deejay

A deejay (also spelled deejay, or DJ) is a person who selects and presents recorded music for an audience. Deejays typically perform in radio studios, nightclubs, festivals, and events, and may also broadcast online streams. The role centers on curation, pacing, and audience engagement, and can include live remixing or turntablism.

Origin and terminology: The term disc jockey originated in the early era of radio to describe someone who introduced and played records. The abbreviation DJ became the standard label for practitioners of the craft. The spelling deejay is an older variant that persists in some regions and historical references.

History and evolution: Early radio and club scenes emphasized record selection. In the 1960s and 1970s, DJs began mixing tracks for continuous playback. In the late 1970s and 1980s, turntablism and scratching emerged in hip-hop, expanding technical skills. The digital era brought software, digital files, and new performance formats, broadening how deejays work.

Techniques and roles: Core duties include selecting tracks to suit a mood or event, cueing tracks, beatmatching to align tempos, and performing transitions with blending or effects. Some deejays focus on turntablism, using vinyl or digital controllers to perform scratches and cuts. Others host radio shows or curate sets for streaming platforms.

Equipment and formats: Traditional setups use turntables, a mixer, and headphones, paired with speakers. Modern setups may include CDJs or digital controllers, laptops running DJ software, and external controllers. Music is stored on vinyl, CDs, or digital files with metadata to assist organization.

Licensing and industry context: Public performance rights and licensing for recorded music apply to deejays performing in venues or broadcasting online. Ethical considerations include attribution, original sampling permissions, and licensing requirements for remixes.

See also: turntablism, disc jockey.