Behind The Sudden Surge Of DJs

The days of aux cords and playlists and song requests are behind us. Anyone can purchase a turntable and claim the title “the life of the party.” In short, it seems like every other person is a DJ.

With internet visibility at an all-time high, it's hard to know why someone pursues the career (or moonlight title) of a DJ. The internet’s role in the trend raises questions around the intention: Is this a passion? A desire to add an alias to one’s online identity? Whether it’s for pure enjoyment or the kick of seeing one’s name on a flier (or both), it’s hard not to wonder what social media’s role is in the growing knack for mixing at parties (and adding the title to a bio).

In today’s technological age, one can make money doing… almost anything. Popular streamers make a living while talking about miscellaneous topics from their basements while TikTok influencers make their income through cooking videos, only to become an ambassador of various brands. Making a comfortable income through media is anyone's game.

In the same breath, we’ve distanced ourselves from the traditional jobs that have certain requirements or prerequisites — the ones that force people to be more self-driven to achieve success. The flexibility and room for opportunity that we have today wasn't there when our parents were coming up. It's still new territory.

So, how does this relate to DJs? These musical acts are moving like masked crusaders — as DJ by night, but as an aspiring law attorney or tech start up employee by day. If we think about how it was done in the ‘90s and early aughts, the DJ was in a booth, tucked away to the side. You rarely saw them. Almost never knew them. It left people wondering, who is the master behind the music?

With the easy accessibility of today's more advanced technology, the internet as a whole has displayed how one can control a live set or crowd, and after all it is at the end of the day, one's creative expression. One of the best parts about this is that women are completely taking over the scene as we speak. The world of DJs was once a male-dominated space. The growing number of today's musical entertainment in the clubs, parties and events are female and non-binary DJs. While this group is still underrepresented, the democratization of the profession has encouraged more diverse participation.

The uprising of the trend evokes another question: Will having a surplus of the trend oversaturate the market? Is it already oversaturated? Probably, yes. There are already too many average or subpar DJs. It'll become much more difficult to seek out the good ones. Not everyone with an ability to make a playlist of music is good. But where is the market for the good DJs if there's an excess? Isn't the goal to turn this musical passion into a trade? While also being known for playing quality music?

I am fully onboard with anyone who can create the best environment with music. A few friends of mine are DJs. As long as the intention is right in a world that rewards an internet presence, I encourage anyone who can showcase the beauty of music while controlling the tempo of the environment.