Archive
Every issue, every week.
The full archive. Scroll back through gear drops, software updates, and community trends.
Engine DJ 5.3 brings VirtualDJ to RANE ONE
RANE ONE users can now access VirtualDJ through OmniSource and switch between software, local media and streaming sources. Engine DJ 5.3 also adds playlist reimport on Desktop and expanded pad control
Behringer teases a $300–$400 four-channel standalone
Behringer has posted a four-channel standalone prototype described as open hardware, with a projected price of $300 to $400. It is an intriguing target, but for now the evidence supports a prototype a
Technics unveils the SL-1210MKX
The DJ-booth standard gets a new generation in January. Vinyl DJs now have a fresh benchmark—and another expensive decision.
Serato DJ comes to iPhone and iPad
Serato DJ is now available free on iPhone and iPad, using the same engine as Serato DJ Pro and supporting more than 120 hardware setups. Its transfer tool moves crates, cue points, beatgrids and metad
Apple Music Sets an April 1 Upgrade Deadline for rekordbox
From April 1, 2027, Apple Music tracks won’t load on listed products unless rekordbox mobile is updated to version 4.5.4 or later, rekordbox desktop to 7.2.0 or later, or OMNIS-DUO and XDJ-AZ firmware
VirtualDJ can now generate its own shout-outs
VirtualDJ 2026 turns typed phrases into spoken drops, with options to replace the vocal in a playing track. Useful for IDs and promos; dangerous in less disciplined hands.
SoundSwitch finally plugs into rekordbox
SoundSwitch 2.11 now works with rekordbox and compatible AlphaTheta/Pioneer DJ hardware through PRO DJ LINK Bridge. Beat-synced lighting no longer requires abandoning the booth workflow most clubs alr
VirtualDJ joins AlphaTheta’s OneLibrary format
OneLibrary support gives VirtualDJ users a cleaner route into AlphaTheta’s expanding library ecosystem. Announced September 17, this is another useful step away from software lock-in.
Serato 5.0 finally fixes flexible beatgrids
The public beta introduces Lucid Beatgrids, automatic tempo-change and downbeat detection, plus Open Streaming and Cue Loops. DJs should now spend less time repairing grids.
Denon’s PRIME 4 G2 Raises the Standalone Stakes
The new four-channel, four-deck system adds pressure-sensitive MPCe pads, onboard Stems rendering and built-in DMX output. It’s a substantial push for mobile, club and festival DJs seeking more perfor
SoundCloud tests zero-commission music sales
Artists can sell music directly through their profiles while keeping the full sale. For producer-DJs, SoundCloud may finally become a storefront rather than another link in the bio.
Apple Music will label AI-generated music
Catalog provenance is becoming a platform feature, not a footnote. For DJs sorting through an increasingly synthetic supply chain, that distinction may soon matter as much as genre metadata.
Beatport bans AI-generated tracks
Beatport is drawing a line between AI-assisted production and tracks made entirely by machines. DJ Mag reported the move on 2026-08-13; for DJs, it should mean less catalog sludge in the digging workf
AlphaTheta flags a PRO DJ LINK security flaw
A third party with unauthorized network access could view data on connected computers, USB drives or SD cards. AlphaTheta published the notice on August 7; booth networking now has an infosec problem.
A German court rules against Suno’s AI training
The court found that Suno’s AI training infringed copyright in a case brought by GEMA. For producers and rights holders, the legal fight over training data is no longer theoretical.
Electronic Music Is the Fastest-Growing Genre in the U.S.
Luminate’s midyear report puts electronic music ahead of every other genre for U.S. growth in 2026. The audience is expanding; the booth is no longer a niche corner of the music business.
Apple Music Hikes Subscription Prices for the First Time Since 2022
Individual plans jump a dollar to $11.99/month, with family and student tiers also rising. Apple cites licensing costs — the same costs that ultimately determine how much you get paid per stream.
AlphaTheta Kills the XDJ-RR, Puts CDJ-3000X DNA in a $1,200 Box
The XDJ-AN is the most meaningful refresh at this price tier in a decade: standalone 2-channel controller, streaming built in, cloud sync, and a control layout lifted straight from the CDJ-3000X. But
AlphaTheta Drops a Mid-Range CDJ That Makes the Flagship Hard to Justify
The CDJ-1500X lands at £1,469 per unit, packing the CDJ-3000X's 10.1-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi, cloud playback, and streaming into a compact body — plus a crowd-request feature called CoBeat. A decade a
TIDAL draws a line: no royalties for AI-generated music
TIDAL will label AI-generated tracks with badges and block them from earning royalties. Impersonation content gets removed entirely. As streaming platforms scramble to respond to the AI flood, this is
rekordbox confirms macOS Tahoe 26 compatibility
If you've been holding off on the OS update, the all-clear is in. Hardware and software verification complete.
Deezer Ships a Free AI-Music Detector
Deezer says nearly half of users importing playlists from rival platforms already have AI-generated tracks in their libraries. The company's new detection tool is free to use, and if you're building s
Can DJs still ignore Spotify and Apple Music?
Digital DJ Tips makes the case that DJs still resisting Spotify and Apple Music integration into their workflows are fighting a losing battle. The tooling has gaps, but the trajectory is unmistakable
Juno Download shuts down for good
One of the last independent digital music stores is gone. Juno cited streaming's dominance and the shrinking role of webstores. If you were still buying lossless files there, time to sort out your Bea
Howler MK2 now records and livestreams your sets at the same time
The pocket-sized recorder/streamer no longer forces you to pick one or the other. Record high-res locally while simultaneously pushing a stream to your phone. A genuine solve for DJs who want both the
Engine DJ 5.0 brings on-board stems to the Rane System One
The System One is now the first standalone DJ hardware that can split tracks into 4-part stems without a laptop in the chain. RGB waveforms also roll out across the Engine DJ ecosystem. The update eve
InMusic buys Native Instruments — Traktor now shares a roof with Denon DJ, Rane, and Engine DJ
The biggest DJ-tech acquisition in years. InMusic (parent of Denon DJ, Rane, Numark, Akai, Moog) is absorbing NI in full — Traktor, Maschine, Komplete, iZotope, Plugin Alliance, all of it. What happen
Claude AI now plugs directly into Ableton Live
Anthropic's AI assistant can now connect to Ableton as an MCP tool, joining Photoshop and Blender on the list of supported apps. Whether you want it in your creative workflow or not, the DAW-AI integr
Electronic music is now a $15.1 billion industry
The latest IMS Business Report pegs 2025 revenue at $15.1B, up 7% year-on-year. Growth is accelerating across multiple revenue streams — the money side of what you do keeps getting bigger.
Tracknack adds Apple Music integration and new DJ-focused pricing tiers
The Spotify-only discovery tool now pulls from Apple Music too, combining listening data with Discogs metadata for smarter crate digging. Pricing has been restructured — worth a look if your prep work
Serato unlocks three Pioneer DJ mixers from Rekordbox exclusivity
Serato DJ Pro 4.0.6 adds full plug-and-play mapping — including DVS — for the DJM-250MK2, DJM-450, and DJM-750MK2. If you've been stuck choosing between your mixer and your software, that wall just ca
A Windows update is quietly bricking DJ controllers
A Windows 11 update that rolled out in late January has been breaking MIDI connectivity for thousands of DJs. Microsoft's new 'Windows Midi Services' overhaul causes controllers to appear completely d
Akai MPC Sample: a proper MPC for $399, battery included
Standalone sampler, onboard sequencing, effects, MPC3 project compatibility — all in a compact, battery-powered unit at £349/~$399. Akai's most interesting form factor play in years, and it's shipping
AlphaTheta yanks Rekordbox 7.2.12 after USB export bug bricks tracks on CDJs
Tracks exported to USB won't load on Pioneer/AlphaTheta hardware — the third USB-related issue in months. If you updated on March 17, roll back now.
Spotify streaming lands in Serato DJ
Serato DJ Lite and Pro now have native Spotify integration. You need a Premium account, but millions of tracks are now available directly in the software. The streaming-in-the-booth era just got a lot
Lexicon 1.10 ships with Serato 4.0 database support and play history tracking
If you manage libraries across multiple DJ platforms, this matters. Full Serato 4.0 format support, a new visual track timeline, and play history tracking — the kind of unsexy infrastructure work that
MIDI Fighter Twister has a hidden diagnostic mode
A user stumbled into undocumented modes on the MFT by pressing specific button combos. Worth knowing if you're deep in custom mappings — could be useful for LED calibration and encoder resets.