Picture this: You’re at a festival, lights flashing, bass thumping. On the giant screens, you see the DJ. It’s not a seasoned pro who came up through underground clubs, or who went through a ton of press kit rejections, or who has been trying to make it for years. Instead, it’s a face you recognize from TikTok travel vlogs. This is the new reality of electronic music, and it has everyone talking.
The rise of the “influencer-DJ” has split the scene. On one side, you have creators like Charly Jordan, who went from Instagram fame to a Las Vegas residency at Zouk Nightclub. On the other, you have Reddit forums buzzing with terms like “fake DJ” and “cringey”. So, what is the real story? Is this a desperate move for influencers losing views, or is it the next step for modern entertainers?
Why Are Influencers Swapping Filters for Faders?
It is not a random career change. It is a smart pivot driven by a classic push and pull.
- The Push: The Influencer Bubble is Popping The world of content creation is overcrowded. With nearly one in four social media users calling themselves a creator, getting noticed is harder than ever. As a result, engagement rates are dropping. TikTok saw a 35% drop in influencer engagement in just one year, and Instagram is even lower. Audiences are tired of endless ads and are getting skeptical about whether influencers even like the products they are pushing. When your online currency, attention, starts losing value, you need to find a new way to stay relevant. 1
- The Pull: The DJ Booth Looks Pretty Good While being an influencer is getting tougher, becoming a DJ has never been easier. Gone are the days of needing expensive turntables and years of practice. Now, a $130 controller and a “sync button” can get you started. More importantly, DJing offers a major glow up. It transforms an influencer from a “content creator” into a performer and an “artist,” which carries more cultural weight. It is a strategic move to trade online likes for the tangible credibility of a live skill. 2
From Feeds to Festivals: The New Wave of DJs
This trend is not new, but it is accelerating. Here are a few key players who have made the leap.
- The OG: Paris Hilton Long before TikTok, there was Paris Hilton. When she started DJing around 2012, the backlash was intense. People called her a “celebrity DJ” who was just famous for being famous. But a decade later, she is successful, commanding million-dollar fees and playing festivals like Tomorrowland. She proved that with enough star power, you can outlast the haters. 3
- The Blueprint: Charly Jordan Charly Jordan is a modern example. She built a huge following with travel and lifestyle content before deciding to hit the decks. She claims she spent years practicing in her bedroom to prove she was serious. Mainstream outlets celebrate her as a trailblazer with a Vegas residency, but online DJ communities on Reddit are brutal, accusing her of playing pre-recorded sets to “dead” crowds. 4
- The Parody Pipeline: DJ Mandy Amanda Shultz, aka DJ Mandy, took a wilder route. The UC Berkeley student went viral on TikTok for being intentionally bad at DJing. Her chaotic, deadpan mixes were a parody of the scene, earning her millions of likes. Then, she used that viral fame to launch a real DJ career. Her biggest challenge now is convincing people she is not just a joke. 5 6
- The Global Wave: This is not just a Western trend. In the Philippines, local influencers are expanding their talents beyond digital platforms. A dancer with a massive following began learning to DJ during quarantine. Similarly, a popular vlogger known for comedy has expanded their performance skills, recently taking on an acting role. This reflects a broader trend of digital stars moving into more traditional entertainment roles. Meanwhile in Malaysia, a popular food vlogger became a DJ after their audience discovered that the meals were pre-cooked.
Not Everyone’s a Fan
The established DJ community is not happy. Forums like Reddit’s r/DJs are filled with complaints. The main arguments?
- It Devalues the Craft: Old-school DJs feel that influencers are turning a skilled art form into a shallow trend. 7
- They Lack Skills: Critics claim these new DJs cannot beatmatch or read a room, relying on sync buttons or pre-recorded sets.
- It’s Unfair: Working DJs who have spent years honing their craft are losing gigs to influencers who can guarantee a crowd, even if the music is not great. The core of the conflict is about what matters more: technical skill or marketing muscle?
But Is It All Bad? The Case for the Influencer-DJ
While the criticism is fierce, there is another side to the story.
- They’re a Gateway: Influencers can introduce electronic music to millions of new fans who might never have found it otherwise. 8
- The Dancefloor Doesn’t Lie: At the end of the day, if a DJ cannot keep the crowd dancing, they will not get booked again. If they are good, their background does not matter. In fact, reviews of Charly Jordan’s festival sets have praised her energy and ability to keep the dancefloor “packed”. 9
- It’s the Modern Hustle: Having a strong social media presence is now part of the job for every DJ. Influencers are just playing the game at an expert level. 10
The Final Mix
So, are influencers turning to DJing because their views are fading? It’s a big part of the story. The creator economy is a tough place to be, and DJing offers a path to a different kind of credibility.
But it’s more than just a backup plan. It’s a clash between old-school meritocracy and the new attention economy. The skills needed to be a top DJ are changing, blending technical ability with personal branding and content creation. The debate is not going away anytime soon, but one thing is clear: the beat goes on, and the rhythm is changing.
- https://priceweber.com/blog/influencer-marketing-decline/ ↩︎
- https://medium.com/@dailygleams/the-rise-of-social-media-djs-why-is-everybody-a-dj-these-days-77b125a7be80 ↩︎
- https://www.reddit.com/r/DJs/comments/3121ie/exclusive_paris_hilton_reveals_las_vegas/ ↩︎
- https://galoremag.com/charly-jordan/ ↩︎
- https://www.grrrlmusic.com/interview-dj-mandy ↩︎
- https://www.businessinsider.com/dj-mandy-tiktok-music-mixing-awkward-polarizing-mashups-2023-8 ↩︎
- https://www.reddit.com/r/DJs/comments/1lphh1n/social_media_instagram_influencer_ruining_dj/ ↩︎
- https://blog.pioneerdj.com/dj-culture/the-unstoppable-rise-of-social-media-djing/ ↩︎
- https://www.wewriteaboutmusic.com/festivals/charly-jordan-edc-orlando ↩︎
- https://dj.studio/blog/starting-a-dj-career ↩︎
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Today’s people in the scene got no clue about it’s history. For them it’s all about selfies, mobile phones and instant fame over talent and true passion for the music. It’s a joke.