Streaming services are kinda starting to eat the lunch of many would-be DJs. Spotify’s AI-powered DJ service will build a custom playlist and even talk about the metadata over the top of it. Sure, nobody wants a robot blabbing over their favorite song, but event organizers always want one thing: a cheaper option. Fully automated DJs now have a foothold in the industry. As a professional DJ, here’s how you can stay ahead of the game.
Embrace the changes
Artists, musicians, writers and now DJs have to make a choice. Stand their ground and compete with AI solutions, or start using them to take their production to the next level. The successful DJs of the future are those who are already learning to use streaming services to their advantage. The trick is to combine the power of AI search and recommendation with your knowledge of what makes a good party soundtrack. Don’t fight it, use it.
Take your DJ set ‘offroad’
Anyone and everyone with a laptop and an internet connection is soon going to be calling themselves a DJ. But you can tell the difference between a set of carefully selected tracks and a set of approved autoplay suggestions. As a DJ, you have the power to make songs popular, and not just pick popular songs. Hit the nearest DJ pool. Start rebuilding your set to prioritize rare cuts and edits, remixed versions and even originals. Basically, to stay ahead, you’ll need to build your reputation on playing those types of tracks which aren’t easily available on streaming services.
Look good while playing
Visuals, visuals, visuals. You have to look like a DJ and match people’s expectations of how DJs behave while playing. While on stage modern festival DJs are mostly figureheads for a spectacular light show. People haven’t needed a human being to play music since the invention of the wax cylinder. Allow more music selection to be handled by AI and get busy building that light show.
Make no mistake. Music streaming services are a total win for DJs. Very few artforms have evolved further from their roots than DJing, which always leaps along with new technology. Embrace it, but do avoid the temptation to be lazy. You still need to curate your set. You need to learn what types of tracks Spotify is gonna suggest so that you can decide how much to lean on them. Keep learning and growing. And hey, check out the free sample content in the DJ Courses Online catalog to see which one suits you best this month.