Most of us will be DJs, not track producers, in the age of AI

(But there’s still room for both—and here’s what that means for marketing.)

We’re in a creative shift.

AI is accelerating how fast we can produce, publish, and promote.
But the people who stand out won’t be the ones generating the most—they’ll be the ones who know how to curate, remix, and move an audience.

In other words: most of us will be DJs.
But the very best? They’ll know when to go back into the studio, too.

Let’s unpack this—because it matters more than ever for marketers, creators, and anyone working with AI.

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Track Producers vs. DJs: A Quick Metaphor

Track producers build every sound from scratch—original beats, vocals, layers.

DJs remix and blend what exists. They read the room. They don’t need to create everything—they just need to make people feel something.

AI has made it easier than ever to generate from scratch.
So for most marketers, creators, and small teams, the best move isn’t trying to be the producer every day—it’s learning how to become a world-class DJ.

But—there’s still room for the producer mindset.
You need both.

Let’s break down the difference:

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DJ vs. Producer: What You Really Need to Know

Most marketers will operate like DJs most of the time, but knowing when to switch into producer mode is what separates good from great.

Here’s how to think about it:

• The DJ mindset:

  • Remix what works

  • Move quickly and test often

  • Respond to trends in real-time

  • Use AI to generate drafts and repackage content

  • Prioritize distribution and engagement over perfection

• The Producer mindset:

  • Create signature ideas, frameworks, and original content

  • Develop long-form or deeply strategic assets (think: lead magnets, launch copy, pillar content)

  • Lead brand-level storytelling and voice development

  • Build new campaigns or product messaging from scratch

  • Use AI for structure and support, but lead with human insight

• AI’s role:

  • Helps both DJs and producers work faster, smarter, and with more consistency

  • Great at first drafts, ideation, and repurposing—but still needs human direction

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Why This Matters for Marketing + AI

AI can produce. AI can write. AI can design.
But it still needs you to:

• Know your audience’s emotional tone

• Decide what’s on brand and what’s noise

• Sequence messaging in the right order

• Add moments of surprise, story, and depth

• Create new formats that haven’t been done yet

And this is where the DJ/producer mindset becomes a creative superpower.

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Most Marketers Will Be DJs

This is the core shift:

🧠 You don’t need to write from scratch every day.
🎤 You don’t need to design every slide pixel by pixel.
🎛️ You do need to know how to blend, personalize, and ship ideas that land.

Use AI to:

• Generate your first drafts

• Remix your best-performing content

• Turn a blog post into a carousel, reel, and email

• Layer in context, data, tone, story

• Repurpose with strategy, not just repetition

A great DJ doesn’t play random songs—they build a set.
That’s your job now, too.

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But There’s Still a Role for Producers

Here’s when you should be in producer mode:

🎯 Creating your signature frameworks
🧱 Designing a new brand, product, or campaign
🗣️ Writing original stories or founder-led content
💡 Developing long-form, thought leadership pieces
🚀 Building something truly new with AI

This is where you combine insight + originality—and AI can still assist you here, but you’re leading the direction.

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The Hybrid Model: DJ + Producer + AI

Here’s the modern content workflow I recommend:

1. Start in DJ mode – Repurpose, remix, test quickly with AI

2. Use results to inform what deserves deeper time

3. Switch to producer mode when it’s time to build something signature

4. Use AI throughout—as your assistant, not your voice

This gives you leverage, quality, and creativity—all at once.

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Try This: The Weekly Remix Routine

Use this simple system to stay sharp:

🗂️ Monday: Use AI to repurpose 1 old piece of content into 3 new formats
🎙️ Wednesday: Build something fresh from scratch (producer mode)
📊 Friday: Review performance + let AI help you plan next week’s “set”

Bonus prompt:

“Help me remix this carousel post into an email newsletter and LinkedIn post, keeping the same tone but adjusting the CTA.”

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Final Track

In the age of AI, not everyone needs to produce from scratch.
But everyone does need to know how to remix, repurpose, and move the room.

You’re the DJ.
You’re also the creative director.
And sometimes? You’re the producer when it really counts.

So:

• Let AI help you move faster

• Let remixing keep your content fresh

• And reserve your deep work time for the ideas that actually matter