With options for both pros and music fans alike, Music Worx is out to revolutionize the DJ streaming game. We speak to the founder, Nino Taglialatela, and house legend Joe Smooth to assess if Music Worx really is the “Promised Land“.
There used to be record stores. Music pros like DJs and general fans could pop into their local store and pick up the latest domestic and import 12 inches. The people behind the counter were usually DJs themselves, so they knew what was good. They’d put the best records on the wall and recommend them when you came through the door. Then, the internet happened.
Things are arguably more convenient now that everything is online – but at what cost? With fewer and fewer outlets controlling more and more of the sales sphere, that feeling of choice has now been lost. For the general listener, streaming is problematic, to put it mildly. Bandcamp is imploding in slow motion, while large outlets like Beatport lack quality control. Promotion options are also few and far between.
But has Music Worx come up with a solution?
Things are arguably more convenient now that everything is online - but at what cost?
Music Worx: The Alternative With The Personal Touch
Music Worx is an alternative to the streaming and online DJ store giants.
Founded by a former DJ record store owner, it retains the feel of personal recommendations from knowledgeable insiders.
It’s no neo-primitive throwback shop though. Music Worx is very up-to-date, offering AI-powered streaming and state-of-the-art DJ mixing software as part of its services. It caters to the pros – DJs and labels – as well as general dance music fans. It even offers promotional services.
Music Worx was started by Nino Taglialatela. In the music business for 32 years, he cut his teeth running a small chain of DJ record stores, with one even in Ibiza. He also produced hundreds of CD compilations, distributing them through EMI, Sony and Virgin.
After focusing on streaming and MP3 sales from 2010, he launched Music Worx purely as a promotional platform. In 2020, he leveraged his long experience from both the analog and digital music sales worlds and added streaming and downloads to Music Worx. “From then on,” he says, “we have offered our services not only to pros but also to electronic music fans.”
Music Worx at a glance:
- There are two user platforms (DJs and Fans) that are connected.
- HiFi audio quality FLAC streaming.
- It is a state-of-the-art mobile app for DJs and music fans. Manage your music on the go.
- Download unlimited tracks for offline streaming.
- STREAMBOX is free, where you can prepare and organize your library and playlists.
- 50K+ PROMO tracks and promotions to download for free.
For the DJ
Music Worx is divided into two user groups with two different websites.
“The Pro side is for all pros like DJs, artists, labels, producers and radio stations,” explains Nino. Pros can buy tracks individually (with some of the lowest prices around) or subscribe, with four plans currently available and one more on the way.
All four offer access to track purchases in MP3, WAV and FLAC formats, DJ top 10 charts, music promos for free download, access to Streambox and Mixworx (more on these later), and unlimited offline downloads for mixing. The key difference is in streaming quality, with Pro offering MP3s at 320kbps and Pro HQ and Pro HQ+ providing FLAC HQ streams. Additionally, PRO+ and PRO HQ+ plans let you get at more than 50,000 downloadable promo songs.
As for the tracks themselves, there are millions currently available, with more distributors coming on every month. Genres run the gamut from house, techno and trance to Latin, chill out and lounge flavors. Tracks are also pre-selected by a team of professional music checkers. “This ensures that the DJ wastes less time finding the good tracks,” explains Nino. It is, essentially, an old-school record store experience in a modern, online package.
It is, essentially, an old-school record store experience in a modern, online package.
Streaming and Offline DJing
Music Worx may have the personal touch but it is very much a 21st-century online platform for DJs.
This includes streaming, which is handled through the proprietary Streambox application. “With our offline streaming software Streambox, you can download an unlimited number of tracks for offline streaming,” says Nino. “The entire library can be organized in Streambox.”
Additionally, Streambox is compatible with DEX (PCDJ software) and Music Worx’s own mixing software, Mixworx. Streambox also ensures that artists are paid for streams, even when mixed offline. “The software transmits all offline streamed tracks for payout,” ensures Nino.
DJs are extremely mobile, with travel a big part of the job description. To ensure that DJs have access to the latest records at all times, Music Worx recently launched a mobile app for Apple and Android phones. “The DJ on the go can use the app to find new tracks and create playlists,” Nino explains. “These are synchronized simultaneously on the website and Streambox so that the DJ can get started immediately (when they’re back in front of a computer) without wasting time.”
Streambox also ensures that artists are paid for streams, even when mixed offline
For the Fan
Music Worx is unique in that it also caters to dance music fans. Offering streaming plans aimed at music consumers rather than DJs and producers, it provides an alternative to big streaming outfits like Spotify – of course with the personal touch that Music Worx specializes in.
“For our music fans we offer a web platform and a mobile app,” says Nino. “There are already over a thousand playlists available created by our DJs and artists, as well as by our staff. With our crew picks, we only put in the best and most popular tracks. Music fans can benefit from the playlists and charts to get good songs for their own playlists faster.”
There are two streaming plans for music consumers, Premium and HiFi Audio. Both offer unlimited streams, curated playlists, access to free promos and the ability to purchase tracks – and all ad-free. PREMIUM+ and HiFi AUDIO+ let you get at more than 50,000 downloadable promo songs.
The only difference between the two is streaming quality, with Premium giving you 320kbps MP3 quality and Hifi Audio providing FLAC HQ. Of course, you can stream on the website or the mobile app. Fans also benefit from access to their favorite artists with the ability to follow them, social-media style.
All the Promotions
Music Worx began as a promotional outlet for producers and labels and that aspect of the business continues today. Artists and labels that upload to Music Worx – and even those that don’t – can take advantage of Music Worx’s vast promotional apparatus to get their music into the hands (and ears!) of DJs, labels and fans around the world. Music consumer users can follow artists on Music Worx for updates on new releases and gigs, while labels can license tracks directly from artists.
For consumers both plans offer unlimited streams, curated playlists, access to free promos and the ability to purchase tracks - and all ad-free.
Joe Smooth Is A Fan
House legend Joe Smooth is a big fan of Music Worx. He uses it both as an artist and a DJ. As an artist, he sells his music and connects with his fans, and as a DJ it provides him with the latest bangers and classic tracks to use in his sets. We spoke to Joe to find out why Music Worx is his choice for DJ streaming and artist activities.
Attack: What do you need to DJ effectively?
Joe Smooth: I need access to great quality releases. There are so many songs released daily that it is great to have a site that is curated by various music professionals who specialise in various genres to help sift through the tens of thousands of available songs. I also need a way to reach my fanbase efficiently and keep them up to date about my activities.
Is there anything you do not like about streaming services?
One of the biggest problems I have with most streaming services is the lack of quality control. This is where Music Worx shines. It internally cuts down on most of the lesser quality tracks that are clouding up most streaming services, which gives me a great place to start as a music professional.
How does Music Worx help you DJ?
Music Worx gives me tools to be at the forefront of new music and the music scene. This helps me to present my fans with the latest and most up-to-date music available while also giving me almost unlimited access to classics in a quality format on demand. It also gives me a platform to present my new current playlists and releases to my fanbase.
What do you like about Music Worx and its services?
It gives me a platform where I can discover great new music, promote my music and brand to fans and get my new releases heard by record companies for possible release!
Worx It To The Bone
Additionally, Music Worx is partnering with Clubbing TV on a joint venture project, clubbingmix, going live soon, offering DJ mixes and live video streaming to a large community. Music Worx is also partnering with Pure Ibiza Radio in Ibiza and The Emirates.
The newest project of Nino Taglialatela and his team is Streamify, a groundbreaking music fingerprint technology which will revolutionize the way artists are paid correctly. More about Streamify soon on Attack.
Find out more about Music Worx. Find Music Worx on Instagram.
Music Worx is a brand of Pro Conecta AG.
While you’re here, you may enjoy this breakdown of Joe Smooth’s The Promised Land.