You may not want to admit it, but his ‘Cha Cha Slide’ is a go-to cheesy hit that can often ram a dance floor. It meant a great deal to tell him how much I valued his work, something I used at every kids party I ever did, at every school disco and even at every prom. And frankly, the amount I paid for his track was paltry in terms of the return it gave me. I often think about that meeting when I see really dodgy posts about working DJs sourcing music!

In the digital age, music is more accessible than ever before. With a few clicks, you can stream or download music from a myriad of platforms. However, amid the convenience, there's a crucial choice that often gets overlooked whether consciously or not: to buy music legally or resort to pirated sources.
While it may be tempting to opt for free downloads or unauthorised sources, there are compelling reasons why purchasing music legally is not just the right thing to do but also a ‘sound investment’ in the long run.

Behind every track lies the hard work, creativity, and talent of artists, producers, and songwriters. By purchasing music legally, you directly support these individuals and contribute to the livelihood of the music industry.

In terms of quality, legal music platforms produce pristine recordings that do justice to the artist's vision. Unlike pirated sources, which may offer compressed or low-quality files, legitimate platforms provide high-fidelity audio that enhances the output of your equipment.

And what about legal compliance? Using unauthorised sources exposes you to legal risks and ethical dilemmas. Copyright infringement carries potential consequences, including fines, lawsuits, and damage to your reputation. By buying music legally, you safeguard yourself against legal liabilities and uphold ethical standards within the music community.

And beyond artists, the music industry encompasses a vast network of professionals, including producers, engineers, promoters, and distributors. By purchasing music legally, you contribute to the health and sustainability of this ecosystem, ensuring that everyone involved in the music-making process receives fair compensation for their contributions.
Buying music legally isn't just about acquiring songs - it's about making a conscious choice to support artists, uphold quality standards, and respect the integrity of the music industry. As DJs, we play a crucial role in preserving the vibrancy and diversity of the music landscape for generations to come. I apologise if I'm coming over all preachy. But these thoughts were triggered by one too many posts!

As a reader of Pro Mobile, you will be very aware of Mastermix – a fantastic service which provides an incredible range of high-quality music gems that you will have to spend many hours trawling other sources to find. Joining Mastermix as regular advertisers from this issue are two brands who for the first time, are signing long-term contracts with us to raise awareness of their services amongst the DJ community. The first is I Like Music. This is a platform which does everything that iTunes and Amazon Music (the two most regularly used sites by DJs) does, only with better quality, the correct licensing and oh yes, cheaper costs!

The second is Sing2Karaoke – a new service run by one of our old friends, Ian Buckland, a man who has been around the mobile DJ industry for quite some time.

All of these companies work hard to provide us with fabulous, high-quality products, and they do so in the right way, supporting the industry that enables us to earn good money playing music. I implore you to support them.