To Stream or Not to Stream my KJ/DJ Music?: A DJ's Dilemma in the Digital Age.
By DJ Cam Reeve
I've been in the industry long enough to witness the evolution of how DJs acquire music. I started with CDs. Yesterday, every KJ/DJ's worst nightmare became a reality. On New Year's Eve 2025, KaraFun, a popular karaoke service, and Tidal a licensed music service went down at different points of the night. These incidents have sparked an important conversation in the DJ forums about the 'reliability of streaming services' versus owning a personal music library. Here are my thoughts on this pressing issue.
Imagine being in the shoes of the DJs left stranded for a time on New Year's Eve.
It's the biggest night of the year. Thousands of DJs across the country are gearing up to ring in 2025 with unforgettable parties. Suddenly, a widely-used streaming service crashes. DJs who relied solely on these platforms were thrown into a nightmare: no karaoke or DJ music, frustrated clients, and the looming threat of a career-defining disasters.
I can’t imagine being at a premium event with high-paying clients or thousands of attendees in the room and having my entire service collapse. Thankfully, I and many others avoided this catastrophe and didn't know about it until the day after, but my heart goes out to those who weren’t as fortunate. This incident serves as a powerful reminder of the risks we take when depending exclusively on streaming services for our livelihoods.
The Case for Owning Your Music
As someone who DJs usually about 28 weddings and 40 other events annually, I invest anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 a year into my music library. Some may scoff at DJs like me who have amassed over 23,000 songs, but guess what? When KaraFun and tidal went down, we didn’t skip a beat. (WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW) Owning your music library brings undeniable peace of mind. Here’s why:
- Reliability: No internet? No problem. Your tracks are readily available on your hard drive.
- Quality Control: You know exactly what you’re getting with each track you purchase. Streaming services often mislabel content. I once played a “clean” version of a track that still included offensive language (not from KaraFun, and I won’t disclose the service). But it was a learning experience when the client looked at me with a did that really just happen?
- Customization: Owning and labeling your library lets you curate a unique collection perfectly tailored to your style and your clients. This also makes for a better workflow.
- Long-term Investment: While the upfront costs can be significant, the long-term benefits far outweigh the expense.
The Streaming Dilemma
Don't get me wrong; streaming services have their place. They offer access to vast libraries and can be great for discovering new music or finding that song your only going to use once.. However, relying solely on them for gigs is risky business. Consider this: What happens when the venue's Wi-Fi is spotty? Or when a track suddenly becomes unavailable due to licensing issues? These are real concerns that can derail a performance.
Finding the Right Balance
So, should you stream your music at a gig or buy it? My advice: do both, but lean very heavily towards owning your core library.
- Build a Solid Foundation: Invest in a comprehensive library of tracks you use frequently.
- Use Streaming as a Supplement: Leverage streaming services for those rare requests or to test out new tracks.
- Always Have a Backup: Even if you do stream, have an offline backup of your most-used tracks or at least the top 100 of each genre of music.
Where I Stand From My Point of View
As DJs, our reputation is everything, and the product we deliver can make or break us. The NYE 2025 incident is a stark reminder of the risks we face. While streaming services offer convenience, they should never be your sole source of music. I'm sure many of the djs left stranded found alternatives to get through the night but I'm sure it put a damper in there night.
Investing in your own library and even having back ups isn’t just about avoiding disasters—it’s about delivering the best possible experience for your clients and optimizing your workflow. When the music stops, so does the party, and all eyes turn to you. Don’t let a streaming hiccup be the reason your event falls flat.
Build your library, own your music, and be prepared to keep the party alive no matter what technical challenges come your way. I hope you'll take some time and money and invest in the projects you do.
