DJ vs Producer? Are you struggling to figure out which one is best suited for you?
I can’t remember the last time a new DJ exploded onto the electronic music scene without first having had success with a big track. Years ago simply being a technically skilled and talented DJ would have given you that break into the big time many of us wish for.
The art of DJing is now much more accessible than ever before thanks to the significant progress that has been made in DJ technologies. However, it does seem that anyone wishing to make a name for themselves on the global stage must have a string of successful productions in their toolbox!
On the other side of the coin, let’s think about the dedicated music producer. Producers are a unique type of people with many not wanting to be spinning at nightclubs and venues. They are comfortable inside the surroundings of their studio and simply want to make great tracks tunes that DJs drop and the music lovers buzz too.
But are we in an age when individuals with a fabulous talent for Djing or creating beats can no longer succeed against their DJ/producer counterparts?
Do successful artists really need to be a jack of all music trades to succeed in today’s dance music industry?
DJ vs Producer: How Did We Get Here?
To start with, whilst there has been a huge surge in the number of people taking on both disciplines there have also been plenty of artists throughout the ages who have had massive success in each individual area just because they’re bloody good at both.
There are so many DJ examples throughout dance music’s history. From the Techno pioneer of Carl Cox through to the modern-day wacky genius of Deadmau5.
But there is a noticeable trend, most DJs, like the two we mention above, do ultimately end up having success within the studio environment.
So what’s really changed?
Firstly, DJing has evolved massively. Advances in DJ technology have made the art of Djing a much easier skill to master and access.
DJ controllers, laptops, CDJs, and a huge surge in online courses have all contributed to a big rise in the number of DJs knocking around on the circuit. More DJs mean much more competition.
Secondly, the move from vinyl into digital formats has significantly lowered the cost of acquiring music. Gone are the times when a DJ went record shopping with fifty pounds and came back with just a handful of vinyl records.
So rather than having to spend £5-£10 on the latest track, they can be downloaded on their computer in seconds at a cost of pence rather than pounds.
DJs also have access to DJ pools and streaming subscription services such as Beatport LINK. These are incredibly useful and multi-genre platforms where a DJ can pay a monthly subscription fee and have access to vast libraries of electronic music that they simply stream directly into their DJ software.
Combining these factors with the improved DJ gear on offer means that Djing itself is cheaper and easier to pursue than ever before.
Finally, the unstoppable rise of social media has blown open accessibility to industry-wide networking.
No longer is it necessary to create a mixtape and hit the clubs to try and get the right people to listen to it. That’s long gone now.
A DJ simply has to upload their latest DJ set onto a platform such as Soundcloud or Mixcloud. These platforms have a combined membership of hundreds of millions allowing you to reach more people than ever before, all from the comfort of your home studio (or bedroom!).
Producer vs DJ: Is it a Good Time to Do Both?
With so much competition, the biggest problem an up-and-coming DJ faces these days is standing out amongst all of the competition. Whilst the superstar DJs, of which there are only a few dominant ones in some genres, can steam ahead. They will continue to be popular with bookers and promoters for as long as they continue to fill venues – bums on seats – and make vast amounts of money for everyone involved.
Lower-level DJs may struggle against this and find it harder to get regular paid gigs amongst the huge numbers of others trying to boost their DJ careers.
So what does this mean?
In short, it has meant that DJs have had to look for new methods to make themselves an attractive proposition to event promoters. This has led to more and more DJs getting involved with music production, label management, and event promotion. It’s kind of a logical progression.
This inflation in DJs and producer numbers in recent times has led to the dance music scene is a mixture of DJs who aren’t too hot at music production and producers who aren’t great at DJing.
This is all in a bid to succeed against the masses. Sadly, this then has the knock-on effect of talent being buried amongst a mountain of DJ and producer mediocrity. It can then become a bit of an industry catfight, things get messy and it’s then “all about who you know.”
If you are just starting out, you MUST focus your energy on one discipline at a time. It is better to be a master DJ or Producer than Mr. Average at both. Concentrate on one. Master the skills practice, practice and, guess what, more practice.
Those skills will definitely be useful when you transition over to the other discipline of your choice.
Becoming an outstanding DJ or producer. That will also make it far easier for you to understand the technical complexities behind creating beats and blending mixes. One skill set will naturally lead to another.
Don’t forget that these are two completely separate skills and some people are more suited to DJing, whilst others may be more suited to production. Everyone has their own degrees of passion and creativity and this will ultimately play a major role in your eventual success and the musical direction you go in.
Bear in mind, that there will always be opportunities and quality will always shine through but you must assist talent with consistency and focus.
If you produce great tracks, they will eventually be heard by the labels of your dream and if you are making your way as a sick DJ, you’ll soon be picked up by event promoters who can help you to reach the next stage in your career.
Collaborating
It’s no coincidence that there are countless numbers of duos, trios, and other types of ‘collabs’ across the entire electronic dance industry. This has been commonplace for decades
Artists collaborate together in order to benefit from each other’s musical preferences, sounds, skills, and abilities.
It’s a fantastic method to save you from having to learn new skills that don’t really interest you whilst still allowing you to reap the rewards from music production notoriety and DJ bookings.
DJ vs Producer (or Both?): Takeaway
It all boils down to this when it comes to the DJ vs Producer debate. Ultimately, the chicken wouldn’t be here without the egg and the egg would never exist without the chicken. Our takeaway piece of advice would be not to spread yourself too thin and dial in one discipline in detail. Become a master of one and the other skill set will follow naturally. Simples.
