What is a DJ pool
What Is A DJ Pool/History of DJ Pools
A DJ record pool is also known as a music pool. It is a centralized and regionalized strategy of music distribution where record labels send disk jockeys (DJs) music to play during their performances in night clubs and events like festivals weddings or even the radio.
In most cases, the record labels will send the DJ’s new releases. The agreement is that the deejays will not only play and market the new music but they will also give feedback on every release.
The DJ pool is made up of many DJ’s who join the distribution movement for a monthly subscription fee. The DJ’s will also have the legal freedom to play the music in their various venues. A DJ pool could be a physical brick and mortar facility or it could be virtualized through the help of the internet and computer technology.
History of DJ Pools
DJing as a form of art started out during the early 1970s. Its purpose was to connect a listener to a music performance. The rise of its popularity increased the demand for records. However, the deejays did not have a legal, credible or specific channel to obtain new releases from record labels.
On the other hand, record labels had a hard time pointing up individual DJ’s and where they work so as to give them record releases. There was the issue of trust as well and as a result, they turned many deejays away. In 1974, David Mancuso, Paul Casella, and Steve D’Acquisto identified this problem and came in concert to create the first record pool in New York.
At first, it was a disaster. They held a meeting and brought together record label representatives and the DJs. The meeting ended up with yells and screams between the record companies and the disc jockeys.
Mancuso held a separate meeting with DJs at The Loft which was an invite-only meeting. He expressed the record pool intentions for fair distribution of music to all DJ’s. They came to a consensus and the first record pool was launched. Initially, it was a non-profit grass-root movement whose aim was to create an efficient platform for DJ’s and the music industry to exchange information.
The record pool was named the New York Record Pool. It was later disbanded after a few years because there were differences as to how the company should be operated. The record labels would send the record pool new releases and the record pool would, in turn, distributes them to its members.
DJ’s at the time had to fail a feedback sheet up the records they took. The feedback sheet collected the DJ’s personal reaction and the audience’s reaction to a particular release. The record pool would send these feedback sheets to the record labels and they would make necessary adjustments.
In the 1980s and 90s, the regional record pools peaked to 150 in total. However, this number dropped as the industry evolved from vinyl records to compact disks (CDs) and Digital formats of music.
Current Status of DJ pools
As the use of vinyl releases shrunk, the industry was using advanced music distribution technology. As a result, the record pools came to be known as music pools. These advances from Vinyl releases have transformed the pools both in nature and membership structures and practices.
As of 2017, roughly a dozen music pool organizations were still operating. They make a collective chart of the most popular music they have distributed. Almost all of the current existing music pools exclusively distribute music in digital formats to their members.
Some of the biggest record labels still use record pools today as one of their modern promotional channels. The number of DJs worldwide is huge and these record labels depend on music pools to reach them. Furthermore, DJs can rely on music pools to build their own careers. They will release their pieces into the music pool to get feedback on their individual work and gain exposure to the public.
The current music record pools have also evolved to become business entities. They gather in-house producers, editors and remixers to create music content. Later, they rely on their networks of DJs to release the music and gain feedback.
Some of these music pools have also ventured into news related to DJs and giving individuals advice and lessons on how to build a DJ career.
We also have platforms like afrobeat djpool that have concentrated on a niche. The platform is pure for afrobeat music.
Digital Download DJ Pools.
Most of us will confuse platforms like Juno, iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify and others as music record pools. However, these are actual stores and music platforms for individuals rather than operate exclusively for DJs.
The basic requirement to enlist on a digital download pool is that you will have to be a working DJ. You will also need to pay a monthly subscription fee. A digital download pool gives you access to an unlimited amount of music with no strings or further restrictions.
They also offer the latest releases which are very important to a DJ. you will want to have the new hits first. New releases also market yourself as people will refer to a song they heard at an event you played until they have access to it. Furthermore, the music these platforms give you is DJ-friendly. This means that they will have the quality close to that of CD music in formats like Apple Lossless files, 320 MP32s, 256M4As and more. The friendliness of the music will also make it easy for you to mix as there are quick to edit versions with intros and outros that are easy to mix and synchronize.
You need to invest time to research the best digital pool. Digital pools offer all kinds of music. You will find R&Bs, Dance, EDM, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Pop, Christian, Country and all the others including Jazz. There are digital music pools that focus on specific genres and there are those that offer collective genres.
Legal or illegal?
There are genres that have the paid license fee to operate, there are those that have not and there are those that fall in the grey area. Most illegal music pools have old music so be wary!
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