We get asked “Can you DJ with Apple Music?” a lot. It’s no surprise, Apple is the biggest player in mobile, and Apple Music is built in to the OS. For the last year you have been able to DJ with Apple Music through Algoriddim’s DJay software. To be able to integrate Apple Music into Rekordbox, Engine, Rane, Numark or Serato has always been the next dream. You can sort of DJ with Spotify but it is too much for most users to bother with. Tidal was making major gains as a platform in the DJ world but since the Tidal price hike anecdotally DJs are deserting the platform. Today Apple have announced some big news –
You can now DJ with Apple Music on all software, and directly on some hardware.
Apple today announced that you can directly stream from Apple Music to Rekordbox, Engine, Rane, Numark or Serato. This is big news. Yes you could already use Beatport, Beatsource etc and DJs know what those services are, but EVERYONE knows what Apple Music is. This is the first mainstream music platform to that you can DJ with. Don’t hold your breath waiting for Spotify to come onboard though, that ship has definitely sailed.
Why are the DJ software companies going to be pleased?
Pioneer Alpha Theta suggest that around 80% of new Rekordbox users stop using it within the first year. We suspect a similar number for all the DJ software companies. The pain point for the software company is obvious. You spend marketing budget in all forms on attracting new users, and then the attrition rate is high. If that figure was 30% or even 20% then this would mean a vast increase in the Rekordbox user base, and therefore revenue. Alpha Theta’s research shows that those who stop using the software within a year drops to 60% if they are using a streaming service.
What can we read into this? – That streaming is expected, and it is easier to use, which means that users continue to use the product, as it is just a better experience. Increasing streaming options reduces the hurdle of having to purchase and then download music to be used in DJ software, which reduces users giving up on the software. And the longer you use the software, the longer your (paid) subscription will be, and also the more likely you are to upgrade your hardware. It’s a win win.
What you need to DJ with Apple Music
- Suitable software or hardware
- An Apple Music subscription
- £10.99 a month in the UK if you aren’t already subscribed
- You can get a month free if you sign up currently
- You also get a month free with Apple One
- Student Plan also comes with a month free of Apple Music
Playlists and Cue Syncing
- You can access the whole of Apple Music on your device, or just specific playlists.
- You can create playlists that are cross streaming service, so you can mix Apple Music and Beatport for example
- There will be a dedicated DJ with Apple Music category page, spotlighting a series of DJ-friendly editorial playlists – we are interested to see what the level of curation is like, and how deep the customisation options are
- Hot cues you set sync to wherever they are used, so they can be sync’d across devices
Apple Music and Rekordbox integration
4 ways to use Apple Music and Rekordbox:
- Logging directly to Apple Music with a compatible product (se below).
- Exporting Apple Music playlist to Rekordbox in advance – Via Could Direct Play, not USB.
- Switching Rekordbox to a Performance mode and using a compatible controller
- Using the iOS app functionality on your iPhone (Android is to follow at a later, unspecified point)
What does the Rekordbox Apple Music DJ integration look like?
You can see the Apple Music logo in the tree view on the left, and the available playlists. (Source – Alpha Theta demo video)
Where can you use Apple Music with Rekordbox ?
At launch Apple Music will be available on these Alpha Theta products:
- XDJ-AZ, Omnis Duo, Apple iOS and Rekordbox desktop. Android is coming later.
- The Omnis Doo makes sense – It’s perfect for mobile and event DJs, who are already invested in a turn-key DJ solution. Now it doesn’t even need a USB to access the biggest available pool of music.
- The XDJ-AZ is a great all in one for higher end mobile and event DJs. Being able to take requests is a key part of many paid DJ gigs.
- Expansion of the hardware options is coming. Expect Opus Quad and CDJ-3000 soon as they use the new chipset.
- Of course if you are a laptop DJ then Apple Music will be available to DJ with via the Rekordbox desktop software, or via the app.
Rekordbox specific requirements for Apple Music
- Rekordbox 7.10
- Rekordbox Clouddirect play needs to be switched on (Nb – Cloud Library sync does not have to be o
- Hardware updates if you are using Omnis Duo or the XDJ-AZ
- Your device needs to be authorised. – Right click on your device under devices and follow the instructions to authorise
Signed up to Apple Music but can’t see it in Rekordbox?
- You need to make it actively viewable within your Rekordbox preferences. it is in the same section as view iTunes, Beatport etc.
Can you DJ with Apple Music and Serato?
DJ with Apple Music is now available to access on Serato’s downloads pages for Serato DJ Lite and Serato DJ Pro. Serato is also launching a new curator page on Apple Music, which will be home to a selection of artist playlists and DJ mixes by DJs including ZEEMUFFIN, DJ Miss Milan, Nick Cheo, DJ Puffy, Jasmine Solano and Kizzi ( we aren’t going to lie we don’t know any of these, but are sure they are top DJs), along with curated playlists for DJs to use in their sets. Serato’s curator page on Apple Music is available now here.
What does the Serato Apple Music DJ integration look like?
What we’d like to see in the future
- At launch there is no offline locker in Apple Music that features in more DJ specific platforms. So if you are in the basement at Berghain don’t expect to be able to stream that Justin Beiber hardstyle remix
- Android integration. We are fully Apple here at DJWORX, and it’s obvious why it isn’t a simultaneous launch, but we hope Android is added soon
Apple Press release – Introducing DJ with Apple Music
Today, Apple introduced DJ with Apple Music, an integrated experience with leading DJ software and hardware platforms AlphaTheta, Serato, and inMusic’s Engine DJ, Denon DJ, Numark, and RANE DJ — enabling Apple Music subscribers to build and mix sets directly from Apple Music’s catalog, and adding to a first integration with Algoriddim‘s djay Pro software.
This integration ensures that DJs at every level have easy and intuitive access to Apple Music’s catalog of over 100 million songs to create and rehearse their sets on any of these DJ software and hardware platforms —a way for any DJ to hone their craft and shape their future sets.
“Apple Music is committed to supporting DJs,” says Stephen Campbell, Global Head of Dance, Electronic & DJ Mixes at Apple Music. “With this latest integration, we’re taking that commitment even further—seamlessly connecting Apple Music with the industry’s leading DJ software and hardware. This innovation brings the full power of Apple Music into the creative workflow, making it easier than ever for DJs to access, play, and discover music in real time.”
Beginning today, users can also access a new dedicated DJ with Apple Music category page, spotlighting a series of DJ-friendly editorial playlists, along with new curator pages for each DJ software and hardware platform showcasing any mixes or sample playlists that can be used to practice.
“We are thrilled to bring this integration with Apple Music to DJs around the world and in their creative process,” said Yoshinori Kataoka, President and CEO of AlphaTheta. “This marks a significant step forward in making DJ’ing more accessible, and we couldn’t be more excited about the possibilities it opens up.”
DJ with Apple Music builds upon the success of Apple Music’s DJ Mixes, a program that, since its announcement in September 2021, has turned Apple Music into the premier destination for premium DJ mixes, with a comprehensive collection of thousands of sets.
Summary – Can you DJ with Apple Music?
Yes – As of today all DJ’s using major DJ software or some compatible hardware can stream directly from Apple Music. We think this is a game changer, and will particularly appeal to new users and mobile DJs. Let us know your thoughts, particularly if you don’t already have Apple Music and are thinking of signing up to it now. We are excited about it because Spotify isn’t an option and Tidal’s integration is too expensive for most. Apple Music has 100 million songs which are now as easy to access as yur normal collection in your DJ software of choice. DJWORX will now be taking requests.