Yikes! 2023 already? Holy smokes, dust off the decks. A new year of exciting developments awaits. Seriously tho, now is a good time to get into DJing. You’re not limited by actually collecting MP3 files. There’s an audience waiting for anyone who has a decent camera and free time in the evenings. Things are looking good! Here are three things to expect this year.
VR and virtual entertainment
VR concerts are here. In January 2023, the Calvin Harris Experience premiered on TikTok, streaming a dance music experience for Pico VR headsets backed by one of the biggest names in the industry. With the current state of live show visuals at the biggest music festivals, we’re already halfway there. It’s already normal seeing a single figure on a huge stage surrounded by mind-blowing visuals. Who wouldn’t want to experience that at home as a sort of electronic music MMORPG?
Fresh AI tools for DJs
Neural nets, machine learning and AI are quickly changing the way we produce and perform electronic music. Expect more sophisticated beat grid mapping, even more intelligent recommendations per song, automatic stem separation, unforeseen edits to song arrangements and more. Basically, expect the machine to do more of the heavy lifting so you can focus on the fun stuff!
The rise of home DJing
Livestreaming has taught us that at least some people want the DJ experience without the sweat and the crowds. The home DJ rig has been leveled up multiple times already, and we can expect the trend of high-end gear to continue to make its way into the homes (particularly camera and lighting rigs). Being a home DJ with a greenscreen, good lighting and a habit of engaging the audience is pretty much a career now.
Technology will continue to leap forward in 2023, but let’s not forget the humanity in the equation. There is no DJ without the people. The people are the heart of it all. As DJs, we tend to focus on gear. As the new year opens up, let’s not forget what it’s all for. There are a load of services offering DJ courses and DJ training, but ultimately it’s about the instructors themselves. Check out the quick promo vid for the How To DJ Masterclass by DJ TLM and consider signing up for a month.