So this article is going around. I have thoughts. https://www.papermag.com/instagram-live-copyright-dj-censoring-2645789312.html

I just knew that the Zuckpire bought into the D-Nice glow up and killed DRM for him. I love D-Nice, I'm happy for his success and admire his drive and shrewd business moves... but I'll never be on his level. I am The Rest Of Us, and we have to figure this out without fame.

D-Nice blew up on IG Live because we were all held hostage by the Rona, consuming content and looking for some normalcy and comfort. Yes he's a legend who busted his ass to leverage an opportunity. But he pretty much won the NBA Finals MVP while balling in a pair of Crocs.

IG Live is made for Cardi interviewing Bernie Sanders. It's for Ari Lennox's wonderful shenanigans. It's not for performances or DJ sets. And they don't want DJs there. Neither does FB, YT, or Twitch, despite the sonic experience and technical superiority of those platforms.

The planet has been remade by a pandemic. As a DJ I feel like a refugee trying to set up camp on platforms that are actively hostile to me, even though people insist that our craft makes them feel better. I've never been more affirmed by my audience than during the apocalypse.

I do a weekly live stream in Zoom and have booked some private gigs through that as well. It's been nice, but still riddled with problems. It's technically deficient for DJ purposes, but at least isn't fighting against us like the other spots... except for zoom bombers.

I haven't done lives on any platforms other than Zoom, despite every artist on the planet going live all the time at once. I just didn't want to force myself into a situation that I have to fight. Surviving this pandemic is fight enough. I don't want to be where I'm not wanted.

At present, there is only ONE platform that actively embraces DJs. ONLY ONE, and that is @mixcloud. I'm going to #MoveToMixcloud. I think this is the best move for all of us. My voice isn't loud but I'm hoping it can be amplified. https://twitter.com/mixcloud/status/1252638324407271425

I can't continue my work in a decimated entertainment landscape while playing whack-a-mole... and I'M the mole. I have to rock with who rocks with me. There's no point in sticking to old ways when everything has to change. #MoveToMixcloud https://twitter.com/DJmag/status/1253651026479112193

But what about audience? All the eyeballs on the planet are glued to IG and FB. How do you move people to another platform to pay attention to you? I don't have the answer, I'm just tweeting. I'm still going to #MoveToMixcloud tho. I'd rather start over in a non-hostile space.

I can't do all this long ass threading and #MoveToMixcloud advocacy without telling folks where I'm at. So come holler at me over here, where DJs aren't an afterthought. https://www.mixcloud.com/TheVibeConductor/

It's still Sunday. You might be done cleaning but this mix will still work. It's the place where @EarthWindFire @Ameriie @OfficialSting @jodywatley and @phontigallo all hang out together.

https://www.mixcloud.com/TheVibeConductor/party-line-at-the-zoom-room-4-23-20/

#PartyLineZoomRoom