Your Questions: How Do I Build A Wedding DJ Library For Cheap?

Digital DJ Tips member Joseph Backarie writes: “Does anyone know of any DJ download pool that carries a huge selection of oldies and classic collections that will make it easy for new mobile / wedding DJs to build a music library without breaking the bank?

“I’ve tried DJ City, CrateConnect, and Franchise Record Pool, but none carry any classic collections that can help a new wedding DJ. Any help will be appreciated.”

Digital DJ Tips Says:

You’ll want to try out Direct Music Service and Promo Only, both of which are good resources with a large back catalogue of tunes for weddings and functions. Promo Only just recently expanded its services to the UK and EU, so if you’re from that neck of the woods, you’re in luck. Pools are primarily there for labels to try out new music with DJs, though, which is why you don’t generally get a huge back catalogue with them.

I think a great way to build your collection would be to check out compilation CDs being sold in record stores (remember them?) and online at Amazon. Standards and oldies multi-disc comps are plentiful, and many can be found in bargain bins – that’s how I started my wedding music collection, and I’m sure you can quickly build yours today doing the same. Just rip them to your laptop’s hard drive after so you can use them with your DJ software of choice.

If going “old skool” with CDs aren’t your thing, you can still check out the iTunes Store for classics compilations. Some options are a bit pricier than what you’d pay for if you went the record pool or CD route, but at least it’s another option for you.

Some DJs subscribe to streaming services to temporarily download and stream songs they know they’ll probably never want to play again. If you’re using Virtual DJ 8, you can subscribe to its ContentUnlimited streaming library, which has a good selection of throwbacks. If you’re on Serato DJ or Rekordbox DJ, you can subscribe to Pulselocker.

I suggest using a combination of record pools and physical format compilations to form the bulk of your mobile / wedding DJ collection if you’re on a budget, and then going to the iTunes Store to fill in the gaps. Set aside an allowance after every gig that you play dedicated to buying music, and you’ll be on your way to building a competitive professional DJ library.

Any tips you’d want to share with our reader? What’s your favourite resource for oldies and classics? Let us know below.