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Are DJs Musicians?

Are DJs Musicians?

  • Yes, a DJ is a musician.

    Votes: 130 20.5%

  • Hell no, what qualifies a DJ to call him/herself a musician?

    Votes: 433 68.4%

  • Carrots...

    Votes: 70 11.1%
  • Total voters
    633
#721
SJan3 said:
I hear you but the OP's question was, "Are DJs musicians?"
I understand the advantages they may have. But they are a crop of people that are taking advantage of technology at the expense of the working musician. I've lived to watch and experience the transition. They are not musicians. They haven't learned how to play a musical instrument or studied as a vocalist. I can't place a DJ in the same catagory as a musician.
In my mind, there is nothing finer than live musicians.
As a player, I'd hope you feel the same.
Click to expand...
As a player I appreciate other players and what goes into becoming one. Having said that I also appreciate a DJ chopping sounds into tiny pieces to create something completely new. There is a direct comparison between those 2 people. What you call them is beside the point.

The other type of DJ, the one who just plays the records people want to hear, I wouldn't consider a musician at all. But s/he operates in venues where, to be frank, chops don't mean poopie. They provide an excuse for women to dance and men to try to buy them drinks. Technology was always going to take over that job. Of course, that little game will be played for the foreseeable future. Nothing to stop the underemployed musician grabbing their laptop and making a buck on the side with their knowledge of what the people want to hear.
 
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#722
SJan3 said:
I shared my feelings and you made it personal. I didn't refuse anything. I'm stating fact based upon my many years of working.
Don't you lay "fault" at my feet.
Learn how to have civil discourse or don't say anything at all.
And there wouldn't be a "new reality" if there wasn't change.
Click to expand...

You're not stating facts. DJ's aren't taking money from musicians. They are taking money from the people that hire them. Things change, and what people want change. They are providing a service that people want and are willing to pay for.
 
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#723
factory presets said:
As a player I appreciate other players and what goes into becoming one. Having said that I also appreciate a DJ chopping sounds into tiny pieces to create something completely new. There is a direct comparison between those 2 people. What you call them is beside the point.

The other type of DJ, the one who just plays the records people want to hear, I wouldn't consider a musician at all. But s/he operates in venues where, to be frank, chops don't mean poopie. They provide an excuse for women to dance and men to try to buy them drinks. Technology was always going to take over that job. Of course, that little game will be played for the foreseeable future. Nothing to stop the underemployed musician grabbing their laptop and making a buck on the side with their knowledge of what the people want to hear.
Click to expand...
You make a good point and I'm referring to the person who spins records on his own, not the person who is part of a live musical ensemble. There's a difference. Someone suggested that a DJ who is part of a band is similar to a rhythm section Player. I get that. But, that person isn't taking your gig.
 
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#724
Frank Tuesday said:
You're not stating facts. DJ's aren't taking money from musicians. They are taking money from the people that hire them. Things change, and what people want change. They are providing a service that people want and are willing to pay for.
Click to expand...
Ya know, you're talking like a business person, not like a musician. Are you a bass player; a musician? I refer you back to the OPs question. "IS A DJ A MUSICIAN"? My answer is no.
You my feel differently and that's fine but don't question my ability to adapt to the new reality.
Just answer the question for yourself.
 
#725
SJan3 said:
You make a good point and I'm referring to the person who spins records on his own, not the person who is part of a live musical ensemble. There's a difference. Someone suggested that a DJ who is part of a band is similar to a rhythm section Player. I get that. But, that person isn't taking your gig.
Click to expand...
I'm not saying it's anyone's fault. But most of this thread need never have been written if everyone acknowledged the different types of DJ from the get go. Apart from that it's been a good conversation with interesting points raised on both sides.
 
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#726
SJan3 said:
I hear you but the OP's question was, "Are DJs musicians?"
I understand the advantages they may have. But they are a crop of people that are taking advantage of technology at the expense of the working musician. I've lived to watch and experience the transition. They are not musicians. They haven't learned how to play a musical instrument or studied as a vocalist. I can't place a DJ in the same catagory as a musician.
In my mind, there is nothing finer than live musicians.
As a player, I'd hope you feel the same.
Click to expand...
How do you know that DJ hasent learned what you deem an instrument? I DJ'd for ten years. This was after recording two albums and performing at least a few hundred gigs playing bass.
I can't speak on the new laptop era DJs, but when I was spinning vinyl, there's was definately musicianship going on there.
I learned so much about music from other DJs in those years that have helped make me the better musician I am today.
 
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#728
ruju said:
How do you know that DJ hasent learned what you deem an instrument? I DJ'd for ten years. This was after recording two albums and performing at least a few hundred gigs playing bass.
I can't speak on the new laptop era DJs, but when I was spinning vinyl, there's was definately musicianship going on there.
I learned so much about music from other DJs in those years that have helped make me the better musician I am today.
Click to expand...
Right. So, you're a bass player, a musician who learned something from DJs. You received an education that made you a better musician. That's fine. I've acknowledged that a DJ in a live ensemble may be considered part of the rhythm section. I'm talking about the person who takes your gig. Why don't you ask any credible music school if they teach DJing. I'd like to hear that answer.
 
#729
SJan3 said:
Great point. I should have made that clear, myself.
Click to expand...
In truth I just assume which DJs people are talking about. The fact I keep coming back through all the redundancy probably says it all.

I'm not invested in the future of scratching. But I like that a new type of music has emerged. I always loved crossover genres. But we're talking radical departure, here. I get that some resist that. And I sure don't think that makes them racist. In fact, as a serial early adopter, I've seen so much music go from pariah status to widely revered over a couple of decades. Fully expect to see it with hip hop and dance as well. Might take a bit longer is all.
 
#731
SJan3 said:
Why don't you ask any credible music school if they teach DJing. I'd like to hear that answer.
Click to expand...

[This invalid link has been removed]

This course allows students to focus on long form mixing of songs. Students apply mixing techniques including equalization, volume fades, and cuts and effects to create smooth and ear-pleasing transitions between songs. They also learn how to listen critically to different songs to identify structure and create dynamic playlists based on style, sound, or key. This class will help students as they prepare to play DJ sets for small club sets to festival stages.
Click to expand...
 
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#737
I got into this discussion with some people over at KVR a while back

It was brought to my attention that any body that created pitch and rhythm together should be considered a musician, which from a technical aspect, a DJ could do.
But then the conversation turned to what is a quantifies a musician. And that whole can of worms took the conversation down the proverbial rabbit whole with income expectations.

My opinion hasn't changed over the years however

Hell no, what qualifies a DJ to call him/herself a musician?
 
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#739
ruju said:
Sorry to break it to you, but being a professional musician does take a keen business sense. I mean, if you want to be professional. Otherwise you're an amateur musician.
The two go hand in hand
Click to expand...
You're not breaking anything to me. I don't think you know who you're talking to. No, being a real musician has absolutely nothing to do with being a businessman unless you want to measure success by income. There are many talented players out there that could give a rat's ass about how much money they're earning. An artist is true to their work regardless of public opinion.
Now, if you measure success by $$$, you've missed the point of art. There are so many people on the national stage that wouldn't be there a few decades ago because they wouldn't have had the aid of technology to make someone very average sound great. That's the business world molding a product to make it saleable. That's not my idea of art.
Say anything else and expose yourself as part of the problem.
Do you want to be a product or do you want to make music? There's a difference.
 
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