Searching and Filtering
Basic: The basic search box allows entry of artist, title, year, or any other field associated with the tracks on the site. The DMS team has gone to great lengths to ensure every field in their database is correct and searchable.
Advanced: The advanced search lets you specify specific genres, remix/edit types, release decades, the BPM range, and initial sort field.
Sorting the lists: When you have a list of tracks in front of you either the default new releases or a set of search results you can sort by when the file was added, the year it was released, the artists, the title, the editor, or the BPM. You can also sort the entire catalogue by release decade from the 50s right up to today.
Score: 5/5 - The searching is powerful and intuitive.
Price
DMS has three price points and has the option for monthly or yearly billing:
Starter: 40 downloads per month for $29.95/mo or $269.95/yr (-25%). [1]
Semi-Pro: 80 downloads per month for $44.95 or $359.95/yr (-33%). [1]
Professional: Unlimited downloads for $64.95/mo or $449.95/yr (-43%)
[1] - Unused downloads will carry over from month to month providing your account stays active. If you cancel your account, you must use your downloads before your current month is up or the downloads are forfeited.
Compared to other pools the unlimited option is one of the more expensive subscriptions in the industry but for the amount of exclusive content and DJ Tools I believe it to be well worth the price for the target audience. Going for one of the limited options I would say the semi-pro level is the best value as most people can probably live within 80 downloads per month.
Score: 4/5 - For unlimited downloads this is the most expensive pool I have reviewed or seen but the price is well worth it for the content.
Conclusion
The exclusive edit model of DMS reminds me of the old days of FunkyMix, Ultimix, and so on where the tracks were mostly original but with DJ friendly intros/outros, acapellas, and such. Direct Music Service has brought that model into the present day with slick digital distribution.
Although other pools offer exclusive edits DMS definitely has the largest selection I’ve ever seen and the number of oldies is impressive.
If you’re looking for actual remixes like Dave Aude, Chuckie, DJ Cue, Jumpsmokers, etc or want the studio original releases then there are likely other pools that would serve you better but if you want DJ friendly versions of all of today’s must have music and an extensive collection of oldies going back to the 50s then this pool is definitely worth every penny.
Overall Score: 9/10
Would I Recommend It?: Yes, for commercial and open format club DJs or anyone who needs access to oldies and lightly edited tracks.
NOTE: As with most record pools Direct Music Service, DMS for short, is a record pool / music service for professional DJs only. By joining the site, you are stating you are a qualified professional disk jockey, producer or radio programmer in the music industry.