehensive conference program, where artists like David Guetta, Armin van Buuren, Carl Cox, and Boy George spoke about their careers and vision of the music industry. Buma/Stemra also launched an app, which composers and songwriters can use to gain insight into their daily airplay on radio stations.

This year there was also a special focus on the Brazilian music industry, the success of the Dutch DJs and producers abroad.

The festival was held in a record number of 52 clubs and venues, with 800 artists performing at 220 events spread over the city, welcoming 140,000 festival visitors.

Top100 DJ Awards

New this year was the presentation of the Top100 DJ Awards, which took place for the first time in the Netherlands. David Guetta was voted number one DJ in the world. The Dutch were well represented again, with nearly half of the top 20 as Dutch DJ's; Armin van Buuren (2), Tiësto (3), Afrojack (7), Dash Berlin (8), Fedde Le Grand (14 ), Sander van Doorn (16), Headhunterz (17), Ferry Corsten (18) and Laidback Luke (20).  – Celebrity Access