BT recently unveiled a lengthy rant aimed toward fellow artist, Porter Robinson. Talking via his Twitter, BT explained how 3 years ago his agent had tipped him off to check out the myspace of Porter Robinson and that he was blown away by his music. Feeling inspired, BT reached out to Porter Robinson and struck up a friendship with the budding talent and even began working on a few tracks with him.
BT then notes that before long, Porter became “Surrounded by a team of advisers” and it became harder to reach the rising star. Then, Porter decided that he could no longer finish the tracks they had been working on together and that he would be working on other tracks. This decision hurt BT considerably and he recalls on his own experience with Sasha and how he had helped bring him into the industry.
“And I vowed to do the same thing someday when I could and I have done it repeatedly.” BT stated. “It feels great to pay it forward and most importantly to remember that whatever you do, there has always been help to achieve it that deserves acknowledgement. That & especially in dance music.” 
BT then wraps the rant up with a message to young producers saying: “So much has come before you to make what you do possible. It deserves your acknowledgement and respect.”
Tiësto also chimed in agreeing with BT on the lack of loyalty shown by younger producers, but then deleted the original tweet. Porter Robinson has yet to respond but we will keep you updated as more information unfolds.
Below is BT’s rant in full, from start to end.
Today I’m going to tell a long story. Prepare for about 100 tweets (no but seriously) @porterrobinson you should begin reading at this one
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
So about 3 years ago my then agent asked me to check out a MySpace. It’s was @porterrobinson. I listened & was blown away. Actually inspired
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
So I contacted @porterrobinson & we began to strike up a friendship. Talked on the phone, talked to his parents, talked CSound, whatever.
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
Told everyone I knew about him. Started playing his music constantly on #LaptopSymphony. Told @siriusxm about him. Anyone that would listen.
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
And we began to plan to work on some music together. Notably Must Be the Love and Letting Go from my new album. As all of this was unfolding
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
People began to take notice of Porter. He got his first big remix for Lady Gaga and then @tiesto (finally listened) and took him on tour.
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
I was elated. This felt like a personal victory. I’d invested a tremendous amount of my social commodity into someone young and truly gifted
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
Before long Porter was more reclusive, harder to reach, surrounded by a team of advisers. It was just beginning to blow up for him.
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
Not only was I understanding of this (because I’ve walked it) but also excited for him. Anyway, quickly Porter seemed too cool to interact
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
The music we’d began Porter claimed he couldn’t finish because he didn’t have time or couldn’t get anything good going amongst other things
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
And this put a really bad taste in my mouth and I was personally affronted by this. It honestly hurt my feelings a considerable amount.
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
I’ve noted similar behavior in other young producers & it made me feel like the generation of guys coming up now are self focused & selfish
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
Here’s the thing. When I was coming up someone helped me a similar way @sashaofficial. He gave me an opportunity that can never be replayed
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
And I vowed to do the same thing someday when I could and I have done it repeatedly. It feels great to pay it forward and most importantly
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
To remember that whatever you do, there has always been help to achieve it that deserves acknowledgement. That & especially in dance music
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
(and listen up young producers) So much has come before you to make what you do possible. It deserves your acknowledgement and respect
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
I gave mine in my times of comeuppance and so should you all that walk that path.
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
So for my part, the sh**tty email I wrote you when you let me down (for all the aforementioned reasons) I’m sorry for.
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
Your a real talent @porterrobinson and I did then and do now want your music to be heard by everyone that will listen. It’s awesome.
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
Your a real talent @porterrobinson and I did then and do now want your music to be heard by everyone that will listen. It’s awesome.
— BT (@BT) May 13, 2013
-Nick Ward @NickWard20
Porter makes some of the best music dance music in a time when we need artists like him the most. I’ve got nothing against BT, but I’m pretty sure Porter would’ve been noticed regardless of who got him where he is now. Why did this rant come out three years later?
Well said Stephen Hicks.
I’m not surprised that tiesto deleted his tweet. he probably thought about it and realized he’s not exactly the best person to be chiming in the topic of loyalty.
You’re wrong. Why would BT even say something like this? The reason he said this OBVIOUSLY was because it was beginning to bother him. We don’t know if BT has been trying to reach out to Porter for the last few months and has been ignoring him. Porter hasn’t even replied to him on twitter after all these hours.
Brian Transeau is a class act. I don’t think Twitter was the appropriate outlet for this but perhaps if Porter has been avoiding contact BT felt he needed to get it off his chest, he is human after all. I have been following Porter on twitter for two years and he has noticeably matured. He seems sincere and is obviously talented.
I agree. BT has a valued point. EDM is not about fame and such, its about the art and love for the music. Makes me proud to be a BT fan.
The fact of the matter is, he’s calling out Porter for his lack of loyalty, which is really disrespectful. Had it not been for people like BT to have taken notice, Porter wouldn’t have a career to begin with. Porter is hot now, he does not have the career chops and longevity BT has, nor the resume. Tiesto no doubt deleted his comment cuz of the PR backlash that it would unleash, not to mention his twitter notifications going on fire the minute porter and his minions decided to reply. nothing against PR, but if BT is telling the truth he’s owed a very huge apology.
I’m guessing if the emails went ignored, this is the best realm to get an apology cuz at this point he HAS to respond eventually. but a pr rep is drafting that reply whether it’s an apology or otherwise.
Tiesto does whatever the fuck he wants, he isn’t ‘advised’. He wants his huge ass paycheck to last as long as possible, so in order to do that you have to play current styled music.
To the people who are “defending” Porter – how long have u been into dance music? Do you even know it’s roots? Pay respect to the originals who laid the foundation. Porter most certainly does not have the best dance music, he’s quite niche and generally only plays dubstep, d&b or trance. You’ll notice on his set’s, half of the music is NOT his so you may want to rethink what you think is the “best”. Obviously BT is hurt and hence he is ranting – why else would you people rant? How does this an act to grab money? Please elaborate. Porter’s hotness will only last so long while BT will remain a legend – every genre has it’s peak and people will remember & respect Tupac not Drake or The Beatles not F.U.N.
Tiesto also laid the foundation – so what he changed styles? Artists do that all the time. Tiesto is seriously loyal to his fans and not a narcissist like all these new and break through artists. Let’s not forget Tiesto worked hard to get where he is, just like most djs who started underground when EDM was not big.
Houston Cłeaver , well said man
Correction, Porter DID make good music. Everything after Say my name and his spitfire EP is absolute garbage. It’s the garbage that so many dj’s and producers have come out recently and shit all over. Diplo, Wolfgang Gartner, Daft Punk have all come out saying this swedish/dutch progressive house that has permeated the past few years is boring, overdone, and it just needs to end.
I’m sure a peaceful resolution will come out of this.
I’m sure a peaceful resolution will come out of this.
As far as I’m concerned Tiesto (along with Armin van Buuren) can do whatever the fuck he wants. He’s Tiesto.
rant
rant/
verb
1.
speak or shout at length in a wild, impassioned way.
“she was still ranting on about the unfairness of it all”
synonyms: fulminate, go on, hold forth, vociferate, sound off, spout, pontificate, bluster, declaim; More
noun
noun: rant;plural noun: rants
1.
a spell of ranting; a tirade.
“his rants against organized religion”
synonyms: tirade, diatribe, broadside; More
What part of what he wrote was ranting? Doubt if the author bothered to read the whole thing. According to the dictionary:
rant (rnt)
v. rant·ed, rant·ing, rants
v.intr.
To speak or write in an angry or violent manner; rave.
v.tr.
To utter or express with violence or extravagance: a dictator who ranted his vitriol onto a captive audience.
n.
1. Violent or extravagant speech or writing.
2. A speech or piece of writing that incites anger or violence
I’m not sure what part of his tweets constitute ranting. I read the whole thing above and I’ve gotta say, the tone is very calm and the content very well thought out and he even apologized for some email he sent. Overall a very positive bunch of words. The media these days are extremely irresponsible loves to sensationalize. Makes me wonder if the author even bothered to read the whole thing himself before gracing us with this article.
What part of what he wrote was ranting? I doubt if the author bothered to read the whole thing. According to the dictionary:
rant (rnt)
v. rant·ed, rant·ing, rants
v.intr.
To speak or write in an angry or violent manner; rave.
v.tr.
To utter or express with violence or extravagance: a dictator who ranted his vitriol onto a captive audience.
n.
1. Violent or extravagant speech or writing.
2. A speech or piece of writing that incites anger or violence.