What Is A DJ Producer?

This guide covers what a DJ Producer is, what they do, DJ producer examples, and how much they make doing what they love.

  1. What Is A DJ Producer
  2. What Does A DJ Producer Do
  3. Difference Between DJ & Producer
  4. Who Are The Most Popular DJ Producers
  5. How Do You Become a DJ Producer
  6. How Much Do DJ Producers Make
  7. Can You Be a Successful DJ
What Is A DJ Producer
What Is A DJ Producer

Related: What is a DJ | What is a Music Producer

What Is A DJ Producer?

A DJ producer is a person who both creates and performs music using various equipment. Some of the equipment used by a DJ producer to create music may include turntables, drum machines, synthesizers, sequencers, samplers, and FX.

DJs often perform at parties or clubs as well as on the radio or TV. DJs are responsible for selecting which songs they want to play for their listeners. Often they also use their voice to guide listeners in what to dance to next.

DJ Producers usually take it a step further by performing their creations themselves.

DJ producers often use sound editing software and other audio tools to enhance songs to have a better quality when played on speakers or headphones.

Do Dj’s Need to Be Producers?

This job can require working long hours under stressful conditions if you plan on becoming successful as a DJ producer.

However, it is very rewarding since all your original mixes become popular with people who attend parties hosted by others, such as club owners and promoters!

To become successful as a DJ producer, you need to be creative with music production and have excellent technical skills to mix songs together correctly.

In addition, it takes time to build up relationships within the industry so that your name will continue to be passed along each time someone needs a new song created for an event or party they are hosting.


What Does A DJ Producer Do?

A DJ producer can take on many roles and have many responsibilities since they are merging the two job titles of “DJ” and “Music Producer.”

As a DJ, they would focus on:

  • Booking DJ Jobs
  • DJing Events
  • Creating Remixes
  • Marketing & Promotion
  • Planning live sets

As a Producer, they would focus on:

  • Creating music
  • Collaborating with music artists
  • Songwriting
  • Promoting music
  • Marketing & promotion

If they aren’t creating new music, then DJ Producers spend their time promoting and marketing themselves so that people will know who they are and rely on them to make songs based upon what type of music is popular at a specific event or party.


What Is the Difference Between DJ & Producer?

A DJ is responsible for playing other people’s music at a party or event.

On the other hand, DJ producers are responsible for creating their own original mixes that DJs will play instead of performing live.

This means it takes more time and effort to become a DJ producer since you need to have extensive sound mixing skills.

What Is the Difference Between DJs & Music Producers

However, this also makes it much easier to earn money while becoming recognized throughout the industry without having too many extra responsibilities on your plate.


The most popular DJ Producers in Electronic Dance Music are David Guetta, DJ Snake, Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix, and Diplo.

Top 20 Dj Producers

David Guetta

David Guetta is well-known for his hit song “Titanium” featuring Sia. He is also known for DJing at music festivals such as Tomorrowland and Ultra.

DJ Snake

DJ Snake made an excellent career move when he partnered with Justin Bieber and produced the song “Let Me Love You.”

Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris is extremely popular for creating songs that feature pop artists such as Nicky Minaj and Rihanna, to name a few!

Martin Garrix

Martin Garrix is one of the DJ producers that teens and young adults enjoy listening to. He has a unique way of mixing songs together, which keeps his fans wanting more. He produced the song “Animals” that reached the number one spot on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJ list in 2013.

Diplo

Diplo managed to create his own record label while also becoming one of the most sought-after DJ producers globally thanks to top-selling singles like “Where Are Ü Now,” which features Skrillex and Justin Bieber.


How Do You Become a DJ Producer?

The DJ producer profession requires extensive knowledge of music production and audio engineering.

Suppose you want to become a DJ producer. In that case, you must be willing to work long hours under stressful conditions without compromising your creativity or technical skills.

Recommended guides:

Can You Still Become a Big Dj/producer?

Some people may get discouraged when they realize how difficult this job is, but if you enjoy creating your own mixes of songs while marketing yourself at the same time – there’s nothing better than being able to earn money doing what you love.

How To Build Your Brand (As a DJ / Producer)

How Much Does A DJ Music Producer Make?

The amount you can make each year depends on how experienced you are with making music and remixes and performing them at events.

Generally speaking, professional DJ producers could start earning around $50K a year and DJing only at the events they have created their mixes for.

Some DJ producers can make more than $100K if they are incredibly experienced and have created mixes for famous artists like Justin Bieber or Rihanna.

Suggested: What Is A Music Producer’s Salary

How to Make Money as A DJ Producer

Can You Be a Successful DJ Without Producing?

Some DJ producers are able to gain popularity simply by DJing at popular events or venues. However, it is possible that if you become a DJ producer, then the more likely you will be recognized since people will know where they can find your mixes and music.

The 5 Things Every Successful Producer / DJ Has in Common

There’s nothing wrong with this if you generally prefer performing live with other DJs instead of creating original songs! Just keep in mind that DJ producers have much better chances for success than someone who just plays their favorite tracks repeatedly.

As long as you love what you do, making money doing something creative shouldn’t seem like work at all – but rather an opportunity to express yourself through musical performances while also gaining financial independence along the way.


Summary of DJ Producers

DJ Producers are artists who create their own music in a studio and mix tracks by DJing. A DJ producer goes beyond just DJing by creating original music and song remixes and performing them live on stage. Electronic Dance Music is a popular music genre for DJ Producers.

To be a DJ/Music Producer is to immerse oneself in an innovative world of music, where one can create tracks, mix tracks, and produce music with an individual signature style.

It’s a role that requires an understanding of music theory, proficiency in music production, and a deep love for music. The DJ Producer is a music engineer, a record producer, and an artist all rolled into one.

Many DJs start their journey with a love for music and the thrill of playing their favorite tunes to live audiences.

They might begin as a radio DJ or a mobile DJ, providing entertainment at corporate events and parties. But as they grow in their DJ career, they often develop an interest in producing their own tracks.

This transition involves learning new skills like mastering a digital audio workstation (DAW) and a MIDI keyboard and understanding the intricacies of a recording session.

A DJ Producer doesn’t just play popular songs; they make music – their own music.

This could involve writing music, creating their own tracks, or even working with other artists to bring a creative direction to their projects.

These music tracks then become part of their DJ sets, adding a unique flavor that sets them apart from other DJs. It’s not just about making great music; it’s about creating a vibe that gets people on the dance floor.

A DJ Producer wears many hats. They are a live performer, electrifying the crowd with their DJ sets.

They are a music producer, bringing their own productions to life in the studio. They produce music that other DJs play, and they play music that other producers have created.

They can be found performing at club DJ gigs and sometimes even as radio DJs, showcasing new music to eager listeners.

The role of a DJ Producer is multifaceted and always evolving.

It’s an art form that is constantly being shaped by the likes of many producers and DJs who bring their own unique sounds and styles to the world of electronic music.

A DJ Producer lives and breathes music, from the backing tracks they create in their studio to the live performances they deliver on stage.

In conclusion, being a DJ Producer is about more than just playing music. It’s about creating, producing, and sharing one’s own music with the world.

It’s about influencing and being influenced by other artists. And most importantly, it’s about making people dance, connecting with live audiences, and spreading the love for music far and wide. That’s the life of a DJ Producer.

I hope you now have a good understanding of what a DJ producer is and what they do. 

Mark V.

Written By Mark V.

Mark Valenzuela is a professional blogger, entrepreneur, and educator with more than 15 years of experience in music production. In 2008, Mark founded Hip Hop Makers, a top resource for aspiring music producers and beatmakers. He specializes in content on music production, software, gear, and free music resources. Committed to empowering creators of all levels, Mark continues to inspire and help music creators pursue their dreams.

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