How DJs Find New Music — and How to Get Your Tracks Into Their Sets

For producers, DJs are the ultimate amplifiers. A track in a DJ set reaches a room of people who are ready to hear new music — and often a recording or livestream afterwards. So how do DJs actually find music, and how do you get into their folders?

Where DJs dig for new music

• SoundCloud, especially free downloads, edits and bootlegs
• Download stores and record shops for official releases
• Promo lists from labels and promoters
• Charts, such as the weekly Fangate Top 30
• Other DJs’ sets and tracklists
• Direct messages from producers they trust

Make your tracks DJ-ready

• High-quality files: WAV or 320 kbps MP3.
• DJ-friendly structure: clean intro and outro, clear phrasing.
• Metadata: correct artist, title, version, and artwork embedded in the file.
• BPM and key in the description.
• An extended mix if the original is radio-length.

Use free downloads strategically

Free downloads remove the biggest barrier for DJs: getting the file. A gate asking for a follow and a repost gives DJs your track and gives you a new follower — and often a repost to other DJs who follow them.

How to send music to DJs

1. Build a short list of DJs who actually play your style — ideally ones at a level close to yours.
2. Personalise the message. Mention a set of theirs you liked.
3. Keep it short: who you are, one line on the track, BPM/key, gate link or private download link.
4. Don’t chase aggressively. One polite follow-up is enough.
5. Say thanks if they play it — and share their set.

Build relationships, not just lists

The best promo is a relationship. Go to their nights, support their releases, invite them to remix your track. DJs play music from people they know and like.

Track where your music travels

Your Fangate analytics show where downloads come from by country. A sudden spike from a city might mean a DJ played your track there — worth investigating, thanking, and building on.