David Guetta News

David Guetta & Kelly Rowland’s ‘When Love Takes Over’ Turns 16

Published

1 year ago

April 23, 2025

On April 21, 2009, When Love Takes Over came out. David Guetta had been producing electronic music for years and was known across clubs in Europe, but this was the first time his work reached a mainstream global audience. Kelly Rowland had already built her career with Destiny’s Child and had released solo music, but this collaboration took her in a different direction. The song had a piano melody that was immediately recognizable and a vocal that gave it warmth and urgency. Nothing about it felt forced. It just worked.

The original version was an instrumental Guetta had been playing during his live sets. Rowland happened to be in the audience at one of his shows in the south of France in 2008. She asked for the file and began writing with Miriam and Olivia Nervo. Her vocal was recorded in London and then sent back to David Guetta, who built the final version around it. It became the lead single from his album One Love.

How When Love Takes Over Made an Impact

The song premiered at Ultra Music Festival in Miami in March 2009. It was officially released on April 21. In the UK, it entered the Singles Chart at No. 1 and stayed there for two weeks. It also reached the top position in Ireland, Italy, and Switzerland, and placed in the top ten across Europe and Australia. In the US, it became one of the earliest dance-pop songs to cross over from club culture to mainstream radio. It sold over five million copies worldwide and received platinum certifications in several countries.

What made it memorable wasn’t just how far it went. It changed the way people looked at collaborations between DJs and vocalists. Before this, vocal-led dance music rarely left Europe. After this song came out, producers started working with pop artists more deliberately and releasing music that connected with a wider audience. David Guetta followed up with songs featuring Sia, Usher, Akon, and Nicki Minaj. It became normal to see a DJ’s name at the front of a pop single.

For Kelly Rowland, it brought a new chapter. Her voice didn’t just support the production. It carried the emotion of the song. It reminded people of what she was capable of beyond Destiny’s Child and gave her one of the biggest solo moments of her career.

Where It Stands 16 Years Later

Sixteen years later, When Love Takes Over still holds up. People associate it with specific memories, whether it was the summer it came out or the first time they heard it at a party. Even though the sound of dance music has evolved, this song still plays in clubs, at festivals, and on streaming platforms. David Guetta continues to include it in his live sets, and it never feels out of place.

For both David and Kelly, this wasn’t just another collaboration. It became a reference point. It marked the beginning of something much bigger, both in their own careers and in the direction music was heading.

Some songs peak for a few months. Others stay around because people keep returning to them. This one belongs in the second group.

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David Guetta News

David Guetta Crowned World’s No. 1 DJ

Published

2 days ago

October 7, 2026

Preetika Narula

David Guetta crowned World’s No. 1 DJ in DJ Mag Top 100 DJs 2026 for a record sixth time

The DJ Mag Top 100 DJs Awards 2026 returned to [UNVRS] Ibiza on October 6, bringing the annual public vote back to the island for its live reveal. After taking the No. 1 position in 2025, David Guetta has done it again, earning the title of World’s No. 1 DJ for a record sixth time. This year also saw a record number of verified votes cast from 234 territories worldwide.

David Guetta Sets A New Top 100 DJs Record

That sixth title places David Guetta ahead of every other artist in the history of the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll. His first win came in 2011, followed by further victories in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2025. Last year brought him level with Martin Garrix and Armin van Buuren on five wins each, while the 2026 result now gives him the record outright.

Speaking about the win, David Guetta reflected on how much electronic dance music has grown, particularly with DJs now playing stadium shows that were once associated mainly with major pop and rock artists. He also pointed to the new generation of DJs coming through and said seeing people dancing, having fun and enjoying clubs again has made this period especially exciting for him.

His own year has reflected that growth. David Guetta’s music added another five billion streams, while he became the first artist to reach 22 No. 1s on the US Dance Airplay chart. He also remains the most-streamed DJ on Spotify and regularly ranks among the platform’s ten most-listened-to artists across all genres.

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David Guetta’s Huge Year On Tour

That success has also carried into some of the biggest shows of David Guetta’s career. His three sold-out dates at Stade de France in Paris shifted more than 240,000 tickets, with guests including Armin van Buuren, Afrojack, Black Coffee, Jennifer Lopez, Akon, Bebe Rexha and Black Eyed Peas.

His MONOLITH show also continued through major venues and festivals, including Red Rocks and Coachella, while Ibiza remained a major part of his summer. F* Me I’m Famous!** returned to Ushuaïa Ibiza, while Galactic Circus continued at [UNVRS], giving him two separate residencies on the island alongside his wider touring schedule.

More Highlights From The DJ Mag Top 100 DJs 2026

There was plenty of movement across the rest of the 2026 ranking too, with 13 new entries and three re-entries in the Top 100. Anyma climbed seven places to No. 3, Charlotte de Witte rose to No. 6, and Fred again.. jumped 17 places to No. 16.

Further down the list, John Summit, Mau P and Chris Stussy each climbed 22 places, becoming the first three artists to share the Highest Climber award. Indira Paganotto rose ten places into the Top 30 and became the first winner of the World’s No. 1 Psy DJ award, while Josh Baker entered at No. 40 as this year’s Highest New Entry.

Other awards went to Charlotte de Witte as World’s No. 1 Techno DJ, Armin van Buuren as World’s No. 1 Trance DJ, FISHER as World’s No. 1 House DJ and Sara Landry as World’s No. 1 Hard DJ. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike were named World’s No. 1 DJ Group, while Luciano received Outstanding Contribution and ANASTAZJA was named Future Star.

Top 100 DJs LIVE At [UNVRS] Ibiza

The live awards night brought together David Guetta, Anyma, Charlotte de Witte, Vintage Culture, GORDO, Korolova and ANASTAZJA for performances throughout the ceremony, alongside the ranking and award reveals. [UNVRS] hosted the event for a second consecutive year after becoming the home of the Top 100 DJs ceremony in 2025.

The event also continued DJ Mag’s partnership with Bridges for Music for a second year. By the time the results were announced, the campaign had raised £120,000, enough to fund the education of 120 students at the Bridges for Music Academy in Langa, South Africa. DJ Mag had launched the fundraiser in September with an opening donation from David Guetta.

For David Guetta, becoming the first DJ to reach six wins gives the 2026 result a very different significance from last year’s tie. Fifteen years after his first No. 1, he now holds the record on his own, during a year that has also seen him reach some of the biggest audiences of his career.

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David Guetta News

David Guetta Adds Final [UNVRS] Ibiza Show For 2026

Published

1 month ago

August 28, 2026

Preetika Narula

David Guetta performing at Galactic Circus at [UNVRS] Ibiza with both arms raised as orange visuals fill the stage behind him.

David Guetta adds final [UNVRS] Ibiza performance during 2026 Closing Weekend with new visual production and surprise guest

David Guetta will return to [UNVRS] Ibiza on Friday, October 9 for one final performance of the 2026 season, one week after his Galactic Circus residency closes on October 2. The additional date forms part of the club’s Closing Weekend and gives David Guetta another night in the Main Room before [UNVRS] ends its second summer in Ibiza. For the show, the club has confirmed a completely new visual production created specifically for October 9, alongside a special surprise guest who will be announced closer to the date. The night begins at 11:30 PM and follows a full summer of Friday performances from David Guetta at the venue.

David Guetta Returns After The Galactic Circus Closing

The October 9 date follows another full season of Galactic Circus, which returned to [UNVRS] in 2026 after debuting during the club’s opening year. David Guetta has played Fridays at the venue throughout the summer, joined across the season by artists including James Hype, MEDUZA, MK, Miss Monique, Alesso, MORTEN and Tchami B2B Malaa.

The residency closes on October 2 with James Hype and Liva K, before David Guetta comes back the following Friday for the Closing Weekend show. That final date shifts away from the weekly Galactic Circus concept and introduces a production created specifically for the occasion, giving October 9 its own identity within the closing programme.

New Visual Production For The Closing Weekend Show

For the final performance, [UNVRS] has confirmed a completely new visual production designed specifically for the Closing Weekend event. The change gives David Guetta a fresh setup for his last appearance of the year after spending the summer performing within the visual concept used for Galactic Circus.

The announcement also points towards music from several periods of David Guetta’s career, referencing tracks including Titanium, Memories, When Love Takes Over and I’m Good. Those releases span more than a decade of his catalogue, giving the October 9 set room to move between the crossover records closely associated with his career and the club music that has remained part of his recent Ibiza performances.

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David Guetta News

David Guetta to Receive Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Published

2 months ago

July 31, 2026

Preetika Narula

David Guetta performing in front of the towering illuminated Monolith structure during his large-scale live show.

David Guetta to receive Hollywood Walk of Fame star following decades of dance music impact and the growth of his Monolith shows

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has selected David Guetta to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as part of its Class of 2027. The recognition follows a career that has played a major role in dance music’s global growth. From early club releases to worldwide hits such as When Love Takes Over and Titanium, David Guetta helped bring electronic production into mainstream pop on a scale few DJs had achieved before him. More than two decades later, his releases, festival appearances and Monolith shows continue to reach audiences around the world. The honour offers an opportunity to look back at his influence and the different stages of his career.

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What the Hollywood Walk of Fame Honour Recognises

The Hollywood Walk of Fame named David Guetta in the Recording category alongside Karol G, Sia, Lil Wayne, Linkin Park, The Ramones, Smashing Pumpkins, Grandmaster Flash, Marc Shaiman and the late Waylon Jennings. The list spans several generations and genres, placing electronic music alongside pop, hip-hop, rock and musical composition. It also places David Guetta among artists whose work has influenced how their respective genres are represented across the wider music industry.

For dance music, his inclusion has particular significance when considering how the industry presented DJs before David Guetta’s commercial rise. Producers often remained in the credits, while vocalists became the names most listeners associated with a track. David Guetta changed that relationship through collaborations where his name received equal prominence alongside globally recognised singers. This made the producer part of each release’s public identity and helped establish the DJ as a recording artist in his own right.

David Guetta’s Impact and Influence on Dance Music

David Guetta’s influence began long before electronic music became a regular presence on pop radio. His early career developed through the Paris club scene during the rise of house music in France. After establishing himself as a DJ, he focused more closely on production and released Just a Little More Love in 2002. His international profile increased throughout the decade before One Love marked a major turning point in 2009. When Love Takes Over with Kelly Rowland and Sexy Bitch with Akon paired house production with vocalists already known to mainstream audiences. Those releases also placed David Guetta’s name at the front of songs heard far beyond dance music.

That crossover reached a larger scale through Nothing but the Beat, which featured Sia, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida and Taio Cruz. Tracks including Titanium, Without You and Turn Me On succeeded across clubs, radio and international charts. They kept the producer central to each release instead of pushing him behind the featured vocalist. As EDM expanded during the early 2010s, more DJs received top billing and worked with major pop and hip-hop artists. David Guetta did not create that change alone, but the reach of his releases gave the model global visibility. His work showed that a producer could become one of the most recognisable names attached to a song.

His career continued to develop after that period through projects connected to different parts of electronic music. Jack Back gave David Guetta a separate outlet for house and club releases. His work with MORTEN introduced Future Rave, adding a darker direction to their festival music. More than a decade after his first crossover success, I’m Good (Blue) with Bebe Rexha returned him to the top of charts around the world. The track earned a Grammy Award nomination and later passed two billion streams on Spotify. Its success showed that David Guetta could still lead one of the world’s biggest dance-pop records years after the early-2010s EDM boom.

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The Growth of David Guetta’s Monolith Shows

The growth of David Guetta’s Monolith shows has carried that longevity into his live career. What began as a production concept for club settings later expanded into large stadium events centred on his catalogue. In June 2026, David Guetta played three consecutive sold-out Ultimate Monolith Show dates at the Stade de France. The run sold approximately 240,000 tickets across the three nights.

The production featured a 32-metre monolith structure and a 60-metre curved screen. This gave the show a scale far beyond his regular festival and Ibiza appearances. Early club records, global pop collaborations and newer releases all appeared across the stadium run, connecting the different phases of his career within one performance. For an artist who began in Paris clubs, selling out one of France’s largest venues for three nights showed how far his live career had progressed.

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What the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Means for David Guetta

The Hollywood Walk of Fame star recognises more than the commercial success of individual releases. David Guetta’s career also contributed to a wider change in how the music industry views DJs and producers. By placing his name alongside major vocalists and sustaining success across clubs, festivals, radio and international charts, he helped establish a career path that became increasingly common as dance music entered popular culture.

The recognition follows a period in which David Guetta has continued to expand both his musical output and live shows. His journey from Paris clubs to global collaborations, Jack Back, Future Rave and the stadium scale of Monolith shows why the honour comes at a fitting point in his career. The star will acknowledge his own history while also recognising the larger place dance music now holds within the recording industry.