The most popular DJ in the world, Pete Tong has conquered each and every form of media and audio-visual mediums in existence. He’s created and played at thousands of live gigs across the world and is the host of BBC Radio 1’s ‘Essential Collection’ – the most groundbreaking and successful radio show of its kind and downloaded across the world more than any other. Ever. He spearheaded and remained a music executive at his own record label, FFRR Records (Salt ‘n Pepa, Brand New Heavies, Fine Young Cannibals, Orbital, Armand Van Helden, Carl Cox, DJ Icey, Jay Z, Sasha and so, so many more) and as a promoter, booked the Culture Club as one of his first acts at his own club before he turned 20. Before he rocked our eardrums, he ruled the written world as an editor at Blues and Soul Magazine.

Pete Tong is the man. He is the business. He is Lord of the Dance (real nickname). If anyone would need any more convincing, Pete Tong is such an icon he is part of the English vernacular with the phrase ‘It's all gone a bit Pete Tong’, where his name is used as cockney rhyming slang for ‘wrong’. It's All Gone Pete Tong is also the title of a 2004 film which portrays a fictional DJ's experiences as he realises he is becoming deaf – a film where Mr Tong briefly appears as himself, so indeed add movie star to this resume. And musical director – creating the soundtracks on films Human Traffic and The Beach.

This is a man who works within the mainstream but gets the thumbs up from the underground. Here’s why:

Pete's first DJ job was at a wedding. He was 15. After leaving school, he bought a Transit van and set up his own sound system. As you do. In 1979, Pete became a journalist for monthly magazine Blues & Soul. By the following year, he was features editor. Then he got his first break with Radio 1, presenting a regular 15 minute 'magazine' feature on dance music on Peter Powell's show. Pete's knowledge of the dance underground, coupled with his ear for a crossover hit, saw him appointed A&R manager at newly-founded independent label London Records in '83. While looking after the careers of pop acts like '80s girl group Bananarama, he continued to pursue his budding radio career. Pete accepted his own programme on Kent's newly-launched Invicta station in '84. Influenced by radio DJ heroes such as Robbie Vincent, Greg Edwards and Emperor Rosko, he hosted a soul show there for three years, before briefly returning to Radio London. Almost immediately, however, he was poached by Capital Radio, where his weekly dance programme became cult listening with London clubbers. In '88, in the wake of Acid House, Pete launched his own record label, FFRR, through London Records. His aim was to embrace the new wave of electronic music flooding into the country from cities such as Detroit and Chicago, and continue to promote his first love; black dance artists. Pete did both, simultaneously. FFRR's next releases were cut'n'paste production 'Bass (How Low Can You Go?)' by Simon Harris and Salt'n'Pepa's 'Push It', both cool club tracks which went on to storm the charts. They were followed by a stream of influential hits.

His ‘Essential Selection’ radio show every Friday evening instantly established itself as a welcome to the weekend for a new generation of young clubbers. Heavy on house, but with room for the best breaking techno, jungle, hip hop, funk and soul sounds from both Britain and around the world, it appealed to all tastes in contemporary merged the cutting-edge with the mainstream. Perhaps Pete's biggest contribution to British pop to date was his involvement in the reshaping of BBC Radio 1. After Pete's ideas were taken on board, the likes of Tim Westwood, Danny Rampling, Judge Jules, Carl Cox and, more recently, Fabio and Grooverider, started to appear on Radio 1's DJ roster. The station's daytime playlist began to reflect the extent of the impact of modern electronic music on British kids. The success of ‘Essential Selection’ spawned a series of compilation albums, released by FFRR, which to date have sold over a million copies.

He is a director of Wise Buddah, the production company which makes radio programmes and continues to work in A&R for London Records. His pop star credentials include A&R-ing Shakespeare Sister, played a big role in signing All Saints. Pete Tong hosted his own float at Radio 1's 'Love Parade' – “standing on my float with Jon Carter and Darren Emerson in front of 250,000 Radio 1 listeners was just the best feeling ever – a real moment in history", he recalled.

There is absolutely no other way to spend your first week of 2010. Set a standard. It’s Pete freakin’ Tong.