National DJ Month – Jun. 1, 2027

Expected National DJ Month Deals

During National DJ Month, the focus shifts from traditional deals to recognizing and supporting the craft. Expect leading audio equipment brands like Pioneer DJ, Native Instruments, and Denon DJ to offer special promotions on gear for aspiring and professional disc jockeys. Music streaming services such as Beatport and Traxsource may feature curated DJ mixes and offer discounts on track downloads. Industry organizations often host virtual workshops, masterclasses, and networking events. Look for local venues to host tribute nights or open-deck sessions, providing platforms for new talent. We will update this page with confirmed live events and industry initiatives as June approaches.

History of National DJ Month

In 1909, 16-year-old Ray Newby was the first person to play records over the airwaves. He was a student under Charles Herrold at the Herrold College of Engineering and Wireless. This was years before the word ‘disc jockey’ even existed.

After the experiment, other radio broadcasters across America began replicating it. It was in 1935 that American radio commentator Walter Winchell coined the term ‘disc jockey.’ Little did he know that the word was going to be the next big thing in the music world.

During the 1950s, radio DJs began playing live at ‘platter parties’ and sock hops and turned themselves into human jukeboxes. It was in 1969 that American DJ Francis Grasso made beat-matching popular at the Sanctuary Club in New York. Beat-matching involved creating smooth transitions between two or more records with matching tempos or beats.

In the 1970s, turntablism, i.e. the art of using turntables to manipulate sound and create new music, began to develop. It was the ‘father of hip hop culture’ DJ Kool Herc who first made use of turntablism when he performed at parties in his neighborhood, the Bronx.

The ’80s was a turning point for DJing as equipment like sequencers, samplers, synthesizers, and drums became more accessible and cheaper. This led to the emergence of bedroom producers. New York, Chicago, and Detroit had DJs as well as music producers delving deeper into music production.

The late ’90s saw the release of the first MP3 digital audio player (in 1998), which led to the new Digital DJ revolution. And the introduction of audio and video mixers like the SVM-1000 and other high-tech mixers led to the formation of a whole new disco DJ culture. DJing today is an intrinsic part of the music culture as a whole.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National DJ Month