Where do DJs get their music? (2026 guide for Australian DJs)
By The Cue Club. Prices checked 3 November 2026. Prices change often, so check the store before you pay.
The short answer
Most DJs buy tracks as downloads they own, from stores such as Beatport, Bandcamp and Traxsource. A file you own plays on any player, offline, for good. Open-format, mobile and wedding DJs often add a record pool (a subscription such as DJcity, BPM Supreme, ZIPDJ or Digital DJ Pool) for current hits in DJ-friendly edits. Many DJs also stream inside their DJ software (Beatport Streaming, TIDAL, SoundCloud) to find and test music. And there is good free, legal music too: label promos and artist free downloads.
If you play in Australia, playing digital files at gigs also involves music licensing. See Licensing in Australia for the official sources.
Compare the main sources
Prices as each source showed them on 3 November 2026. Where a site only shows US dollars, the AUD figure is an estimate at US$1 = A$1.4269 (ECB reference rate, 2 November 2026). It leaves out card fees and GST, so your bank's figure will differ.
Download stores (you own the file)
| Store | What you get | Price (checked Nov 2026) | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beatport | MP3, or WAV/AIFF for a lossless fee | A$2.09 back catalogue, A$2.29 new release, A$3.09 exclusive per track. Lossless adds A$0.80 (Beatport price list) | House, techno, trance, drum and bass and other electronic genres | Lossless costs extra. Beatport says you can re-download a purchase up to 5 times |
| Bandcamp | Artists and labels sell direct. Formats and prices are set per release | Varies by release. Some are "name your price" | Independent and underground music, and supporting artists directly | Not built for buying a week's worth of tracks in one go. On Bandcamp Friday (6 November and 4 December 2026) Bandcamp waives its revenue share |
| Traxsource | 320 kbps MP3, WAV or AIFF | Its top-tracks chart showed US$1.99 to US$2.49 per track (about A$2.84 to A$3.55) | House: soulful, deep, afro, tech house | Check the format price at checkout |
| iTunes Store (Apple) | AAC downloads | Varies per track (not checked) | Pop, commercial and older hits | Often radio edits rather than extended DJ mixes |
| Juno Download | Closed on 1 June 2026 (Digital DJ Tips) | n/a | Past buyers can still log in and re-download | Juno Records (vinyl and gear) is a separate business and is still trading |
Record pools (subscription, mostly for working DJs)
| Pool | Price (checked Nov 2026) | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DJcity | US$34.99 a month (about A$49.93) or US$175 for 6 months. New users pay US$10 for the first month (DJcity support) | Club and radio: hip-hop, dance, Latin, pop, R&B | Billed in USD. Auto-renews until you cancel |
| BPM Supreme | Standard US$24.99, Premium US$34.99, All-Access US$69.99 a month (about A$35.66, A$49.93, A$99.87) (BPM Supreme support) | Open format, Latin, hip-hop, dance | Plans are per library. All-Access covers all of them |
| ZIPDJ | From US$25 (about A$35.67) on its pricing page. Pro Unlimited is listed elsewhere at US$50 a month (not confirmed on ZIPDJ's own page) | 60+ genres including dance, house, hip-hop, Latin, EDM | ZIPDJ says it does not give refunds |
| Digital DJ Pool | US$9.99 a month or US$89.99 a year (about A$14.25 or A$128.41) | Independent house and electronic music | 320 kbps MP3 only. No major-label music |
Before you pay for any pool, check three things: that its genre list matches what you play, whether you have to prove you DJ, and what its terms say about keeping files after you cancel.
Streaming inside DJ software (you rent access)
| Service | Price (checked Nov 2026) | Works in | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beatport Streaming (now includes Beatsource) | Essential A$15.99 (no DJ gear), Advanced A$21.99, Professional A$41.99 (1,000 tracks offline, lossless FLAC), Professional+ A$44.99 (adds open-format DJ edits) a month | rekordbox, Serato, Traktor, djay and others | Offline storage is only on the Professional plans. Beatsource is merging into Beatport |
| TIDAL | TIDAL's help centre lists DJ Individual at US$19.99 a month. Australian DJ price not confirmed; check tidal.com in AU | Several DJ apps | Offline support differs per app |
| SoundCloud Go+ / DJ | DJ plan listed at US$19.99 a month. AUD price not confirmed | Many DJ apps. SoundCloud says offline DJ use works in VirtualDJ and rekordbox | Read SoundCloud's terms on using streams at public gigs before you rely on it |
| Spotify Premium | A$15.99 a month | rekordbox, Serato, djay, VirtualDJ, Cross DJ, edjing | Online only. Spotify says it is for personal, non-commercial use, and not for clubs, venues, events or livestreams |
Streaming is a cheap way to hear a lot of music. It is also a fragile way to play a gig: no connection means no music, tracks can leave the catalogue, and some services rule out public use. Many DJs stream to discover, then buy what they keep playing.
Free and legal
- Label and artist promos. Labels send unreleased music to DJs who play their sound, often through promo services such as Inflyte or their own mailing lists. You earn promos by playing the tracks, crediting the label and giving feedback.
- Bandcamp free and "name your price" downloads. Some artists let you pay what you like, including nothing.
- Artist free downloads on SoundCloud. Some artists switch on a download button or link a free download.
- Your own edits and productions. Anything you make yourself, from your own samples or licensed sounds.
Ripping audio from YouTube or streaming services is not a legal source and usually sounds worse. Skip it.
Licensing in Australia
This is not legal advice. Licensing for DJs in Australia involves performance rights (playing music in public) and reproduction rights (copying music, including onto a USB or laptop). Read the bodies that manage them:
- DJ Alliance Australasia (DJAA): OneMusic: What do I do? What do I need? A plain-English explainer for DJs, updated July 2026, on who holds which licence and when a DJ might need a reproduction licence.
- OneMusic Australia: Why do I need a licence? The joint APRA AMCOS and PPCA licensing service for playing music in public.
- ARIA: Licensing Covers licences to copy (reproduce) sound recordings.
- APRA AMCOS: apraamcos.com.au For songwriter and publisher rights, including AMCOS reproduction licences.
- Australian Copyright Council: copyright.org.au General copyright information sheets.
If you are also the promoter of an event, or you play from digital files, read the DJAA post above closely and contact the bodies it names.
Beginner tips
- Start with one store and one genre. Learn what you like before you pay for a subscription.
- Buy the best file you can afford. 320 kbps MP3 is the minimum for club systems. WAV or AIFF if you can.
- Back up everything you buy. Keep a copy off your laptop. Stores close (Juno Download did in 2026).
- Prepare tracks before the gig. Set beat grids and hot cues in your DJ software at home.
- Read the terms before you play streams in public. Some services say their DJ streaming is for personal use only.
- Dig in other DJs' sets and charts. Tracklists, store charts and label pages are the fastest way to find music that fits your sound.
- Support the people who make the music. Buy on Bandcamp Friday, credit artists and send feedback on promos.
Where The Cue Club fits
The Cue Club is a marketplace, now in beta, where DJs sell rekordbox-ready custom sets. A set comes as audio files plus a rekordbox.xml with hot cues, beat grids and playlists. Under its Terms of Service, sellers may only list original music and licensed tracks. It sits alongside the stores above. It does not replace them.
FAQ
Where do most DJs buy their music?
From download stores such as Beatport, Bandcamp and Traxsource, where you buy a file you own and can play on any player, offline. Open-format and mobile DJs often add a record pool such as DJcity or BPM Supreme.
Can I DJ with Spotify at a gig?
Spotify works in rekordbox, Serato, djay, VirtualDJ, Cross DJ and edjing with Premium, online only. Spotify's own support page says it is for personal, non-commercial use and not for clubs, venues, events or livestreams.
What is a record pool?
A subscription service that gives DJs downloads of new music in DJ-friendly versions such as intros, clean edits and extended mixes. Prices we checked in November 2026 ran from US$9.99 a month (Digital DJ Pool) to US$69.99 a month (BPM Supreme All-Access).
What is the cheapest legal way to start?
Free promos, Bandcamp "name your price" releases and artist free downloads cost nothing. After that, buy single tracks as you need them, or try a low-cost pool if it carries your genre.
Do I need a licence to DJ in Australia?
It depends on where you play, whether you are also the promoter, and whether you play digital files. The DJ Alliance Australasia explains it for DJs, and OneMusic and ARIA cover the licences themselves. Links are in the Licensing section.
Is Juno Download still open?
No. Juno Download stopped trading on 1 June 2026. Past buyers can still log in and re-download. Juno Records, the vinyl and gear shop, is a separate business.
When is Bandcamp Friday?
The last two in 2026 are Friday 6 November and Friday 4 December. They run midnight to midnight US Pacific time, which is Friday evening to Saturday evening in Australia.
Sources and prices checked 3 November 2026.