• The Music Industry Makes Friends With AI

• Spotify + djay = Rekindled Romance

• Smarter Music Discovery with Spotify

• How To Make a Fast DJ Playlist with Aaron

• The Top Apps That Teens Use (and why you need to know)

• Aaron's Wedding Gold Cheat Codes

Why the Music Industry Is Finally Embracing AI — And What That Means for DJs in 2026

The music business just did a full 180 — from suing AI‑music upstarts to signing deals and embracing AI‑generated tracks. The shift is real, and whether you’re excited or skeptical, this could reshape how music gets made, discovered, and booked. 

What’s Changing

• A song generated by AI recently topped the charts — the first time a non‑human “artist” hit that high. 

• Major labels that once threatened lawsuits are now partnering with AI platforms, turning adversaries into collaborators. 

• Streaming services and aggregators are forced to update their rules: expect stricter policies on AI impersonation, but also new licensed‑AI releases. 

Why It Matters for DJs & Creators Right Now

• More music, faster — AI means you could discover brand‑new tracks or generate usable stems without waiting on traditional releases.

• Crate diversity explodes — AI‑songs + traditional tracks = endless possibilities for mashups, edits, or unique open‑format sets.

• New licensing & royalty models — with AI legit‑ified, there may be new paths to share revenue or earn from AI‑created music, but also new rules to follow.

• Content vs. noise becomes real — if anyone can churn out “songs,” then quality and originality become the real value. Your vibe and taste become the edge.

Things to Watch—Because It’s Not All Glitter

• Not all artists are on board — many worry about originality, creative rights, and the flood of low‑quality AI tracks diluting the industry. 

• AI‑generated hits may saturate streaming platforms quickly, making it harder for human creators to stand out.

• The landscape is shifting fast — licensing, royalties, and IP laws are still catching up. If you use AI‑tracks in gigs or streams, stay sharp on rights and attributions.

What We Recommend DJs Do Now

• Explore AI tools as creative assistants, not replacements — use them for stems, edits, remixes, and inspiration.

• Test AI‑created tracks with live crowds — see what lands and what bombs. Use that feedback to inform what stays in your crate.

• Always treat AI content like new inventory: tag it, catalogue it, and track plays/feedback so you know what works.

• Stay informed — as labels and platforms negotiate the rules, being early and aware could give you a competitive edge.

AI music isn’t the apocalypse — it’s a remix of the whole game. For DJs willing to adapt, it’s a chance to dig deeper, move faster, and own more crates. For those who don’t, expect to get lost in the shuffle.

In last weeks poll we asked “Which of these new VirtualDJ 2026 features would actually get you to try it?” 53% responded “One-click acapella FX”

Earl Newell aka DJ FOUR 5 joins Crate Hackers for a Wedding Classics Hackathon

What do you do when your client says no Rap and No EDM? You rock the party like Earl did. We will be hacking this banger crate and finding wedding classics that will always work.
🎥 Live on Twitch + cratehackathon.com

🗓️ Tuesday, 8PM ET / 5PM PT

Spotify Finally Reconnects With DJ Apps—Kind Of.

What’s New

• Algoriddim djay just became the first DJ app to tap into Spotify’s official “DJ Mode,” giving you curated mixes and beatmatched transitions powered by Spotify’s AI.

• Available now on iPhone and iPad, this partnership doesn’t mean full crate access like in the old Spotify‑djay days—but it does mean smoother transitions and curated sets built into Spotify’s own playlist system.

Why It Matters for DJs

• For mobile DJs & content creators, this makes streaming DJing more accessible—especially for quick, casual gigs, workouts, or on-the-go ideas.

• While it’s not a replacement for traditional DJ pools or owning your library, it’s a sign Spotify is warming back up to the DJ world after years of pulling back access.

• Think of it as an “AI warm-up set”—a way to lean into curated energy before taking over manually.

What To Know

• DJ Mode is only available on premium Spotify accounts, and right now, this is limited to Algoriddim djay on iOS.

• You can’t customize crates or dig deep with filters, BPM sorting, cue points, etc.—it’s still very much Spotify’s sandbox.

• But: it’s a win for the streaming‑meets‑DJing movement and possibly a sign of more integrations to come.

Stay tuned—if Spotify opens this up further, it could mean a whole new wave of hybrid DJ workflows. For now, grab your iPad, fire up djay, and test the vibe before the dance floor opens.

Spotify’s ‘Prompted Playlists’ Lets You Finally Tell the Algorithm What You Actually Want to Hear

Spotify is taking a huge leap in how playlists are created with a new feature called Prompted Playlists — basically letting you guide the algorithm with written prompts instead of hoping its AI guesses right. The beta is rolling out to Premium users in New Zealand first, but the idea could shape music discovery everywhere soon. 

What’s New

• Write out exactly what you want — from a vibe, activity, era, mood, or energy level — and Spotify builds a playlist around your instructions. 

• It pulls from your entire listening history, not just recent plays, so the playlist reflects your full taste arc. 

• Want it to update on its own? You can allow daily or weekly refreshes based on the same prompt. 

• Spotify even provides descriptions and context for why it chose each track — like a mini curator note attached to every song. 

Why It Matters for DJs & Creators

• This gives you a creative lever for discovery instead of hoping a generic “Discover Weekly” lands fire tracks.

• Think of this as an on‑demand crate dig assistant — describe what you need, like “deep house edits for secret set,” and Spotify builds it.

• If you’re prepping sets or creating curated content, this takes AI DJ tools from generic to strategically intelligent.

What to Know

• Right now, Prompted Playlists is beta only and limited to selected regions. 

• It requires a Premium account. 

• It’s part of a broader shift where Spotify empowers listeners to shape rather than just consume algorithmic discovery — a trend DJs should be watching closely as personalized listening tools evolve. 

When time’s ticking and the crowd’s already forming, you need a playlist now.

This video breaks down a real-time DJ rescue mission using Crate Hackers and Spotify. Watch how last-minute playlist chaos turns into a streamlined setlist using Crate Miner to pull actual Spotify playlists, sort for mixability, and prep for any DJ software — whether you’re spinning MP3s or streaming. It’s a stress-tested workflow built for DJs who need results fast and want to walk into gigs ready, even when life throws curveballs.

YouTube, TikTok & Instagram Still Rule Teen Screens (and What That Means for Creators)

Despite the ever‑changing social app landscape, teens aren’t abandoning the classics. According to recent data, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram remain the most used apps among teens, with TikTok users reporting heavy, almost constant engagement. 

What’s Up With Teen Social Use

• YouTube still leads — it sees the most consistent teen engagement, driven by both long‑form and short‑form video. 

• TikTok’s algorithm keeps teens glued — about 21% of teens use it “almost constantly,” showing the power of personalized, trend‑driven feeds. 

• Instagram holds strong as a social staple, especially for discovery, Reels, and creator engagement. 

Why It Matters for DJs & Creators

Even if your core audience isn’t teens, the platforms teens dominate often set broader cultural and discovery trends:

• TikTok shapes music discovery. Viral clips frequently drive streaming spikes and club demand.

• YouTube remains a destination for both discovery and deeper engagement — think tutorial clips, livestream recaps, and mix archives.

• Instagram still influences brand identity with Stories, Reels, and behind‑the‑scenes content.

If you want your promo and content to live where culture breathes, this trio is where the eyeballs (and ears) are. 

Worth Noting

• These trends may influence what songs “blow up” first — giving DJs a peek at pre‑break hits.

• Heavy teen usage can impact algorithm signals; engage where they are to boost virality.

• Always tailor content style per platform — the hook that works on TikTok may not land on YouTube.

No hip-hop. No EDM. No trap drops, Jersey remixes, or confetti cannons. Just timeless classics—music that crosses generations, moves hearts, and fills floors without a single 808. Tonight, we’re hacking the ultimate No-Hip-Hop / No-EDM wedding crate. These Cheat Codes are how you build a set that’s elegant, energetic, and unforgettable—with nothing but pure classics.

Cheat Code #1: Motown Is Still the Most Reliable Floor Starter in the Game

• No genre wins over all ages faster than Motown. Tracks like Ain’t Too Proud to Beg, You Can’t Hurry Love, and I Want You Back are emotional triggers—not just oldies.

• They’re packed with live instrumentation, uplifting tempo, and lyrics everyone knows. No one gets offended. Everyone gets dancing.

Action Step: Build a “Motown Starters” crate with 8–10 songs you can always drop to get feet moving—especially right after dinner or during transition moments.

Cheat Code #2: Yacht Rock Works—If You Don’t Overplay It

• Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl), Africa, and Rich Girl have become massive cool uncle and millennial hipster anthems—but only when used in the right dose.

• These songs give you groove without hype, perfect for pre-cake or reset moments.

Action Step: Curate a “Yacht Rock Interlude” folder—mid-tempo groove tracks with major singalong power. Use them to set tone, not peak the party.

Cheat Code #3: British Invasion + Beatles Adjacent = Safe but Epic

• Beatles, Stones, ELO, and Queen are floor-safe with older crowds and still trigger singalongs with younger ones. Songs like Come Together, Don’t Stop Me Now, and Mr. Blue Sky create big “we’re all in this together” energy.

Action Step: Build a “Brit Boomers to Zoomers” crate with tracks that cross generations. Key is upbeat, major key, and ideally group-singing potential.

Cheat Code #4: Soul Ballads with Energy Keep Grandma AND the Bride

• Slower soul cuts like Let’s Stay Together, Stand by Me, or Just the Two of Us aren’t floor-killers—they’re anchors. They give people a breather while still keeping connection and class.

• Bonus: They’re danceable enough for a sway, and emotional enough for a moment.

Action Step: Create a “Slow Soul Sandwich” crate—2–3 back-to-back slow groove tracks that keep energy low but not dead. Deploy them between high-energy sets to balance the flow.

Cheat Code #5: 70s + 80s Pop Is Your Surprise Weapon

• Don’t Stop Believin’, You Make My Dreams, Footloose, Take On Me—these aren’t just singalongs, they’re event closers for non-hip-hop crowds. You can peak a party with these if you structure the build right.

• The energy is clean, nostalgic, and safe—but still massive.

Action Step: Build a “Non-Hip-Hop Peak Hour” crate with singalong-driven anthems from the 70s–90s. Think: Journey, Whitney, Elton, and Hall & Oates. End your night with chaos without a single rap lyric.