• Spotify Launches DJ Mode, sort of

• Software Spotlight: Traktor

• YouTube's Favorite Measurement

• Rode Headphones for DJs (wait, what?)

Mix with Spotify is Here to Not Replace DJs

What’s Happening:

Spotify just dropped a new feature that edges them a little closer to our turf. Premium users can now add custom transitions between songs in their playlists — think fades, blends, rises, EQ tweaks, even adjusting volume at the perfect beat-marked spot. Basically, it’s Spotify saying: “Hey, what if your gym playlist could sound like a DJ set without actually booking one of us?”

Why It Matters for DJs & Creators:

• Stems Lite (sort of): While it’s not true live mixing, Spotify now auto-displays BPM and key for each track. That’s the kind of metadata DJs rely on — and casual listeners are about to get a taste of why we obsess over it.

• New Competition (or Inspiration): Apple Music is cooking up AutoMix, so Spotify had to clap back. The lines between “playlist” and “set” are blurring — which means DJs need to keep doubling down on what makes a real set human: reading the room, improvising, and flexing taste that algorithms can’t.

• Collab Factor: You can save, share, and even collaborate on these new “mixed” playlists. Translation: your cousin’s birthday party might soon feature a crowdsourced pseudo-DJ playlist. Cute. But it’s also a chance for DJs to brand collaborative Spotify playlists as a funnel for real gigs.

The Bigger Picture:

Spotify boasts nearly 9 billion user playlists. Giving them a DIY transition tool is less about replacing DJs and more about reinforcing platform stickiness. But make no mistake — this is another signal that the streaming giants are eyeing the DJ workflow.

For You:

If you’re a working DJ or music creator, this is a reminder that audiences are being trained to expect seamless blends. Use that to your advantage — highlight how your sets go beyond what Spotify’s presets can do. Think of this as Spotify handing you free marketing: “Yeah, it’s cool… but wait ‘til you hear it live.”

In last week’s poll we asked “How Would You Use GPT-5 in Your DJ/Creator Workflow?” and 67% each responded Playlist & Set Prep

ChatGPT-5 Hacks for Wedding DJs.

Tonight at 8PM ET / 5PM PT, we’re going LIVE on Twitch with Nick Spinelli for a special session where we're going to start with a live DJ set then go into the full break down of one of Nick's crates that he told me saved his a$$ this past weekend.

Going TOO hard can burn out your audience on any dance floor and he wants to show wedding DJs specifically what you can do to avoid dance floor burnout.

Nick is pulling back the curtain on the "wedding comedown" crate and releasing his "Party Starters" crate for Crate Hackers members tonight — and walking you through everything.

Here’s what’s going down:
✅ Live DJ set

✅ Interview with Nick by the Crate Hackers crew
✅ Breakdown of every song choice (why it works, when to drop it)
✅ Exclusive crate drop inside Crate Hackers (for members-only)

This is going to be 🔥 — and you’ll leave with ready-to-use crates for wedding season coming up FAST.

🗓️ Tuesday, 8PM ET / 5PM PT

Traktor: The Producers’ DJ Software

What’s Happening:

In the current arms race of DJ software—where Serato, Rekordbox, and VirtualDJ loudly announce every shiny new feature—Native Instruments’ Traktor often feels like the quiet kid in the corner. But here’s the twist: Traktor has been setting the pace for two decades, shaping the workflows we now take for granted. From pioneering digital vinyl systems to building controllers around performance instead of just playback, Traktor is less about hype and more about vision.

A History of Firsts:

• Digital Vinyl, Reinvented: Traktor was among the earliest to nail timecode vinyl, giving DJs a way to blend digital libraries with the feel of real turntables. Without it, the laptop-in-the-booth revolution might’ve looked very different.

• The Remix Decks: Long before clip-launching in Rekordbox or Ableton integration in Serato, Traktor introduced Remix Decks—mini samplers inside your DJ software. DJs could loop, layer, and re-edit tracks live, basically turning sets into hybrid performances.

• STEMS Format (2014): While Serato and Rekordbox are only now hyping their “next-gen” stem separation tools, Native Instruments’ Traktor was quietly flexing in this lane years ago. Back in 2014, Traktor dropped “STEMS” as an official format—four isolated channels (vocals, drums, bass, and instruments) packed into a single file. The catch? You had to buy or prep special STEMS-ready tracks. DJs loved the idea but hated the limited library. Traktor has upgraded to real-time stem separation, meaning you can chop vocals or strip drums from any track in your library—finally catching up to Serato and VirtualDJ, but with that signature NI polish.

Why It Matters:

The DNA of Traktor is about building performance into DJing, not just replication. While Serato and Rekordbox leaned hard into stability for battles and club DJs, Traktor doubled down on creative flexibility. Its integration with Native Instruments’ hardware (Kontrol S8, S4, and D2 controllers) wasn’t about giving you a laptop replacement—it was about transforming the decks into instruments.

Where Stems Fit In:

Yes, Traktor now has real-time stem separation (finally catching up to Serato and VirtualDJ). But the difference is Traktor’s ecosystem was already designed to juggle multiple audio layers. That’s why their new stem workflows feel smoother, less glitchy, and more performance-ready. It feels like a natural extension of what NI’s been chasing since the Remix Deck days. Like they were playing chess while everyone else was still reading the rulebook.

The DJ Angle:

• Traktor has always been the producer’s DJ software—if you love blending, remixing, and experimenting, it feels like home.

• It’s not the industry leader in raw adoption, but it consistently influences the tools everyone else eventually adopts.

• Its user base may be smaller, but they’re fiercely loyal because it rewards creativity instead of just reliability.

What’s Next:

Native Instruments has been quieter than Serato and Pioneer DJ in the last few years, but don’t mistake silence for irrelevance. If Traktor continues leaning into its experimental DNA—expanding stems, deepening Remix Decks, and bridging into production workflows—it could very well lead the next wave of DJ performance.

👉 Bottom Line: Traktor isn’t just software; it’s a philosophy. While others fight for mainstream dominance, NI has built the sandbox where innovation happens first. For DJs who see themselves less as “human jukeboxes” and more as live remixers, Traktor has always been the hidden gem—and it might finally be time for it to shine again.

Mastering YouTube’s Secret Metric — Average View Duration

What’s Happening:

Forget chasing raw views — YouTube’s algorithm is obsessed with one thing: Average View Duration (AVD). That’s the average amount of time people actually watch your video before bouncing to cat memes or TikTok. Anything above 50%? You’re golden. Below that? Time to hit the edit bay.

The Formula (don’t worry, it’s easy):

👉 AVD = Total Watch Time ÷ Total Views

Example: You upload a 12-minute set video.

• 50 people watch the whole thing (50 × 12 = 600 minutes)

• 50 people tap out halfway (50 × 6 = 300 minutes)

  Total watch time = 900 minutes ÷ 100 views = 9 minutes AVD

  That’s 75% of your 12-minute video. Not bad at all.

Why It Matters for DJs & Creators:

You can pack a dancefloor, but can you keep a viewer locked in past the 60-second mark? AVD is what decides whether your mix video, festival recap, or gear review gets pushed to the masses or buried under a pile of “LoFi Girl” streams. Long-form content needs hooks and tight edits, while Shorts have higher expectations (because, duh, they’re short).

How to Win the Algorithm Game:

• Hook ‘em early: Treat the first 15 seconds like the opening track of your set — if it doesn’t hit, they’re gone.

• Deliver on the hype: No bait-and-switch. If your thumbnail promises a festival drop, bring the boom.

• Cut the fluff: If it doesn’t serve the mix (or the story), drop it like a bad request.

• Use playlists & end screens: Keep viewers moving through your content like a back-to-back DJ set.

The Drop:

DJs know how to read a crowd — now it’s about reading YouTube Analytics. AVD isn’t just a metric; it’s proof you’re not just getting clicks, you’re building fans.

ABBA’s ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme!’ Hits the Billions Club, 46 Years Later

What’s Happening:

RØDE is back in the headphone game with the new NTH-50s — compact, on-ear headphones designed for DJs, producers, and creators who don’t want to sell a kidney for decent sound. At just about $100, they’re lightweight, punchy, and come with a lifetime guarantee. (Yes, you read that right — lifetime. Your mixer won’t last that long.)

Why It Matters for DJs & Creators:

• Sound that slaps: 40mm dynamic drivers with frequency response from 5Hz–35kHz (translation: your subs will rattle but the highs won’t slice your ears).

• Road-ready: Coiled cable, locking plug, and replaceable parts mean these are built for the booth.

• Affordable entry point: At $99, they’re competing with Audio-Technica and Beyer cans — and holding their own.

• On-ear tradeoff: Some DJs love the snug fit for quick cueing, others might tap out after long sessions.

Bigger Picture:

RØDE has been winning over creators with mics, interfaces, and now headphones that are aggressively priced but don’t feel “budget.” The NTH-50s aren’t pretending to replace your studio monitors, but for live DJing, podcasting, or even late-night crate digging on the couch, they’re delivering way more than expected.

👀 Bottom Line: If you need a reliable pair of backup DJ cans (or your main set, no shame), these could be the sleeper hit of 2025. And the lifetime guarantee? That’s RØDE betting you’ll still be nodding your head decades from now.