The Future of DJing: Insights and Predictions from Rob Wegner

by Rob Wegner

May 2023

To an outsider, being a DJ may seem as simple as playing the right songs and music at the right time. However, industry professionals like Rob Wegner prove that it's much more than that. As a profession, DJing requires up-to-date knowledge of industry trends to keep up with the latest developments and technologies. As times change, DJs must evolve as well. For example, CD turntables and the Final Scratch were once trendy in clubs and events. Now, we've moved on to file sharing, digital media, and newer equipment and technologies for making music.

In this context, it's important to explore some insights and predictions to understand the future of DJing.

Equipment

The DJ Equipment market itself is a diverse and vast sector contributing to economic development, and according to a report, it’s projected to grow each year by 10.9% from 2023 until 2030. Plus, it’s expected to hit a multi-million mark by 2030. This growth is due to the increasing number of music enthusiasts, producers, and DJs entering the music industry and looking for affordable and high-quality equipment to help them stand out. The product range includes headphones, music software, CD players, audio mixers, and turntables, and with increased availability and technological advancements, the market should keep thriving for many years to come.

AI

Spotify is a perfect example of AI technology in music, with its AI DJ feature that allows the app to create personalized music picks with spoken commentary in a realistic, AI-generated voice. The DJ knows the user to play whatever the user wants to hear at one press of a button. Today, the company is exploring other ways to use the technology.

Sensors

Many industries are already using facial recognition sensors, but bringing them to the club and into the dance floor could help DJs know who’s dancing and what music people want to hear.

Auto-mixing

Most DJ software can decently mix tunes automatically, but the technology is still far from being capable of replacing a live DJ. Until then, DJs will still be in high demand with their flexibility, greater knowledge, and intuition on what to play and when. Plus, DJs are still seen as music artists who can rapidly respond to changes in their surroundings and empathize with human emotion, allowing them to adapt quickly to the needs of their audience.