• The Year In AI, Tech & DJ Goodies

• Spotify adds Music Videos

• If Gaga is Down, I'm Down

• Organize Your Library Like It's 2026

• Stop Counting Your Followers

• Best and Worst Songs - The Cheat Codes

2025: The Year DJing Met AI, Streamed Content, and Smarter Workflows

2025 wasn’t a year of massive new hardware drop after hardware drop — but it was the year software, AI, and cross‑platform thinking changed the game. From cross‑platform libraries to generative tools in your workflow, this year proved that the future of DJing isn’t just about gear… it’s about connection, creativity, and working smarter, not harder. Here’s the recap you actually want:

OneLibrary: The First Step Toward Cross‑Platform Crates

Early in the year we saw DJs rally around OneLibrary — a universal exporting format that finally lets you carry playlists, cues, beatgrids, and more across different software ecosystems instead of rebuilding everything from scratch. If 2026 has more brands on board, this will be looked back on as the moment crate chaos started to die.

The DJ Software Arms Race Heats Up

Serato, djay Pro, Rekordbox, and VirtualDJ all made big noise this year:

• Serato DJ 4 brought a much‑needed metadata overhaul and smarter library tools.

• Algoriddim djay Pro tightened hardware integration and bolstered streaming workflows.

• VirtualDJ 2026 showed up with features that felt like a remix of every idea in the software space — acapella FX, auto‑harmonic mixing, and video DJing baked in.

• Traktor stepped up - Native Instruments remembered they have DJ software. We were shocked too.

  Software — not hardware — was the real battleground of 2025, and DJs won.

AI Everywhere — From Prompts to Playlists

This year we leaned into generative tools like never before:

• ChatGPT prompts tailored for playlist discovery and social content.

• AI‑assisted library curation tools that clean duplicates and score your crates in minutes.

• Industry shifts where AI went from villain to collaborator — even labels struck partnerships so AI‑generated music could plug into official catalogues without legal chaos.

  DJs learned that AI isn’t a gimmick — it’s workflow insurance.

Visuals & New Content Modes Took Stage

• Spotify quietly acquired WhoSampled — a move that could change how DJs trace sample histories inside their digital libraries.

• Spotify also launched music videos for Premium users, signaling a push toward richer content beyond audio.

• Ray‑Ban + Spotify brought phone‑free concert experiences to life, hinting at a future where POV glasses could become performance tools.

  Who says visuals don’t matter to DJs anymore?

VR & AR Started Feeling Tangible

Metaverse moments became real:

• VRDJ competitions at the DMC championships showed virtual turntablism isn’t just theory.

• Meta’s Horizon Hyperscape introduced real‑world space scans as shared virtual environments — imagine touring your studio or booth in VR with collaborators miles away.

  Immersive‑tech DJs will start playing with in 2026 — and creators should be ready.

Social & Discovery Shifted (Again)

Platforms reshaped how music finds people:

• AI‑driven “Vibes” feeds, new social discovery tools on SoundCloud, and Spotify’s prompted playlists all made discovery more intuitive.

• YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram remained dominant teen platforms; if culture starts here, sets and hashtags follow.

  Social isn’t a side gig anymore — it’s the first beat drop before any real‑world performance.

Best Hacks and Deep Dives From The Vault

2025 wasn’t just about stories — it was about skills:

• Aaron Traylor’s 12 AI prompts became a cheat code for DJs prepping playlists, social content, and livestream hooks.

• Wedding crate hackathons, real‑world playlist rebuilds, and library audits turned chaos into reliability.

• Polls, community nights, and weekly hackathons didn’t just inform — they built a crew of DJs working smarter together.

THE BIG TAKEAWAY

2025 was the year software and AI became DJ tools you couldn’t ignore — not because they were trendy, but because they solved real, persistent problems. Playlists synced, libraries got organized, crates became portable, and the future stopped feeling theoretical.

As we roll into 2026, expect these themes to only accelerate: cross‑platform workflows, AI creative assistants, immersive visuals, and community‑powered tooling are going to shape the next era of DJing.

Nick Spinelli Breaks Down The Best (and worst) Songs of 2025

2025 gave us some bangers. It also gave us some stinkers.

Join Nick Spinelli LIVE on Twitch this Tuesday at 8 pm EST as he breaks down the best and worst songs of the year: what slaps, what flops, and why it matters for your sets.

This isn't just a countdown.

It's an interactive deep-dive: live Q&A, real-time debates, and crate-ready picks you can test this weekend.
🎥 Live on Twitch + cratehackathon.com

🗓️ Tuesday, 8PM ET / 5PM PT

Spotify Adds Music Videos… Because, Sure, Why Not Now?

Spotify has officially entered its “Hey look, we do that too!” era by launching full-length music videos for Premium users in the U.S. and Canada. So if you’ve been thinking, “You know what my DJ software is missing? A place to watch Tate McRae cry in 4K,” you’re in luck.

What’s New:

• Spotify Premium users can now switch to video on select tracks.

• Currently in beta with a limited library, but includes big names like Doja Cat, Ice Spice, and Aluna.

• Works on mobile, desktop, and even smart TVs. (Because nothing screams “pre-set ritual” like music video bingeing.)

Why It Matters for DJs & Creators:

Look, this isn’t changing your Serato crates overnight, but it does signal a vibe shift: Spotify’s inching closer to becoming a full-stack media hub. This could mean better visual integration down the road—think branded visuals, remix exposure, or music video-style promo drops that don’t require a YouTube link in bio.

Plus, if you’ve been sleeping on building your artist profile or uploading visuals to your own tracks, this is your cue to get ahead of the curve before Spotify inevitably pushes “creator video campaigns” with forced vertical video and AI captions.

Things to Know:

• The catalog is still small and feels like a soft launch, so manage expectations.

• This may compete with YouTube on paper, but remember: YouTube has comments. Spotify has vibes.

• Worth keeping an eye on how this develops—especially if they eventually allow artists or DJs to upload their own content.

Music videos, on Spotify, in 2025. Add it to the bingo card—and stay tuned for when they try to bring back Clubhouse but with loops.

“Being a human being isn’t going out of style.” – Lady Gaga on AI in Music

In a refreshing reminder that flesh-and-blood creativity still matters, Lady Gaga is chiming in on the AI music debate — and she’s not worried. While some artists scramble to redefine their rights in the age of clones and deepfakes, Gaga’s staying grounded:

What’s New

• Gaga Isn’t Shook: Unlike some of her peers (cough Snoop), she sees AI as “an exciting time for technology and art” — as long as it supports human-made work.

• Artistry First: Gaga’s focus is still on connecting with people, not feeding algorithms. “The soul, the passion, the fear, the love — that’s something only a human can give.”

• No Doomsday Energy: Rather than panic, she’s approaching the AI boom with cautious curiosity.

Why DJs & Creators Should Care

• Balance the Tech: Use AI to support your creative flow, not replace it. Gaga’s not anti-AI — she’s pro-human. There’s a difference.

• Lean Into Your Voice: In a world full of same-sounding remixes and synthetic hooks, your taste, voice, and personality are your edge.

• Fans Still Want You: Algorithms don’t start movements or build communities. People do.

Final Drop

Lady Gaga gets it: AI might play the chords, but it can’t live the story. And the best DJs — like the best artists — live it first, then share it. Keep feeding your playlists, but never forget to feed your soul.

Aaron Traylor breaks down the zero-effort system that forward-thinking DJs are using to stay organized without wasting hours tagging, sorting, and renaming.

The old-school method? Cluttered, repetitive, and built for control—not scale.

The new system? One drop zone. No manual renaming. Playlists that build themselves.

Forget rebuilding crates every weekend. This method turns your library into an automated machine that sorts itself by energy, tempo, and crowd reaction—so you can spend less time babysitting files and more time programming heat.

▶️ Watch the video and learn the three simple rules that will completely change how you build, grow, and use your music library in 2026.

Follower Counts Are So 2015 — Algorithms Are Calling the Shots in 2025

If you spent the year obsessing over follower numbers like they were platinum records, 2025 just slapped you with a remix: social media follower counts don’t matter like they used to. Creator economy execs — yes, the people who actually pay attention — say algorithms now decide who sees what much more than how many people are technically “following” you. 

What’s Changing

• This year saw the algorithm fully take over, reshaping how content gets distributed and seen. It doesn’t matter if you have 10,000 followers if the AI doesn’t think they’ll engage. That’s the new reality. 

• Insider voices like LTK’s CEO note the shift from raw follower numbers to access, engagement, and retention — meaning what really matters is how deeply your audience interacts with you, not how many strangers hit “Follow.” 

• As algorithmic feeds dominate, creators are experimenting with new ways to build community, from paid subscriber lists and private channels to niche platforms and newsletters where engagement isn’t at the mercy of a feed algorithm. 

Why DJs & Creators Should Care

• Engagement > Followers: Your follower number might look flashy on paper, but the algorithm cares whether your audience actually watches, clicks, saves, or shares. That’s what gets your content pushed. 

• Algorithm-Driven Discovery: Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts don’t prioritize follower count — they prioritize behavior. As a DJ, a killer mix clip with strong early engagement can reach waymore ears than a track posted to an established but unengaged audience. 

• Community Loyalty Wins: Channels and newsletters where people opt-in for music updates, workflows, or exclusive sets can actually beat a million passive followers in terms of real influence. 

Final Take

2025 was the year the algorithm officially stole the mic from follower counts. If you’re still chasing big numbers instead of meaningful connections, you’re preparing for gigs the old way — and that’s exactly why your posts aren’t hitting like they used to.

Focus on engagement, connection, and formats the algorithm loves, not vanity numbers that don’t show up when it matters most. 

2025 gave us bangers, bombs, and more overplayed TikTok edits than we ever needed. But which songs actually worked on the dance floor? Tonight’s Hackathon with Aaron Traylor and Nick Spinelli is a live breakdown of the best and worst songs of the year—with real-world DJ data, no fluff, and no filter. These Cheat Codes will help you retire the tired, double down on the deadly, and future-proof your crate for 2026.

Cheat Code #1: TikTok Songs That Actually Translate Live

• Not every viral track survives outside your phone. But some do—“Makeba” by Jain (remix), “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan, and “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter had massive dance floor traction across age groups when blended right.

• The secret? Big hooks, clear lyrics, and remix-friendly tempos.

Action Step: Build a “TikTok That Works” crate—remixes or re-drums of viral hits with real-world impact. Keep them short, punchy, and position them as moments, not centerpieces.

Cheat Code #2: Wedding Floors Are Rejecting the Same Old Anthems

• Yeah! and Uptown Funk both saw serious fatigue this year—even when requested, the crowd reaction has dropped by 40–50% compared to just two years ago, per Spinelli’s own wedding reports.

• Couples still think they want them—until they don’t.

Action Step: Build a “Still Requested, Soft Reaction” crate of your own. Use these songs as blends or short intros, not full plays. Keep the nostalgia, lose the predictability.

Cheat Code #3: Latin Crossovers Are Replacing Generic Pop

• Latin hits like “Ojitos Lindos”, “TQG”, and “Baila Conmigo” (Selena Gomez) saw huge gains at weddings and clubs—especially when worked into mid-set rotations with dancehall or afrobeat.

• These tracks hit smoother, feel fresh, and keep non-Latin crowds engaged without skipping a beat.

Action Step: Make a “Crossover Latin” crate with clean edits that blend into non-Latin sets. Think: danceable, vibey, and known by non-Spanish-speaking guests. No reggaeton dump zones.

Cheat Code #4: Clean Girl Pop Is Your Corporate Cheat Code

• “Cruel Summer” (Taylor’s Version), “Dance the Night”, and Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts-era tracks were among the most requested at upscale events—and they work when flipped or filtered through disco/house remixes.

• These tracks feel safe to the client and exciting to the crowd—the perfect corporate storm.

Action Step: Build a “Clean Girl Anthems” folder with remixes only—especially house/disco edits. Save the originals for soundcheck or dinner hour.

Cheat Code #5: 2025’s Best Surprise Drops Had One Thing in Common

• The top surprise floor-wreckers this year weren’t new—they were forgotten. “Dirrty” by Christina Aguilera, “No Sleep” by Janet Jackson, and “Lollipop” by Lil Wayne had shock factor AND crowd payoff when dropped mid-peak.

• It’s the unexpected nostalgia hits that break the night wide open.

Action Step: Create a “2025 Surprise Killers” crate—bangers from the 2000s–2010s that haven’t been rinsed lately. Save them for the third act of your set when the floor’s hot and ready to scream.