DJ Intelligence: by DJs, for DJs… The story behind the service

Over the past 8 years, DJ Intelligence has traveled to over two dozen national tradeshows and met literally thousands of DJs in person. One of the most popular questions we are asked is “How did DJ Intelligence get started?” In case your future travel plans do not include a trip to a national trade show, here’s the story behind the service that has forever transformed the DJ industry.

The first version of the DJ Intelligence software was actually developed in 1998 by one of Chicago’s largest and most respected DJ entertainment companies. Many are surprised to learn that the code itself was written by DJs, not programmers or engineers. Who better to understand the true needs of a mobile DJ than a group of seasoned DJs with decades of experience entertaining at weddings and parties?

The original version of the software was an immediate success. Clients loved the ability to book and plan their event online, especially the ability to make a request list. At the time, most DJs were still mailing out hard copies of their music list. The ability to search a music library online and make requests in real time was cutting edge. Clients were amazed and prospective clients were impressed. Business prospered!

Over the years, the Chicago DJ company was inundated with emails and phone calls from other DJ companies, sometimes three or four a week, asking if they would be willing to sell the software. Of course the answer was always “not at this time” because the DJ company was enjoying an unmatched competitive advantage. But finally in late 2001, after the volume of requests became overwhelming, the decision was made to offer the software to the general public.

In the months that followed, the software was re-developed from the ground up to offer greater flexibility for the unique needs of different types of DJ companies. In early 2002, the new version was complete and ready for launch. Few recall that the original name of the software was Music Intelligence because most of the early features were designed around the music tools. But within a few short months Music Intelligence expanded to become DJ Intelligence, a name that today is one of the most recognizable brands in the industry.

By early 2003 the co-founders and co-developers of DJ Intelligence decided it was time to sell the DJ business so they could focus their efforts on DJ Intelligence. Owning one of Chicago’s largest DJ companies, they did not feel it was appropriate and was a conflict of interest to be offering a service to DJs who in many cases were their local competitors. The business was quickly sold and these entertainers permanently changed their resume from “DJ” to “former DJ.” The Chicago DJ company continues to operate to date under its new ownership.

Over the years DJ Intelligence has grown beyond expectations. Today DJ Intelligence services thousands of DJs in two dozen countries worldwide. But one thing has never changed: DJ Intelligence is by DJs, for DJs. Only today, the community of contributing DJs is far larger than it was in 2002. DJ Intelligence’s full time staff consists of former DJs, entertainers, and professional service providers with decades of experience in the weddings & special events industries. Improvements and enhancements to the software come directly from the ideas that are submitted from professional DJs who use DJ Intelligence.

DJ Intelligence is your software and we are committed to developing new features and tools that better fit the needs of your company. We’re one of the few services in this industry to offer live 24×7 support from a team of professionals who not only understand the software, but also understand your business. And while the past has certainly been exciting, the future holds even greater promise. Some major upgrades and improvements are currently in development, based purely on your ideas and suggestions. We’re glad to have you along for the ride!

$600 GIVEAWAY from DJ Intelligence, enter by August 13th

$600 GIVEAWAY! In 420 characters or less, tell us how DJ Intelligence has helped your business or why you can’t live without it. Write your story directly on the DJ Intelligence wall at http://www.facebook.com/djintelligence as a new post. The story with the most “Likes” as of August 13th at Noon (CST) will win the $600 valued prize pack from DJ Intelligence, Party Blast, and TM Studios. Encourage your friends and colleagues to read your post and “Like” it!

$600 GIVEAWAY PRIZES INCLUDE: 6 Month Private Label Subscription to DJ Intelligence ($100 VALUE), 6 Month Platinum Listing at Party Blast ($200 VALUE), and 6 Month PrimeCuts Weekly MP3 Music Subscription from TM Studios ($300 VALUE). If you already have any of these services, they will be extended by 6 months.

Mobile Beat Magazine July issue features DJ Intelligence Top 200

The July issue of Mobile Beat Magazine (#129) hit the newsstands and is again overflowing with great content including the yearly Top 200 song lists. This highly anticipated issue of Mobile Beat features a number of lists with song data provided by DJ Intelligence. As a DJ Intelligence subscriber, when your clients make requests online they are automatically included in this vote, helping to shape future events all over the world! The most requested lists by DJ intelligence are systematically calculated by analyzing the nearly 2 million actual client requests made through the DJ intelligence music request system each year. Every request is compiled in real time to create these tallied lists. Because of the massive quantity of requests, the lists are precisely accurate.

In this issue of Mobile Beat, industry expert Jim Weisz provides some commentary on the Top 200, looking back at 20 years of lists as the publication approaches its 20 year anniversary in 2011. You might be surprised at the number one song of the year! Looking back at the classic part of the list, Mobile Beat talks with Tommy James, the man behind Mony, Mony and many other hits, and marks the inception of a new feature called Party Music People which focuses on the artists who have given us the hits that fill dance floors week after week.

Be sure to check out all this and much more in the July issue of Mobile Beat Magazine. Not a Mobile Beat subscriber? Subscribe today at http://www.mobilebeat.com. Already a Mobile Beat subscriber? Log in at http://members.mobilebeat.com to view the new issue electronically!

DJ Intelligence expands Most Requested song lists to include 1950’s

DJ Intelligence is pleased to introduce the “Top 100 Songs of the 1950’s,” a new addition to its existing collection of Most Requested song lists. As with DJ Intelligence’s other Most Requested charts, it’s systematically calculated by analyzing nearly 2 million actual client requests made through the DJ Intelligence music request system over the past 12 months. The requests are compiled and tallied to create this new, useful list. Because of the massive quantity of requests, we believe it is precisely accurate. This is a generalized list for all events ranging from weddings to parties.

Other Most Requested charts published by DJ Intelligence include Top 200 Songs, Top 100 1960’s, Top 100 1970’s, Top 100 1980’s, Top 100 1990’s, and Top 100 2000’s. DJ Intelligence also publishes specialty charts such as Top Bride & Groom first dance, Bride & Father, Groom & Mother, Bridal Party, Bouquet, Garter, Cake Cutting, and Introductions. These lists are accessible by clients through the DJ Intelligence Music Database, Music Search, and Guest Request website tools. You can view a sampling of these lists by visiting http://www.demo.djintelligence.com/music/requested.asp

The Music Database is just one of nearly two dozen interactive web modules included with the service, but among DJ Intelligence subscribers it is agreed to be the most popular. Your clients can log on to your existing website and search through your personal music library (or use the default list of 75,000 songs which is updated weekly) by keyword, genre, decade, and other search parameters, or simply browse through your music library by song title or artist. They can view song suggestions by category. They can even listen to 30 second song samples and view the lyrics to any song with a single click!

When the client finds a song they like, they can add it to one of three custom request lists: Must Play, Play if Possible, and Do Not Play. You can select how many of each type of request you are willing to accept and can even change the labels if you do not like these terms. The client can attach “notes” to any request for special instructions or dedications. And if the client wants to request a song that is not in your library, you can optionally provide the client with a “custom” request button for entering these requests by hand.

The client can save their work for continued progress and return to the site at any time to retrieve their saved list. Since the service is web based, the client can connect from anywhere in the world using an internet connected computer (PC or Mac) and their web browser. Throughout the process, you can monitor the client’s progress through the Control Panel and even receive email notifications every time the client makes an update to their list. Upon completion, the client’s request list is electronically submitted to you by email which also includes a link to a printable HTML report. If you use digital music software, the system can create an M3U playlist file so all the client’s requests are pre-loaded for the event!

Perhaps the neatest feature of the DJ Intelligence music request system is that every time your client makes a request, that request is automatically included in a real time tally for the Most Requested song lists. This means their contributions are helping to shape future events all over the world. Millions of requests are cast each year through this very system. To test drive a live demo site, please visit http://www.demo.djintelligence.com/music. To learn more about DJ Intelligence and add it to your existing website so your clients’ requests can be included in the voting, visit http://djintelligence.com.

DJ Intelligence to present seminar at NADJ tradeshow in UK on April 25th

DJ Intelligence will be presenting a seminar at the upcoming NADJ AGM & tradeshow on 25 April, 2010 at the Barn Function Centre in Gloucestershire, UK. The NADJ is the National Association of Disc Jockeys, a leading trade association for professional mobile DJs in the United Kingdom. DJ Intelligence will have a representative on hand to present the seminar, provide a full demonstration, and answer any questions from the group.

The UK is DJ Intelligence’s 3rd largest market, with over a thousand professional DJs using the software. DJ Intelligence is owned by Intelligence, Inc., a US-based company, but the service itself is fully optimised to fit the unique needs of the UK market. “While we do not hide the fact that we are a US-based company, we want DJs in the UK to feel as though they are transacting business with a UK-based company. In short, we want UK DJs to feel extremely comfortable doing business with us and know that they will receive all the same advantages as working with a local company” said Scott Kartsounes, CEO of DJ Intelligence parent company Intelligence, Inc.

One of the hallmarks of this mission is DJ Intelligence’s 24×7 support operation, a rarity in this industry. Even with the 6 hour time difference between the UK and US, UK-based DJs will have full confidence in knowing they can reach someone to answer their questions, day or night. “DJ Intelligence is critical to the operation of your DJ business. You need to be able to reach us anytime and we need to be available around the clock, regardless of local business hours or time differences” said Kartsounes. “Our reputation is built on first class customer support.”

DJ Intelligence also configures for local UK standards, including address formats (i.e. “House Number and Street” instead of “Address” or “Postal Code” instead of “ZIP Code”), currency formats (i.e. UK Pounds £ instead of US Dollars $), and advanced features such as the availability of travel charge (mileage) calculations within the Quote Generator tool and NoChex, a popular UK payment processor, within the Payment Gateway tool. “We have taken very careful consideration to determine the best way to serve DJs in the UK market. DJ Intelligence’s development is fueled directly by actual DJs who use the service. Through our UK subscribers, we have done extensive research to learn about local standards to ensure we conform as closely as possible. Of course if there are ever any details that have been overlooked, we are eager to make those changes” said Darren Hughes, President of Intelligence, Inc. and head of software development. “It is our goal to be the most flexible and powerful solution available in the UK market.”

To learn more about DJ Intelligence, please visit http://djintelligence.com. If you are located in the UK and are interested in attending the tradeshow and DJ Intelligence seminar, please visit http://www.nadjtradeshow.com for full details. You do not have to be a member of the NADJ to attend the show.

A Look at Best-Selling DJ/Author Stacy Zemon’s Must-Read New Book

Stacy Zemon
A Look at Best-Selling DJ/Author Stacy Zemon’s
Must-Read New Book

Can success be taught?  Ask the 40,000 or so DJs worldwide who’ve benefited from the wit and wisdom of DJ/Author Stacy Zemon’s widely acclaimed series of disc jockey books and you’ll likely get a resounding “Yes!”  Her books have become mainstays of the mobile industry because Stacy knows her stuff.

For over a decade, she has penned articles for DJ Times magazine and been a reporter for DJ News Network. Stacy is also an endorsed artist for American DJ Lighting, Cortex Digital Music Controllers, and Promo Only Music and Video.  Her roots began in radio where Stacy’s been an Announcer, Music Director and Program Director.  Stacy’s passion for professional excellence prompted her to pioneer a ground-breaking business model between her multi-system entertainment operation and a major radio broadcasting company.  The business was the dominant force in New England.  Today, Stacy works solely as an MC for high-end private and corporate events.

She routinely shares her wealth of knowledge as a speaker at industry conferences such as the Mobile Beat DJ Show and the International DJ Expo, where she is also a frequent judge at annual “DJ of the Year” competitions.

Most recently, Zemon has chosen to share her insights with a new book, The Mobile DJ MBA…Simply put, this book is a must-read for disc jockeys who are serious about running a profitable enterprise. Brimming with vital business, sales and marketing savvy garnered from Stacy’s years of experience, The Mobile DJ MBA provides both newcomers and seasoned pros alike with the know-how needed to gain and maintain a competitive edge.

This vital reference manual features tips from 60 of the brightest minds in our industry including: DJ Soulman,  Scott “The Game Master” Faver, Jason Jani, Marcello Pedalino, Sid Vanderpool, Lisa Kasberg Mike Walter, Professor Jam, Rick “DJ Flip” Sajorta and Albert Lineses III (ALIII).

TOPICS COVERED:

• Overcoming business obstacles
• Developing sales skills to convert prospects into clients
• Creating a network of partnerships that will grow your business
• Booking more events with surefire sales closing methods
• Gaining tons of exposure with free publicity
• Implementing the top guerrilla marketing tactics
• Gaining a competitive edge over your competition
• Expanding into a multi-system/person operation
• Producing a dazzling audio-visual sales presentation
• Expanding your roster of products and services
• Attracting and retaining loyal DJ staff members
• And much more….
 

The Mobile DJ MBA is a book about business that’s not all business.  Part of Stacy’s allure as an author is that she provides an easy and entertaining read.  We’re putting The Mobile DJ MBA on our recommended reading list – and so should you.

For more about Stacy Zemon, The Mobile DJ MBA and her other best sellers, The Mobile DJ Handbook and The DJ Sales & Marketing Handbook visit ProMobileDJ.com!

ProMobileDJ.com is Stacy’s Business, Sales & Marketing blog that features tools, techniques and strategies for management, innovation and growth.  Stacy encourages DJs to visit the blog frequently for updates and to comment on posts.

Could you mobile entertainment company benefit from a business tune-up?  Does the copy on your website and in your marketing materials accurately reflect the image you want to portray to your target market(s)?  If not, Stacy can help with business consulting and copywriting services.  For more information visit StacyZemon.com.

DJ Intelligence Earns Endorsement from Canadian Professional DJ Association, Inc. (CPDJA)

DJ Intelligence is excited to have earned an exclusive endorsement from the Canadian Professional Disc Jockey Association Inc. The CPDJA is Canada’s largest professional DJ association, with more members reported than all other Canadian associations combined. Many members of the CPDJA already use DJ Intelligence’s online interactive client tools on their DJ websites and through this endorsement the CPDJA will be extending an invitation to all of its members to use DJ Intelligence.

“The CPDJA is a great organization and we are thrilled they have recognized the power and value of DJ Intelligence for their membership,” said Scott Kartsounes, CEO of DJ Intelligence’s parent company Intelligence, Inc. “We look forward to serving their members with great service backed by our incredible 24×7 support.”

While DJ Intelligence is owned by Intelligence, Inc., a U.S. based company with subscribers in two dozen countries worldwide, Canada is DJ Intelligence’s second largest market with thousands of users. The software itself is fully optimized for the Canadian market, including currencies in Canadian dollars, date reversal, kilometres (KM) on the mileage calculator, and even the option to add special service/VAT taxes that are unique to Canada. It is DJ Intelligence’s goal to perfectly fit the needs of the Canadian marketplace and is continually making improvements to the software to cater to this important group of DJs.

This endorsement further reinforces DJ Intelligence’s position as an industry leader with a reputation for quality, trust, and reliability. Mobile DJs in North America can use DJ Intelligence with confidence, knowing they are working with a professional organization dedicated to impeccable customer service.

CPDJA members can take advantage of a special offer developed just for their association. If you are a member of the CPDJA and are considering subscribing to DJ Intelligence, please contact DJ Intelligence or the CPDJA through their websites at www.djintelligence.com and www.cpdja.ca.

DJ Intelligence introduces quarterly billing options for those affected by the economy

DJ Intelligence is pleased to introduce new quarterly and bi-annual billing options for those companies hit hardest by the economy. The cost of DJ Intelligence is competitively priced at under a hundred dollars a year. But some companies who have been affected by the slow economy are finding it difficult to make ends meet, especially as bills come due during their slow/off-peak season. “Let’s face it, in this economy every dollar counts. The ability to spread out payments over a longer term or to move your annual billing date to a more profitable season is a helpful option for some companies” said Scott Kartsounes, CEO of DJ Intelligence parent company Intelligence, Inc.

The payment plans have been offered on a test basis to a few dozen companies for over a year now. “The feedback has been extremely positive. Some companies are consistently renewing on a quarter-by-quarter basis while others are taking advantage of a onetime quarterly or bi-annual payment to move out their annual billing date, for example from January to July,” said Kartsounes. “The ultimate goal is to offer the greatest level of flexibility for our subscribers and offer every available option to help them through these turbulent times.”

Those who are interested in learning more about the new quarterly and bi-annual payment plans should contact DJ Intelligence’s support team at http://support.intelligenceinc.com. “The greatest part about our payment plans is that there is absolutely no change in the level of service you receive from DJ Intelligence. You will continue to get all the same features backed by the same incredible 24×7 support,” Kartsounes added. If your company has been hit hard by the economy, please contact DJ Intelligence today to learn more about these new payment plans.

Join DJ Intelligence at Mobile Beat DJ Show in Vegas Feb 9-11

DJ Intelligence will again be attending the Mobile Beat DJ Show & Convention in Las Vegas from February 9th-11th this year. Selected members of the Intelligence, Inc. staff will be on hand to answer questions, give product demonstrations, and gather feedback & suggestions from existing users.

DJ Intelligence will again have its interactive booth in the quiet room of the exhibit hall where you can demo the latest technologies on multiple laptops. Additionally, DJ Intelligence will be hosting an introductory website seminar at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, February 10th for those DJs who do not currently use DJ Intelligence but are interested in learning more about it. If you are attending the show, please make plans to stop by the DJ Intelligence booth to say hello and introduce yourself. If you bring a colleague over to our booth who does not currently use DJ Intelligence and they sign up, we’ll reward you both for your referral!

Existing DJ Intelligence users should also plan on attending the “Outside The Box” seminar at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, February 10th to learn about great 3rd party products that can further enhance your DJ Intelligence tools and set you apart from your competition!

Cast Your Vote Now

Since releasing the most requested songs of 2009 (http://djintelligence.com/charts/DJIntelligenceMostRequestedAll2009.pdf), hundreds of new DJ companies have joined DJ Intelligence so they can include their clients’ requests in next year’s tally.

The DJ Intelligence music request system is just one of nearly two dozen interactive web modules included with the service, but among DJs it is agreed to be the most popular. The DJ’s clients can log on to their existing website and search through their personal music library (or use the default list of 75,000 songs which is updated weekly) by keyword, genre, decade, and other search parameters, or simply browse through the DJ’s library by song title or artist. They can view song suggestions by category. They can even listen to 30 second song samples and view the lyrics to any song with a single click!

When the client finds a song they like, they can add it to one of three custom request lists: Must Play, Play if Possible, and Do Not Play. The DJ can select how many of each type of request they are willing to accept and can even change the labels if they do not like these terms. The client can attach “notes” to any request for special instructions or dedications. And if the client wants to request a song that is not in the DJ’s library, the DJ can optionally provide the client with a “custom” request button for entering these requests by hand.

The client can save their work for continued progress and return to the site at any time to retrieve their saved list. Since the service is web based, the client can connect from anywhere in the world using an internet connected computer (PC or Mac) and their web browser. Throughout the process, the DJ can monitor the client’s progress through the Control Panel and even receive email notifications every time the client makes an update to their list. Upon completion, the client’s request list is electronically submitted to the DJ by email which also includes a link to a printable HTML report. If the DJ uses digital DJ software, the system can create an M3U playlist file so all the client’s requests are pre-loaded for the event!

Perhaps the neatest feature of the DJ Intelligence music request system is that every time a DJ’s client makes a request, that request is automatically included in a real time tally for the “most requested” lists. This means their contributions are helping to shape future events all over the world. Millions of requests are cast each year through this very system. To test drive a live demo site, please visit http://www.demo.djintelligence.com/music. To learn more about DJ Intelligence and add it to your existing website so your clients’ requests can be included in the voting, visit http://djintelligence.com.

Next Page »