• AI Pop Stars On The Rise

• The Daft Punk / Fortnite Experience

• YouTube Doubles Down

• Pioneer CDJ 3000 Goes VR

• DJ Playlist Hacks

AI Pop Stars Are Snatching Record Deals

What’s New:

Move over Dua Lipa—there’s a new singer in town, except… she doesn’t actually exist. A computer-generated artist with a silky voice and flawless looks just inked a multi-million-dollar record deal, outpacing flesh-and-blood talent still grinding it out in open mics and TikTok lives.

Xania Monet, complete with a perfectly engineered face and voice, is being marketed like the next big global R&B act. Labels are betting that “artists” who never miss a rehearsal, never cancel a tour, and never age are the safest investment.

Why It Matters for DJs & Creators:

• Competition Just Got Weird: Human DJs are already fighting with AI for crates, playlists, and content. Now, AI singers are coming for stage time too.

• Collab Potential: On the flip side, this tech means DJs could “feature” an AI vocalist on a track without ever booking a studio session.

• Fan Engagement Shift: If labels are banking on avatars, the live music experience might become less about the sweaty club and more about streaming a perfectly choreographed AI act.

• Brand Partnerships: AI artists won’t flinch at corporate tie-ins, which means even tighter control of image and revenue.

The Big Picture:

The music industry has always chased what’s profitable. If AI singers prove cheaper, more reliable, and endlessly marketable, expect a wave of “perfect” performers hitting the charts. Whether fans will embrace or reject them long-term? That’s the billion-dollar question.

DJ Takeaway:

Don’t panic. What makes DJs valuable is human curation, energy, and presence—the one thing AI can’t fully fake on a dance floor. But smart DJs should be thinking about how to leverage this tech for collabs, remixes, and branding instead of ignoring it.

In last week’s poll we asked “Would you stream your DJ sets on LFG.TV if it meant no takedowns and built-in monetization?” and 64% responded Yes – finally, a platform made for DJs

Are Your Hot Cues a Mess? DJ Hapa’s Hot Cue Hacks Will Change Your Whole Flow

Most DJs treat Hot Cues like bookmarks… but what if they were a system?

Tuesday night, DJ Hapa is going live to show off his unique Hot Cue Hacks — a game-changing approach to cue points that helps you instantly see:

🟢 Where your 8-bar and 16-bar intros start

🟡 The exact exit point for any song

🔴 When to loop, cut, or bail — without guessing

Whether you're playing weddings, clubs, or creating routines — this system gives you visual, musical precision that saves time and makes your sets hit harder.

🎥 Live on Twitch + cratehackathon.com

🗓️ Tuesday, 8PM ET / 5PM PT

Daft Punk Drops Into Fortnite

What’s New:

Epic Games is keeping its foot on the gas when it comes to music crossovers. The latest? Daft Punk is officially coming to Fortnite, with a special in-game experience celebrating the duo’s legacy. Players will be able to access Daft Punk–themed skins, emotes, and even music-related gameplay tied to their catalog.

Why It Matters for DJs & Creators:

• Music meets gaming: Fortnite has been one of the biggest virtual stages for artists, and Daft Punk’s inclusion reinforces how iconic acts can keep their influence alive in new, interactive spaces.

• New audience pipeline: For DJs, it’s another reminder that younger audiences are discovering music through gaming, not just Spotify playlists.

• Virtual performance trend: After Travis Scott, Ariana Grande, and others, Daft Punk’s integration keeps virtual concerts and collabs at the forefront.

• Cultural nostalgia: Even post-breakup, Daft Punk’s brand and music still command enough cultural power to headline Fortnite—a sign of how lasting their influence is.

The Big Picture:

Gaming is no longer a side hustle for music. It’s a main stage. With Fortnite serving as a hybrid concert hall, music venue, and merch shop, DJs and producers should see these integrations as test runs for where performance and branding could head in the metaverse.

DJ Takeaway:

Don’t underestimate the crossover. Whether it’s Daft Punk skins in Fortnite or Marshmello’s in-game show, gaming platforms are shaping how the next generation experiences music. DJs who understand this bridge early will be better positioned for brand partnerships, fan growth, and virtual gigs.

YouTube Levels Up With AI Tools for Creators

What’s New:

At the Made on YouTube event, YouTube rolled out a batch of new features aimed at making content creation smoother, smarter, and way more AI-powered. Highlights include:

• GenAI Assistants: New AI tools inside YouTube Studio that help creators brainstorm titles, descriptions, and even content outlines based on your video.

• AI-Powered Editing: Smart editing suggestions to trim dead space, highlight key moments, or auto-generate shorts from long-form videos.

• Upgraded Live Streaming: Streamers now get improved backstage controls, better moderation tools, and smarter analytics to optimize audience engagement in real time.

• Music Match: Integration with AI-driven music search to help creators instantly find tracks that fit the mood, energy, and pacing of their video.

• Expanded Monetization: New ad formats and shopping integrations built directly into Shorts and live streams.

Why It Matters for DJs & Creators:

• Set Prepping Made Easy: Imagine uploading a set recap and having AI generate cut-down reels with captions in seconds.

• Less Admin, More Mixing: No more wasting hours tweaking descriptions—let AI do the busywork while you focus on gigs.

• Live Stream Boost: DJs streaming on YouTube get stronger audience engagement tools that could rival Twitch.

• Music Integration: Better audio search means faster pairing of visuals and tracks without leaving the platform.

The Big Picture:

YouTube isn’t just trying to keep creators—it’s trying to become the all-in-one creative studio. For DJs, that means fewer external tools, more direct monetization, and AI assistance that could rival what TikTok and Meta are already testing.

DJ Takeaway:

If you’re a DJ putting mixes, tutorials, or livestreams on YouTube, these updates are a signal to double down. The platform is actively building for creators who want scale, smarter workflows, and direct revenue streams.

Pioneer Gear Goes Virtual with Tribe XR

What’s New:

AlphaTheta (Pioneer DJ’s parent company) just dropped a collab with Tribe XR that lets you step into virtual reality and actually spin on flagship gear—the CDJ-3000X and DJM-A9—without needing the four-figure hardware sitting in your bedroom. In VR, you get a full 3D replica of the setup, knobs, jog wheels, mixer—the works—mapped to your controllers so you can practice, perform, or just flex in front of your virtual crowd.

Why It Matters for DJs:

• Accessibility: Instead of dropping $6K+ on decks and a mixer, you can train in VR with the exact same workflow.

• Education & Practice: Perfect for DJs who want to learn the Pioneer ecosystem before stepping into a real booth.

• Performance Flexibility: You can livestream or record your VR sets, giving you more ways to create content without needing the physical gear.

• Community: Tribe XR already has a global base of DJs and learners—you’re not just practicing, you’re joining a network.

The Big Picture:

This is part of a bigger trend: professional gear makers realizing VR isn’t just for gamers. For DJs, it’s another sign the lines between physical and digital setups are blurring. You can literally “walk into” a CDJ setup and get hands-on without breaking your bank account—or your back hauling gear to the gig.

DJ Takeaway:

If you’ve been curious about Pioneer’s flagship club setup but couldn’t justify the cost, Tribe XR just gave you a reason to throw on a headset. Whether it becomes a true performance tool or just a learning bridge, VR DJing just got a massive credibility boost.

Playlists aren’t just about throwing songs together—they’re about strategy. In this video, Aaron breaks down 2026’s hottest hacks: tagging tracks by energy and vibe, letting AI do the heavy lifting, and streamlining your crates for any gig (wedding, club, or festival). Smarter crates = smoother sets. Discover how genre walls collapse, why the underground returns, and how metadata + smart crates will guide you in 2026. Join the Hackers and unlock your 7-day free trial to get the ultimate DJ edge
https://www.cratehackers.com/7daytrial