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Can I DJ on Facebook Live? [THE TRUTH]

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One of the best ways to increase your audience and get your music in front of more people is to use social media. You can connect with fans all over the world, and they can listen to your music and buy your songs.

And with live video becoming more and more popular, Facebook Live is a great tool to use.

You can DJ on Facebook Live. However, before DJing on Facebook, it’s important to consider the logistics.

Not only do you need a good internet connection and microphone, but you must also check whether you’re using copyrighted songs, as Facebook doesn’t allow them to be used in live streams.

If you want to grow your career as a DJ, you should use the internet and social media to your advantage. Tools like Facebook Live are fantastic for DJs who want to get out there.

But you need to consider a few things so that you can stream music on Facebook Live.

An example of a Facebook Live DJ Set

DJing on Facebook Live: Essential Tips

The act of DJing on Facebook Live is pretty simple: just set up a camera, connect your audio to the stream’s audio, and begin playing.

However, there are a few things you need to do if you want your Facebook Live DJ shows to go without a hitch. Let’s review them below.

Avoid Copyright Infringement

You could have the best DJ equipment and streaming gear, but you need to avoid legal problems. When you DJ in a club or over the radio, you or the venue probably has a license to play certain songs.

However, streaming is so new that the guidelines for playing music through a stream aren’t as clear.

The American Society for Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) has agreements with Facebook and other websites.

However, they don’t mention specific rules for live streams, and those guidelines only apply to play music from artists that work with ASCAP.

In the past, Facebook has taken down streams due to copyright infringement. Facebook has a policy that protects the intellectual property of others, and music is part of that.

If someone who wrote a song finds out that you used it and they report it, Facebook can take your stream down.

Luckily, you can do a couple of things to avoid using someone else’s ideas without their knowledge. Preventing that can help you keep your live stream on Facebook so that you can continue to share your DJing with more people.

Get Permission

If you know you want to play one or more songs from an artist, try to get permission from the artist. You can go through a performing rights organization like ASCAP or Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).

Getting permission is the best way to know that you have the right to use a particular song.

If you’re using a friend’s music, you may be able to get their permission in writing through an email. However, when working with a major artist, you should get a license to prove you have the rights to use the song.

Any license or agreement you get should include information about live streams so that you can protect yourself in case they try to report you.

That way, if someone does report your content, you can show Facebook that you had a license or another agreement.

It can be hard to get the rights to every song you may want to use, which is why an organization like ASCAP or BMI is a great start. You can get a license and be able to play songs from different artists without needing multiple agreements.

Write Original Music

The easiest way to avoid copyright claims is to DJ with music that you own all of the rights to. In other words, you can write music yourself that you use in your DJ streams.

You can use the same music software to write and record tracks that you would for DJing, but you just start from scratch.

At first, writing original music can seem intimidating, especially if you don’t know how to play an instrument. However, many music programs let you write music directly in them.

You don’t have to know much about music theory or how to play a ton of instruments to create great songs.

The software typically lets you create tracks, and you can select a different virtual instrument for each line. Then, you can experiment with a few melodies or chords to find what you like.

You can add each musical idea to your program, and you can even loop a track if you want it to repeat throughout a song.

Writing original music can take time, so you may need to be patient. However, you can learn how to write music, just like how you learned to DJ. Here’s a quick video that should set you on the right track:

Focus on Sound Quality

Once you figure out a set of songs to use in your live stream, you should focus on getting a good sound. Unfortunately, sound quality can be difficult to optimize over the internet.

What your audience hears can depend a lot on their device and their speakers or headphones.

However, you can do a lot to improve the sound quality on your end. Then, your audience can enjoy your Facebook Live stream and the music you play on it.

The most important element when it comes to sound quality is a microphone. While you won’t be using a microphone to input your DJing audio, you’ll need one if you want to add any ad-libs or communicate with your audience during the set.

You can use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile device if you don’t have anything better. But the sound quality isn’t going to be great, especially if your device is older.

You can also find a USB mic that you can plug into your device, and you don’t need special cables. Once you get the mic, you can hook it up to the device you will use to stream, and you can select it as your microphone of choice.

If you want your audience to keep watching, you should give them the best possible experience.

Choose Your Device (Smartphone or Laptop)

You also need to decide what device you want to use for Facebook Live. The two most common choices are your smartphone and your laptop. However, you want to consider the device you’ll use for your DJ set.

If you use your laptop to mix and edit music, you should use something else for the stream. When you use the same device, it can be hard to navigate between windows, and you might experience sound interference from your microphone.

Also, using the same device means your audience won’t be able to see you with your full DJ setup.

You should choose a device that you can connect to your microphone, and you’ll also need to ensure that device has a stable internet connection. If possible, use an ethernet cable when using a computer for your live stream.

For your phone, you should use a stable WiFi connection, but you can use your cellular data as a backup connection.

If you use your phone, you should also use a stand or tripod to prop it up during your Facebook Live. Then, you won’t have to worry about it falling over.

And with any laptop or phone, you should charge it before the stream so that it doesn’t die while you’re DJing.

Sync Everything

Before you begin your Facebook Live stream, do a test run to make sure everything sounds good.

You can record a short video with the setup you plan to use. Use the same device to record and the same computer and equipment for DJing.

You don’t have to record yourself for hours, but it should be long enough to give you an idea of the outcome. Experiment with fast and slow songs and songs that emphasize the bass or the treble frequencies.

If you notice any problems, you’ll know what to fix before the live event.

During the live stream, you can also ask a friend to act as tech support. They can watch your live stream with headphones to avoid interference. And if they encounter issues, they can let you know what changes you should make.

Conclusion

DJing on Facebook Live is an excellent way to build an online audience and make a name for yourself. But it doesn’t come without risks or the need to plan your stream.

If you can choose the right songs and use the best setup, you can stream your DJ set to the masses.

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