Photo Credit: Yonothan Baraki
By capturing setlists with 82% accuracy.
DVS1 has just launched Aslice, a brand new desktop software aimed to capture the music played by DJs so that more producers can receive their fair share of income.
Aslice was designed based on a donation system, which means that DJs can pledge a percentage of their gig fee to the producers whose music they’re playing. While Aslice suggests 5%, the final amount will not be disclosed.
According to Zak Khutoretsky (DVS1), the program comes as a direct response to the disparity in royalties awarded to producers despite the exponential growth of the electronic music industry, which amounted to $7.3 billion in 2020. It is worth noting that music collection societies depend on DJs to provide handwritten playlists, while music-recognition software is installed in less than 1% of music venues worldwide.
Currently, Aslice identifies tracks using a machine-learning algorithm, matching them with producers registered on its system. When their registered ID is added to the track’s metadata, the software will also be able to identify unreleased tracks. Aslice is compatible with rekordbox, Traktor, Serato and as a standalone USB media to read playlists auto-generated on Pioneer DJ products.
‘PROs and music collection societies already charge clubs venues and festivals, and even independent promoters for the right to play music,’ says Khutoretsky. ‘It’s literally their responsibility to install these devices and do their job. Millions of dollars are collected each year that never end up back in the hands of the artists whose music is actually played in these venues. Instead, that money gets paid out to the top 100 Billboard artists and pocketed by those societies.’
‘The five percent won’t fix the problem by any means, but it can immediately change an artist’s perspective about what’s possible, not only financially, but with the statistics and information they will get through the service’, he added.
During Aslice’s beta-testing phase in November, 100 DJs uploaded 110 playlists and 5291 tracks. 82% were accurately identified and matched. This led to payments for 2,213 producers, with $1.40 the average amount earned per track. Any money not attributed will be channeled into charities chosen by the Aslice community.
You can learn more about Aslice here.
