DJs are today’s rock stars.  They are ubiquitous in our culture, with a presence everywhere from MTV Cribs to high end fashion boutiques.  Despite their popularity and allure, access to the DJ art form, culture and lifestyle has been tucked away behind velvet ropes.  Until now.  The first book featuring the Scratch DJ Academy, the world’s premiere DJ academy, explains how DJs are some of the most important artists in music and influencers in our culture today.  ON THE RECORD: The Scratch DJ Academy Guide, gives readers an exciting peak into this dynamic world, ultimately challenging everyone to tap their inner DJ. 

Anyone who controls the music is the DJ.  If you have ever made a mix CD, created a playlist in iTunes, or even own an MP3 player, you’re a DJ.  This book helps readers understand what to listen for in music, where to purchase it, how to perform it and more.  Most books about DJs add to the DJ’s mystique, but this book brings them out of the shadows to show that they’re not very different than everyone else.  ON THE RECORD is more than a how-to guide, and explains the DJ’s lifestyle, culture, and abilities.

Turntables have outsold guitars for the last three years, but the DJ has a much longer and more interesting history.  The term “disc jockey” started out as an insulting term, assuming that the job simply entailed riding records in the radio booth.  It was a daunting task to move from playing music on the radio to performing in front of live audiences, since people at the time were used to live bands and orchestras.  But the DJ persevered, and decades later legends like Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, and Kool Herc introduced hip hop to the nation, while Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles established the infectious roots of house music.  ON THE RECORD takes the reader inside the radio stations, block parties, raves, and clubs where it all started.

 ON THE RECORD delves into the reality of being a DJ and the culture that surrounds it.  The book looks at the lives of celebrity DJs – how they got their start (often with awkward and low-paid first gigs), their travel, and the bookings that keep them going.  It includes interviews, useful tips, and fun anecdotes from the world’s top DJs including DJ AM, Z-Trip and Pete Tong.  But these pros aren’t the only ones who can live the DJ life.  The authors advise beginners on how to get going, from handling your first gig to getting a club residency and beyond.   In the end, it all pays off.  DJs not only influence the music you listen to now and will in the future, but also the clothes you wear, the TV and movies you watch, and the technology you use.

Musically, DJs do much more than just sling records and make people dance; they have to draw on their knowledge of song structure, rhythm, BPM and tempo and much more. Luckily, ON THE RECORD shows you how to listen to and appreciate music like a DJ.  The book explains the old and the new equipment, the techniques and even explains the art of the mixtape (which functions like a headshot for DJs).  It also includes DIY exercises, so you’ll learn firsthand how to mix, scratch, and “drop on the 1” (start a record on the first beat of a phrase).  And there’s even a glossary to define everything from cueing and sampling to beatmatching and beat juggling. 

Whether you want to go pro, impress your friends at house parties, or are just a music enthusiast, this is your book.

About Scratch DJ Academy

Scratch DJ Academy, the world's premiere DJ academy, having locations in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. Scratch provides students with access celebrity DJ instructors, copy righted curriculum and state-of-the-art equipment on which to learn. Legendary DJ’s take the students from the technical aspects to performance preparation and trouble shooting.  Scratch DJ Academy isn’t just about technique though.  A big part of any class is sharing musical passions, rare finds, and new ideas about mixing sounds and emotions on the decks.  The academy has been featured in many major media outlets including the New York Times, USA Today, The New Yorker, and the Wall Street Journal and more.