He's right it's a popularity contest it's not about talent unfortunately

Respect ✊

It's good to hear big Hardstyle artist like you finally talk about this.

DJ mag is not important The important is we still love u

"Heavy is the head, that wears the crown" - Quitting that beauty contenst, is the best thing you can do. It's about the music, not the popularity.

He is making a very generous and selfless decision for the music and scene he loves. This will open the door for other skilled hard dance artists to enter the list and enjoy the benefits that DJ Mag's exposure can provide. Like Willem said, there are so many hard dance artists that deserve more recognition and exposure. Respect

We need more DJ’s to make this decision. DJ 100 is a joke.

Let's just make our own Harddance top 100 🤷‍♂️

Absolutely humble, yet definitely one of the best hardstyle acts there ever was!

With this speech, the Dragonborn with the orange heart finished his return.

I miss the old Headhunterz so much, I still listen to the old style to this day, Scantraxx roots, last of the Mohicanz, rock civilisation.. forever in my heart

I can not more agree to this statement. WE are small scene, WE need eachother...well said heady. But still congratz to your award and i hope i see you at Qlimax next month

Love these personal videoes. Its really nice to get to see u on a personal level just like your vlogs. Hope to see more of these and more music ofc

Words from the heart! Thanks for your dedication to the scene!

Hardstyle has a magic that every other genre would like to have, I love it so much. Thanks for everything and let's keep it going

I really want to see you live Heady. I almost saw all the big ones live, like tweekaz, brennan heart, atmozfearz, ran d .... etc. but I like your music the most. You are never where I am😄

King of hardstyle is heady🧡🙏🏼

thank you for all these amazing times! looking forward to the future! saw you last friday in Munich btw :) was an amazing show!

Power of the mind was the first hardstyle track i ever heard from you. I feel lucky to have stumbled across this fantastic genre and you 😊❤

I hope you're fine ✌🏻Good luck, I'll always enjoy your music!

We love you anyway Willem. We snappen je keuzes en staan erachter. ❤

D-Block and S-te-fan didn't even make it to the list...and 2019 is their year...so dj mag top 100 is literally trash now for me

You really are an inspiration to many, thank you

I feel you are definitely right about taking the extra weight off your shoulders. Being able to relax and release some of that pressure can really help to enjoy life more and allow you better focus on your passions!

You make the music we love, the music is what it has always been about. Let the list makers make list. Nobody will be dancing and loving a list it's just a different source of entertainment. Not to take anything away from the accomplishments of the Magazine👍

Your "Live your Life" still keeps me going mahn..Lots of Love..😍💥🍻💓💯

I've been watching this man for years and I can clearly see him maturing all the way. It is great,and not many artists quit a competition like after such a high ranking.We love you headhunterz,as an artist and as a person

Thank You for everything! Heady your music change my life! I can't wait when You go to Poland!!

you will always be the number one. Songs like "home", "orange heart" or "dragonborn" have touched and inspired me👍😄

Man u have increased the respect in my heart for u bud.. Really love ur music.. Belive me i have askeed so many of my friends to vote for u.. But as u have explained so well and in such a suttle way.. 10000 times respect to u buddy ..

You were one of the acts that got me into music. I remember how, "Victim of my rage" was the first track I heard from you, and i slowly fell in love with your other tracks, coming up afterwards. Even though I'm not really a "Hardstyle" listener anymore, I always tend to fall back to your material. It's sort of "Nostalgia" to listen to your old work, and yet a surprise to listen to your new stuff. I've always had a motivation in watching your steps, and the fact that you start focusing on your artistry, and personal flow, is just as good as being nominated as the "number one hard dance act". You should do You. In fact, We are all here, because we love what you're doing! :-) Look deep into yourself. Your heart knows where to go!

You are my favorite dj ever!! Keep up the good work🧡🧡🧡🧡 king of hardstyle!!!!!

Respect to all your dedication , thanks for sharing this to us !

Very humble and respectful and professional of you! Keep making the music you love that comes from within, regardless of popularity

The problem is that everyone can vote on the list. If only real listeners of EDM, people who see who made really good tracks this year and who made a good fanbase could vote, If all the people who just vote Martin Garrix, David guetta, the chainsmokers and DV and LM - just because they know them - would go away, the list would be wayy better.

I remember when Heady made it #11 on that list!!! That year is when I was learning about hardstyle and loving myself for finding such a thing in this world. Also that year about half of the top 100 chart was hard dance producers!

You are big HEADHUNTERZ. A big hug from México 😍🔥🙏❤

I could truly state I felt in love with hardstyle in 2009 after watching by accident the Defqon.1 aftermovie. Coming from a country like Brazil, where we had no idea of and access to such festivals and the hard dance scene at all, your Sacrifice theme was such a breakthrough in my life - I even attended the 2010's edition. Later I remember you and Wildstylez playing for barely 100 people in São Paulo in 2012, I mean 0% glamour and basically braving a new territory spreading somehow the hardstyle heritage. Anyway for a very long time I criticized you and your choices as I eventually noticed your upcoming electro house career and stuff, the Brazilian DJ Gostosa ghost productions, etc. But for the very first time in years again I accidentally come over a video of yours and say "whoa. The shit is real!" That's it mate, maturity! Proud to hear those words, more than a puppet DJ (any freaking ordinary DJ can be that for DJ Mag and the big bucks) you're a legend. You represent a whole music style and that's awesome to hear that from you. Congratulations!!!

You know what, I think this type of video is the best. Just feeling like you're talking to the artist, not as headhunterz but as willem. And also, hearing someone having the same goals as you is very motivating! Just for me, the music is the main thing, festivals are less important. (I am not at this level yet, I know haha) Thank you for this video!

If you live for this music, you will always love it, you will love those small moments that you expirience, just when you hit play! and you're all happy and that unique feeling...Its simply amazing! We live for this music, Thank you Headhunterz

Very respectable. I listen to a lot of hardstyle and some of your tracks are unbelievable. You're definitely one of the best producers, if not the best, in my eyes.

I miss headhunterz when he was bald!!!!!!!🤣🤣🤣

As much as you wouldn’t say you’re the number 1 HDM act, you’re by far the biggest name to people outside it, and therefore an ambassador for it. That said, I don’t know any other DJ I’d rather be filling that role: you’re one of the most sweet, humble DJs in the whole electronic scene if you ask me, and you represent HDM very well by your example. In fact, it was through your HWS podcast that I first gained my love of hardstyle! Whatever you’re doing, I think you’ll be blessed!

Let it start a wave so we can split between live DJ mixing and promotional press-play DJing.

Fully support you and any producer/dj who follows along. Cheers Headdy!

Love your set! Still remeber project one in 2010 Qlimax! Love it! And 2008 first time saw your show!

the reason why nobody really talks about this is because being on the list has huge marketing and self promotion effects, much respects to be so honest about this

Thank you for coming to NY this year that show was amazing!

My heart dropped, I thought it said “I quit hardstyle”

This is a big decision! It’s not easy. You’re a very strong and brave person to announce this. All my respect goes to you!❤️

Very humble guy !!! Love it 🙌🏻🙌🏻🧡🧡🧡

In 2 years "The return of Headhunterz" to DJ Mag

It's a who's your favourite dj not who do you think deserves the most to be in top 100 djs contest. I'm with you man this contest is a huge joke and it gets worse every year. It's a matter of time till fortnite fanboys find about this contest and vote marshmello number 1

True fans will always be with you and djs who actually have talent. Keep up the good work you been doing and your fans will always stand by you.

Keep it all bro! see you at dreamfiels Mexico! you'll always be top1 for me c:

I love you Willem, I have been voting for you for a while, but I am also very happy for you, the DJ Mag does make it less about community and more about competition, so I am proud of your decision and will support you just as much as I always have if not more. Love with an Orange Heart, from Australia.

It‘s the kind of taste the people have ... There are people like us who loves Hardstyle so they Vote Hardstyle Acts not EDM acts and the same in the different way 🤷🏽‍♂️

DJ Mag Top 100 is just like Spotify Top 40. Whoever's plugged the most gets on top. Just keep making music, who cares about a spot on a list

Willem's absolutely right. Hardstyle may not be at the top of the list, but we actually love this genre! With or without ranks, we're always with you, and we respect your decision! ❤

Well done heady !! Monterrey🇲🇽 loves you !! 💪🏽🧡

I love this man and his work. That is all

Headhunterz's woke af, there is no opponent, we're together in this boat

this is the reason why we always love and supporting you mr. Willem🧡

You’re the highest hard for me always❤️❤️

I applaud you Mr.Heady, we're in it for the music not for the popularity!!! To those real fans keep making the music and I'll still support you, list or no list. Love your music and the hardstyle scene. Much love from sunny California🙏👍

Mooi gesproken en veel succes de komende tijd met je label!

HeadHunterz - you are the BEST from 2014 till now for me! You are the best man and hardstyle musician over the World! Good Luck and dont worry!

This was so raw, loved it. We support you ❤️

i really like your decision on this one. i hope many other producers will follow your footsteps, because the dj mag symbolize something that it is not. we should instead have a top 100 list, where it is the real producers themselves that vote for eachother, in each genre. that would make way more sense. this video made me respect you even more than i already did. you deserve anything you wish for, even if it may seem like a 'smaller' personal goal. that is because you always try to stay true, humble and being the best version of yourself.

Agree and respect just got one point. I think you’re made t the right choice, anyway it’s up to you ! For me there is still a reason to participate in the top 100. I beleive that if we reach top ten (and you came close!!!! 11, Congratz 🙏) we’ll gaig credibility and visibility. For hardstyle, not juste for you, same thing for TomorrowLand. For me you’re the best musician not only for music, I don’t have enough knowledge to be able to say wich artist is the most talented. You the best because of the emotion you give to us, and that go furthers than notes for me. You always be a model for me and I just love to be in your universe and feel it. One of my dream would be to talk with you at least one hour. I have so much to say. (My english may be a little wrong ) Respect 🙏🧡

I don't know why everyone keeps pointing out that DJ Mag is a popularity contest. Yes, it obviously is a popularity contest. It was never advertised as a talent contest

That’s the reason we all love you Heady!

We need more DJ's to think like you, Heady. Huge respect.

Lekker willem, helemaal gelijk! Echt stoer dat je zo open bent! Respect keerl , zie je graag binnenkort ergens 👌🏼

You spoke what was in our minds. Well done! ❤️

Os fodas não precisa de ranking algum para ser o mais brabo

Hardstyle since 04 when i got my pc. Still at it. :)

N1 bro RESPECT from ITALY

What about HWS podcast?

Respect man. Hopelijk volgen er meer zodat de boodschap duidelijk word.

Everything this man does is legendary

super veel respect voor deze keuze ik had er nog nooit zo over na gedacht maar je hebt echt volledig gelijk

U made a huge decision which requires lots of guts Respect u are best in ur way which matters We support u have a great career ahead

Real lover and real talent for music and a guy who made one of best hardstyle songs. :)

Humble Heady, as always 🧡

Totally agree with you. I admire you that you left the competition despite the advantage it gives in the world of music production. Wish you the best.

This bring me back to the roots ❤️

Respect! Ik waardeer het ook dat je dit nu, na de uitreiking pas aankondigt.

Yes you're right man i agree about your opinion, Willem keep it up your Hardstyle music💪

Buena decisión, tendrás el apoyo de siempre, ese top es una mierda. Animo

Amazing! All my respect! 🙏❤

As I type this, 3 years ago, I saw you in HW LA! One of my inspiration I look up to. This decision you are doing is even more humbling. This is just a popularity contest in the end and I personally never had interest to vote in the beginning. I will do a video on this and your decision Willem. Been hearing your music since 2009 and a piece of me will aleays be a hardstyle supported! Brawlerz

A greatest setback is the greatest blessing of all time to become the best version of yourself. God bless you.

It is Just a paid contest, Hardwell 12th (b*lls*it) W&W 18th (Total b*lls*it)

Huge respect for you brother! ❤️🙏

Hell yea Heady. You always will be my favorite Hardstyle Dj. You keep it real.

much love and respect from Azerbaycan.

Great talk, Great move thank you Respect! #enjoylife

Old Heady is still there. Glad you decided to opt out.

this has been going on for quite a while.. good you're stepping up.