DJ’s and their Tracklists
Is it common for a DJ to not reveal their tracklists? I figure what makes us/you YOU, as a DJ, is your taste in music and your efforts in digging. I’d like to think that digging would help put you ahead of your game as it allows you to play out truly unique tracks and really slap the dance floor on the ass with some novelty.
not a DJ
you guys are DJ’s
What’s your take on this? Do you guys hide your tracklists?
Wrong, elitist, arrogant.
Unless it’s your song you have no right to not share it. Someone has put a lot of hardwork into that and who are you to deny them their credit. It’s not like (most) producers get rich from production.
Plenty of DJs will disagree though. That’s just my 2c.
I can see your point. But I think your reply is based upon present day attitudes towards accessibility of MP3’s etc?
There was a recent interview with Jamie Jones, he mentioned about managing to get hold of a white label pressing (many years ago) and knowing he was the only one of a few in the whole of the UK that possibly had a copy of this record.
For example it took myself about 3 months after hearing Marco Corolla play a track at Cocorico for his closing set (which had been doing the rounds with other DJ’s) I had long suspected it was a track by Mathew Jonson and lo and behold on it’s release it was Panacotta - Mathew Jonson.
With this example in mind this surely cannot harm the producer as the mystery and hype surrounding a track which is being played as a ‘white label’ must be a good thing to build hype/sales when it is eventually released?
Isn’t it the last mystique of the DJ to own certain secret tracks in this age of Youtube transparency?
Incidentally saying this there is a mysterious last track played at the end of Trentemoller’s (new wave??) new set on Boilerroom TV that as far as I know no one know’s who or what it is. Possibly a Trentemoller guitar band remix?
Maybe contradicting myself here, it cannot harm to ask if the track had been released e.g 8 months ago what the name is? Though maybe a whole playlist is a bit much.
Ah you kinda missed my point.
I agree 100% in regards to big name producers/touring DJs. Especially if it’s your song, your label etc.
My comment is in regards to me or you… smalltime club DJs, bedroom DJs etc etc. Basically people that got a song off Juno/Beatport/whatever.com and then refuse to share a name (or record cover as I used to do).
That’s wrong.
I always post the track listings of my sets, the problem is the person wanting the tracks doesn’t give credit to the person who showed them the track in the first place. The fact that you like something you’ve never heard before shows that certain DJs do dig deep to find dope tracks. So when someone shazams it instead of confronting the DJ after his set to ask what specific track that they played, it’s like they are trying to under-mind the DJ they came to see in the first place. It’s mostly respect that DJs seek, so don’t be afraid to try. Who knows… they might even give it to you for free. The best way to go about getting a track title from someone is to give them props. If they still wont tell you… looks like you are going to have to dig just as hard for yourself.
Wait so if you use Shazam your undermining the DJ?
You kind of prove my point, yes you dug but no it’s not your song. It’s not yours to take credit for, the only promotion MOST producers get is DJs. If you play there song and they get an extra sale/fan/ticket sold that’s fantastic for them…If no one else ever knows that they made that tune, you’ve successfully screwed them outta money.
I used to NEVER share my tracklists, but with shazam and stuff I just gave up caring. I figured if people wanna get the tracks and then spend thousands of hours and THOUSANDS of dollars $$$ practicing. Then hey they deserve it! So now i put tracklists on all my mixes.
In the days when i played vinyl and hunted for white labels I wanted people to come and ask what the track i was playing was called. Its kind of great for your ego as a dj knowing that youve introduced someone to a completely new track. and in a weird way its a way of boasting about how great your digging skills were!! There is no bigger compliment then someone coming and asking you about the tunes you are playing. Whats the point in being a DJ if you are going to hide all of your tunes?!
I will answer questions about songs I just played…but I tend not to hand out playlists. With Shazam & SoundHound & the like…it is trivial for anyone to get the song titles anyway. The reason I don’t share playlists is because they only “make sense” in the context where they are played. A playlist created live, and a mixtape are very different things.
I’m just trying to clarify the thought process of elitist DJs. What if it was their own song? Most big name DJs test their tracks on the dancefloor all the time but can’t release info due to label contracts or don’t have a name for the tack yet. If you can Shazam it, congratulations! It’s the DJs themselves who want to be unique and not have other DJs come in and play tracks that they play. I agree it’s greedy but what if someone downloaded all the tracks on your playlist and became an opening dj at the same club as you? I would feel much better knowing that I gave someone the info instead of feeling like they jacked my set.
Wasn’t there just a huge thread on this recently? This all sounds really familiar. Something about sharing your collection with someone else, but it was basically the same theme.
Sharing a collection of files is one thing. That’s piracy.
Giving someone the name of a tune you just played is another thing all together (that said I think there has been a thread like this relatively recently)
I agree with what Kooper said, in the vinyl days it used to be a HUGE compliment and ego boost when someone asked me the name of a tune, heck I’d write down as much info as possible if I had time such as where I got it, label etc.
I just don’t get the whole “someone will steal my identity” fears of some DJs.. You’re a DJ… Playing other peoples music. Make your own shit if you’re worried about that. Don’t try and take credit for shit you’ve done nothing except paid $1-2 and then pressed play on a deck. Yeah I’m simplifying it a little but I’m sure some people see my point.
The state of DJing today is very competitive. I have seen people stealing mixes on soundcloud and posting it as their own. Sad but true. Kids nowadays have it easy. If you are looking for a track, you will likely find it eventually. So why can’t you get off your lazy ass and look for it yourself? is what DJs think. Djs aren’t trying to take CREDIT for making the track, you should pay RESPECT the DJ because you would have never known it existed if it weren’t for them. You are not entitled to the info, you must gain respect yourself from the DJ if you want the track title from them. The moral of the story is RESPECT, if you have none then you get none in return.
That pretty much sums up my elitism idea.
In 11 years of DJing I’ve never refused to tell someone a track name…
If someone asks me for a track ID, i would gladly oblige. Every mix you upload should have a complete tracklist posted as well. Trainspotters are part of the job i’m afraid, as well as elitist mediocre dj’s.
True.
on another note…
I get GREAT satisfaction when I hear one of the tracks I am current killing being played by one of the heavy hitters.
This is just weird!!! The fact that the track has been released to the public means that ANYONE is entitled to the information. It public!!! Just because a certain DJ hasnt “found” the track doesnt mean they dont have a right to know that it exists!!! Especially in todays market where there is so much music available its very easy to overlook something!
Plus youve got the fact that when you listen to something on your PC it sounds completely different to something when played over a big system. Its easy to dismiss something as being lame until you hear it in a live environment!
Whats the point in music if it cant be shared? If I think a tune is awesome I want EVERYONE to experience it! spread the love!!
I’m by no way an elitist, I do share my entire track lists for my sets. I am just giving you some insight on how some DJs think about sharing music from my experience. Usually it’s ask and you shall receive, but there are some DJs who are very competitive and this is when you run into the problem with getting track info from them. I meant to say that they are not obligated to give you track info, it’s just not good practice to deny sharing good music with everyone.
Anyone care to comment on how it can give you an advantage by NOT sharing your songs? Novelty, I’d assume, would absolutely murder (in a good way of course) a crowd. I figure if you share said novelty it will no longer become novel and instead become an everyday song.
no problem with sharing tracklists at all. all my mixes have complete tracklists except for the occasional unrealsed stuff where the artist is asking not to provide the track id.