FORMATION OF DJ CULTURE: HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

This article aims to explore the process of the emergence of a relatively young phenomenon known as DJ culture. The focus is on the role of the DJ in the history of popular music. The development of sound recording is investigated, revealing that alongside the recording itself, there is the individual who reproduces and broadcasts it for listeners – the disc jockey (abbreviated as DJ). From the invention of the gramophone record to the present, the history of playing and reproducing sound recordings has captivated researchers and music enthusiasts. The article’s source base is rooted in documentary materials, including journalistic investigations, personal observations, and interviews. The primary research method employed is participant observation. Thanks to the outlined methodology, the article successfully addresses questions about the essence behind the DJ abbreviation and how their activities accompanied the development of popular music and the recording industry in the twentieth century. The historical development of some music genres formed through specific DJ practices is examined in the article. Using documentary materials, it illustrates the stages of the formation of DJ culture, showing the historical evolution of this activity from the appearance of the first gramophone to the Disco era.