Two Turn Tables and a Microphone

Not long ago socialites, models and d-list celebrities tried to find credibility in fashion design. More than just a pretty face or famous name, pseudo celebrities attempted to prove the have creativity that was worth purchasing. Nicky Hilton and Monica Lewinsky had handbag lines, Amanda Bynes designed a line for the now defunct Steve and Barry’s clothing chain, and even Rev Run’s offspring had their own shoes. While this still happens, and there are many extremely successful and amazing celebrity lines, there seems to have been a shift to the celebrity DJ. Samantha Ronson gets paid in the tens of thousandsto strap on the headphones and get a crowd to dance. Successful model Agyness Deyn doesn’t only date musicians, she tries to be one. I have a friend whose company Christmas party was entertained by Joel Madden on his laptop.

The rise of the celebrity DJ can be attributed to the new technology that allows people without musical ability to call themselves DJs. It used to be that to become a successful DJ you would need to fork over the cash for at least two turn tables, a mixer, and sizable record collection. Then you would have to practice. You would have to find songs that had matching bpm (beats per minute) or be able to successfully slow down or speed a record up to match the bpm within enough of a gap to make the songs meld perfectly. Now you can down load software that tells you the bpm of each song and matches other songs accordingly. Singles can be downloaded for $1.29 and there is no more hunting for the newest record for you turntable. You don’t even need a mixer, just download the software and slide the knob on the screen over like you would slide it over on a real mixer. You don’t even really need a laptop. Matt Creed a New York based DJ is known for alternating between two ipods. And this is all coming from someone with just the tiniest idea about what DJs with turntables do. I’m sure Spindarella could be much more elaborate.

I have touched on this before, but I also feel like the loss of the album has led to a rise in celebrity DJs. When people care about singles and they are so easily available it’s no surprise that the ones streaming these songs together are getting more gigs than that artist that write and perform them. Why hear Timberland perform “Carry Out” and then 12 songs you don’t know because you didn’t buy the album, when you can hear Samantha Ronson play “Carry Out”, and Matt and Kim, and MGMT, and Dr. Dre?

With all that said, I’m going to go download virtualDJ software and start alternating through my own playlist, because when it comes down it, the rise of celebrity DJs probably has to do with the fact that its fun.