Martin Garrix kicks off Top 100 DJs charity fundraising campaign with donation to Bridges for Music
DJ Mag has announced details of a new fundraising initiative in aid of Bridges for Music, the official charity partner of Top 100 DJs 2025, as we enter the final 24 hours of voting in our annual Top 100 DJs poll.
DJ Mag will be canvassing the support of the world’s most popular global DJs, as voted for in the annual Top 100 DJs poll. We are asking each of the ranked artists to sponsor at least one student to embark on the Bridges for Music program, a holistic initiative combining music, mental health support and entrepreneurship and providing access to the music industry. Beneficiaries will be young people from under-served communities and will attend the program in person at the Bridges Academy, Africa’s leading music school based in Langa, South Africa’s oldest township.
The campaign is off to an incredibly strong start thanks to 2024’s No.1 DJ Martin Garrix, who kickstarted the fundraising with a headline donation of £34,000 — enough to sponsor the education of 34 students for 12 months.
Speaking of the campaign’s goals, DJ Mag COO, Simon Kelly, said: “As DJ Mag’s flagship global product, we firmly believe that Top 100 DJs should be a force for good in the wider dance music ecosystem. By asking each of the 100 biggest DJs in the world to sponsor the education of at least one creative from an underrepresented community, we can create a meaningful impact for the next generation of aspiring DJs and music producers.”
In recognition of Garrix’s generous donation, Valentino Barriosetta, founder and CEO of Bridges for Music, said, “There is incredible talent in the communities we serve that often goes unnoticed and gets trapped in the hardships of their own environment and reality. Music connects us all no matter how far apart we are, I see the Top 100 DJs as a bridge to connect the haves with the have nots. We are humbled and grateful for Martin kicking the campaign off with such generosity after having visited the school in South Africa. I’m sure it will be the start of a beautiful legacy together.”
DJ Mag will begin outreach to the Top 100 DJs immediately after voting closes at 23:59 BST on 11th September 2025. Those who make donations will be thanked on 30th September at the Top 100 DJs Awards at [UNVRS] Ibiza, and across DJ Mag’s digital channels, during the results rollout. You can follow the progress and make your own donation here.
