The role of the DJ in popular culture as a performer and a gatekeeper has transformed in recent years as a rising tide of digital and streaming media threatens to drown us in an overload of information. Amidst that transformation is a growing recognition of the DJ as an artistic curator,selecting sounds and weaving them into coherent narratives. What’s more, we’ve all become DJs in our own right, as curators of our own experiences through individualized playlists and social media feeds. Some voices bemoan the rise of curatorial culture as the death of the traditional DJ or a crisis for the music industry, but more of us are recognizing this as a tremendous opportunity for professionals and content creators as well as an exciting time for consumers and music fans.

The Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication at California State University, Northridge will host a special series of events focused on DJ Culture as Curation. Events will include a roundtable discussion with DJs, scholars, and music industry professionals as well as an interactive art installation with individually curated listening stations.