The Rise of YouTube DJs: Why Are We In Love With This Trend?

DJing is set to become YouTube’s biggest trend since the rise of beauty gurus in 2017. But what makes this trend so lovable?

I have a group chat with 3 of my friends, where we’re sharing different techniques to flip between tracks on a Reloop Buddy 2-Deck. Lately, we’ve seen more of our high school alumni posting videos of themselves DJing surprisingly great sets, so our homework is to come up with a theme, and a tracklist before each of us gets to schedule a block of time to practice on the Reloop.

I haven’t set a time to practice yet, partly because I’ve already tried DJing and don’t feel eager to repeat it. Still, I don’t plan to express my lack of enthusiasm in the chat — I’ll just go with the flow and keep my friends’ spirits up. We’ve promised that the first person to reach 500K views on YouTube using our shared Reloop Buddy has to upgrade it to a Pioneer DDJ.

Along with so many other people in the world at the moment, my friends want to become DJs, but their goal isn’t to spin music at the hottest clubs. They just want to be able to practice simple mixes and transitions, find a convenient and beautiful backdrop, and spin a rehearsed set for YouTube. Back in 2022, I took a few DJ lessons myself, but back then, social media DJing wasn’t really a thing. My goal, like most others, was to perform live sets at local clubs.

Now, the DJing scene has shifted, and social media DJs are on the rise. YouTube has become the go-to platform for amateur DJs, and it’s easy to see why: YouTube remains the top choice for long-form content, with DJ sets often running anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours. Over the past year, YouTube’s paying subscriber base has grown by 20 million, hitting 100 million users worldwide who can now stream sets ad-free.

And once a DJ has a full YouTube video, creating short-form content for platforms like Instagram and TikTok is a breeze, thanks to AI tools like Veed and VideoGen. This opens the door to more potential for virality, giving social media DJs a real shot at turning their passion into their dream job.

For listeners, everyone seems to have their go-to YouTube DJs and sets they tune into throughout the day. Personally, I’m hooked on  to kick off my mornings and love adding some flair to my afternoon work with  groovy vibes. It’s become a refreshing source of entertainment, with just the right visuals and laid-back feel, perfect for multitasking.

This whole experience has got me wondering why DJing on social media is booming so quickly. Here’s my take on why social media DJing has become such a big trend:

In the Vast Sea of Social Media, We All Want to Leave Our Mark.

Thanks to the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, we’ve all learned by now that we are, unfortunately, the product on major social platforms. These platforms use our attention as their biggest revenue source, filling our feeds with ads, and possibly selling our data. While many of us find this offensive, it’s hard to resist the benefits of scrolling through algorithm-driven content.

So, for the people who don’t want to quit social media, but also don’t want to become a product of these social platforms — the best way to flip the script is to create our own content and join the Creator Economy — an ecosystem where independent creators like YouTubers, TikTokers, writers, bloggers, artists, and influencers make a living from their own creative work.

We all want to become creators breaking free from the trap of being merely a product for big social media companies. And even just a few hundred people engaging with the content we create offers a sense of validation. It feels like we have an audience witnessing our lives, and in doing so, we’re leaving a digital legacy in this seemingly immortal online space.

Being a Social Media DJ is (Relatively) Easy

The ease of DJing might be one of the biggest reasons so many people are jumping into it online. On social media, consistency is crucial, and according to James Clear in Atomic Habits, building a regular habit is all about making it easy and frictionless. Joining the Creator Economy can feel like a big commitment, with the demands of planning content calendars, writing scripts, and spending long hours editing.

This can be especially overwhelming for perfectionists or people with anxiety, who often feel that each post reflects their self-worth and fear the need for perfection.

But DJing offers two unique perks that ease this pressure: first, when you DJ, you’re showcasing music you already love, not your original work. So, as long as you have some trust in your taste, you’re not as exposed to the judgment that comes with sharing your own creations. Second, YouTube DJing is like setting up background music, meaning the spotlight is softer on you compared to being a gaming or beauty content creator.

Hate comments are fewer on DJ set videos too — listeners don’t typically debate the music, they just skip it if it’s not their style.

DJing a playlist is surprisingly straightforward as well. Our group chat with only a month of experience has already found the main rule is keeping a steady BPM (Beats Per Minute), with any speed changes made gradually — unless you’re going for an intentional drop-cut or speed ramp. Basically, as long as the BPM is consistent, it’ll sound smooth to listeners.

Because of this laid-back, accessible approach, plenty of us are grabbing secondhand spin tables and diving right into sharing our favorite tracks.

We All Want to Connect

One of the coolest things about being a DJ — unlike an artist putting out one track or a thought leader sharing one big, and firm opinion — is that DJing is all about creating and sharing a whole vibe. This t might sound a little hipster, but it’s true, and it’s what makes DJing such a great way to connect with people.

Listeners don’t have to love every song in a DJ’s set to enjoy it. When the vibe is right, people tune in because it clicks with their mood or how they want to feel. DJs create that vibe through everything from their set’s backdrop to their own style and how the tracks flow. For example, I love tuning into   playlist on a cozy Friday night — she’s literally in bed, spinning mellow R&B.

It’s not about knowing or loving every track; it’s just that her vibe matches my night. Then, there are DJs like , who takes chill house music to the next level by playing in Norway’s beautiful fjords. Her set is perfect for when I need a little escape from my desk to somewhere way more refreshing.

Here’s HelloVee’s Women of R&B Bedroom Playlist filmed in bed.

This whole vibe-sharing thing lets DJs connect with listeners no matter where they are for whichever mood they want to be connected with. And it usually starts close to home. Most DJs run their tracklists by friends first, getting feedback and practicing in front of a small crowd before sharing it with everyone else.

By the time we see them live or in a video, they’ve likely fine-tuned everything with a few trusted friends or family, adding an extra layer of connection to their music. Just like how my friends and I are sharing resources and tips in a group chat, it’s a shared hobby that we can connect by.

Like musician David Byrne once said,

“Music brings people together. It allows us to experience the same emotions. People everywhere are the same in heart and spirit.”

In a world where creating connections online can sometimes feel like a challenge of judgment and being perfect — DJing on social media stands out as a refreshing way to bring people together through shared vibes and allows us to share more of ourselves without the blinding spotlight.

As listeners, we’re tuning into something bigger than just individual tracks; we’re tuning into moments and moods, uniting through the different playlists and flows.

Big praise to all the online DJs out there! Comment your favorite YouTube DJ sets — and I’ll reply with my own recommendations!