Spotify.
If your not on it already, why? If not, how do you listen to music? Physical media is dead and nearly gone. Files are a waste of time and storage-space, now that we have this thing called “the cloud”. Seen any iPods on sale lately? Then there’s radio…LOL! Thats enough said about that. We live in an on demand society. Spotify gives you the entire history of recorded music at a single click. Yes, pretty damn close to everything. What you want, when you want it. Disagree if you like, maybe you were waiting to get the message from 1990 on your pager?
So those of you ready to join the now. Go sign up here:
OK ok I’m talking about music streaming, so many of you may be on Apple Music . Cool I can dig it. But it's a bit of a “me too” product. Apple jumped on board late and is squarely sitting in the back seat. Spotify has a better interface. It’s easier to use which is pretty important. Sorry Apple, love you but you lost me me when I couldn’t tell if was on Apple Music or on the iTunes Store, never mind the bottomless layers of pages I got hopelessly lost in while trying to compile a playlist. But the real reason why Spotify shines:
Playlists.
Yes the plethora of playlist available for whatever your tastes. By genre, or mood or decade or charts or almost anything you can imagine. It’s amazing! You will never have nothing to listen to. If anything the possibilities are so endless it’s overwhelming! So much music, so little time! Seriously! LOL! But the most amazing of all also happens to be personalized just for you. Discover Weekly gives you a “weekly mixtape of fresh music” tailored to YOU specifically. No two peoples lists will ever be the same. Turns out that data, rules, and it knows you better than you know yourself. Then there's Release Radar, which picks from Fridays new releases. The artists, genres and styles YOU listen to. Again the data knows you better than you know yourself. New music you will actually WANT to hear delivered right and proper. It's so easy and brilliant.
OK what else? Yes theres more. For those of you thinking that you can’t afford the data. Don’t worry! You are able to save your music locally on your device. Ya so when you’re connected to wi-fi flip a switch and your music is now on your phone and ready for that long road trip, or flight or hike into the backcountry. So easy.
OK so now of course I want to talk about how this applies to the DJ world. For DJ’s and Producers. Streaming is about to become your world. Right now DJ’s, you are likely playing on CDJ’s from a USB or even from actual CD’s. (Vinyl purists I haven’t forgotten you, but thats a conversation for another time) That’s about to end and I’m making the call right now. I predict soon a new generation of CDJ’s with no CD deck (yes this already exists) and also no USB. Rather the deck will be equipped with hi-speed wi-fi and an interface to Spotify or Apple Music. Streamed directly to your CDJ, still with full functionality. (Laptop DJ's, I'm gonna say it. You have no place in a DJ booth, take it back to the bedroom, maybe do some coding) Now every DJ will have a music library that encompasses EVERYTHING! Confession: I don’t actually predict this. It already exists! Yup here is the APP:
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/djay-pro-2/id1302002064?mt=12
So all I’m waiting for is for the big gear brands to get in on the action. I’m talking to you Pioneer, Denon, you’re up! Yes, stop looking so horrified, this will be your future DJ deck. You will love it too! Oh and just as an aside, the Spotify DJ revolution will mean saying goodbye to Beatport (nothing is forever, except vinyl that is) Oh and as a final aside here, your headphones will also connect to your mixer wirelessly via bluetooth.
Now Producers. What does Spotify mean for you? So many musicians jump on the “poor me” bandwagon. Spotify, Apple, Youtube, and the whole lot of crooks don’t pay! We need CD’s and files to make a living! Sounds like you also need a Delorian at 88MPH to take you back to 1985! I’m sorry if I’m breaking it to you for the first time, but there is no money to be made in recorded music. Modern day fact. PERIOD. OK ok, unless your name is Ed Sheeran and your streaming plays have broken and surpassed the Billions long ago. Yes that's BILLIONS with a B. So really I’m talking to the rest of us, not the superstars. But rather the Indie label artists like me. The rest of us who are the needle in the haystack.
So for producers like me, recorded music is a promo tool. It is your business card so to speak. It creates your identity and connects you to the people. People who will hopefully becomes fans. Build a foundation of enough fans and then you can get gigs. Gigs is where you make your living. But if you think you can get the gigs to make a living without producing the music first, you’re probably still sending out your DJ sets on CD thinking that its gonna gain you that big break and get you playing in Ibiza! LOL!
So back to Spotify. As a producer you want to get your music exposed to as many people as possible. Where are all the people? Well at over 70 Million premium subscribers and growing, I’m going to go ahed and say they are on Spotify. Yes also Apple, Deezer, etc. The world is streaming. Think a future where like Facebook, over 2 Billion people will be streaming music. If you’re going to hold out and keep selling CD’s for $10 bucks a pop, I am laughing in your general direction.
Producers, the holy grail is to now to get your music onto playlists. Think what would happen when your track is set on a playlist with a million followers? Or down to Earth, even 10K followers. How many plays will that add up to? How many sets of ears, how many eyes, how many fans will you gain? Remember, build that fanbase and the gigs will come. Want to make music for a living, DJ around the world? Playlists my friend, playlists. Forget Billboard, forget Soundscan, especially forget radio. But get onto the Spotify Global Top 50, now thats what I call promotion! Start popping up in peoples Release Radar and Discover Weekly and thats a lot of eyes and ears. OK so you’re not commercial music, the Global top 50 is not in your cards, nor wanted. I get it. Yes that describes me too. But the same idea applies. Trust me you will be surprised by the number of high quality underground playlist there are. So get on them!
Well I think I’ve ranted for long enough here. I would just like to say that in now way am I sponsored, supported or payed by Spotify. I am just that much of a fan and enthusiast that I want to tell the world! When I was a kid I dreamed I could think of a song, just think it, and open my eyes and it would just play. That dream is now! When I was a young professional DJ in the early 90’s I wished I could pick and choose the tracks I wanted, a la carte. (Yes vinyl DJ’s I know its always been like this, I’m one of you. But as I said vinyl is another post for another time) I’d have them put the tracks I want on custom CD’s so I no longer had to waste money buying full albums for 1 track. The wish has come true!
Now is the golden age of music! Go enjoy it!
Comments always welcome.
Love always,
Earl Von Bye
PS: Find me on Spotify and enjoy some of the playlists I’ve compiled here:
https://open.spotify.com/user/3arlvonbye?si=5Xp86fgTQiS4RSKHahqpZA