DJ Treasure
March 2024
According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics at typical DJ can earn a median of $20.46 per hour. And there is no real work experience needed. This role is including radio announcers as part of the equation as well. The role of a DJ has the typical route of education through a Bachelor’s degree program in journalism, broadcasting, or communications. An internship is recommended or a role on the school radio or television station is helpful. Alternatively, BLS.gov include other types of DJ’s typically needing a high school diploma. An alternative DJ type would include the Turntablist.
When searched though Google.com there are 10 different types of DJs listed, Club, Producer, Company, Scratch DJ’s, Mobile, Turntablists, Dubstep, Radio, Bedroom and Genre. Pirate.com goes into deeper depth about the Turntablist DJ. According to Pirate.com the term was coined in 1995 by DJ Babu, citing the use of two turntables to create new music. But the term has taken on the meaning of several of the Google genre such as Scratch Dj’s and Mobile DJ’s. The DMC World DJ Competition is an example of how the term has evolved into a skillful niche within the DJ artform. The DMC sponsored by some of the most popular used equipment in the DJ industry Technics, Serato and Rane requires skill, creativity and collaboration using music as its tool. Winning the competition has propelled some of the most favored DJ’s ad driven them to new opportunities to launch their careers.
Arguably these DJ’s are rarely considered as the top DJ’s in the world. Where as the Producer and Controller type Dj which includes Mobile, Radio and Club Dj’s fall into the year to year top list of DJ’s in the industry insiders DJMag.com yearly Top100Djs listing.
Continuously DJ’s like David Guetta , Martin Garrix Afrojack, Calvin Harris and Steven Aoki are in the top listings. These producers/club/mobile DJ’s make appearances at festivals and headline shows. David Guetta’s appearance fee ranges from $999,999 to 1,499,00 according to Celebrity Talent International meanwhile Steve Aoki booking rate ranges from $150,000 - $290,000. The turntablist DJ does not garner nearly a quarter of the booking request fee as the Controller Dj’s.
In 2023 the DMC competition was won by DJ KSwizz from the Cook Island and he receives an unconfirmed $10,000 event fee, This leads to the argument of who are the most profitable and more well established DJs in the business. Is it the Turntablist with the skillset that Controllers do not have or is it the DJ’s who have a larger fanbase. Is turntablism just a niche that is slowly in its own demise or a genre that will grow from 2024 and beyond.
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