( CNN ) -- `` DJs are the new rock stars , '' Simon Cowell recently declared when announcing that he -- along with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith -- will be developing a new reality competition to find the next great DJ talent . While the former `` American Idol '' and current `` X Factor '' judge is known for his provocative statements , he 's not usually wrong . And it looks like this time is no exception . One of the most anticipated races at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards this Sunday is among the dance/electronica artists , including chart-topping DJ and producer David Guetta ( Black Eyed Peas ' `` I Got ta Feeling '' ) , festival and stadium headliner Deadmau5 , and the year 's breakout star , Skrillex . Skrillex ( born Sonny Moore ) , the 24-year-old dubstep producer best known for his album `` Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites , '' is the first-ever DJ nominee in the best new artist category , where he 's up against Nicki Minaj , The Band Perry , Bon Iver and J. Cole . He scored a total of five Grammy nominations , more than the biggest pop acts like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry combined . `` I almost do n't even know what it means in terms of the big picture , '' he recently told MTV News . `` This whole year has been insane , and these are surprises beyond my wildest fantasies because we 've come a long f -- -ing way , man . People did n't believe in us and it 's pretty awesome just to get that acknowledgment . '' But Skrillex admits he 's not in it for the glory . `` If I did n't get ( these Grammy nominations ) , I would still do the same exact thing , '' the DJ said in a chat with Artisan News . If I were to win a Grammy , I just hope it opens doors to everyone else that 's amongst my peers and the people I 've grown up doing this with . '' Despite his newfound success , not everyone `` gets '' Skrillex . Reactions to his music range from generation-based bewilderment to genre purists ' outright hatred . `` A few hundred people might be b -- -- ing on a message board , but you can go to a festival and find 100,000 people dancing to my music , '' he said . `` No one gives a f -- k. '' In the best dance/electronica category , Skrillex 's `` Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites '' will compete against Deadmau5 ( born Joel Zimmerman ) and the house grooves of his `` 4x4=12 '' and Guetta 's `` Nothing But the Beat , '' which spawned ubiquitous club songs featuring Rihanna , Usher and Nicki Minaj among others . Rounding out the nominations is artist Robyn for `` Body talk , Pt . 3 . '' Those who follow the genre definitely have their thoughts . Doug Elfman from the Las Vegas Review-Journal put his chips down for Deadmau5 . `` Deadmau5 is , at this point , the big dog of DJ-producers , '' Elfman wrote . `` The guy makes phenomenal songs in the studio , and he sold out to capacity this year during DJ gigs at Encore Beach Club ( a fair set ) and at Body English at Hard Rock ( a terrific set ) . '' And , in another first for the genre : Guetta and Deadmau5 will be performing live in a special electronica/dance segment on the Grammys stage alongside Foo Fighters ( their single `` Rope '' was remixed by Deadmau5 ) and `` Nothing But the Beat '' collaborators Lil Wayne and Chris Brown . Guetta , the veteran of the of the new crop of rock star DJs , with countless radio hits and two past Grammy wins already under his belt said , `` I 'm very happy that not only me , but also the dance community and DJ culture is getting a lot of attention in America now finally . It 's wonderful . It 's becoming a big deal and I 'm happy about it . ''
One of the most anticipated races at the Grammys is among the dance / electronic artists . In a first for the night , Guetta and Beyoncé will be performing a special electronica / dance segment . Beyoncé : ` ` I ' m very happy that ... the dance community and pop culture is getting a lot of attention '' t .