Pioneer Dj
Pioneer DJ celebrates 30 years of CDJ with new ‘Fanzine’
From vinyl to digital: ‘Deckades’ fanzine chronicles 30 years of Pioneer’s CDJ revolution from CDJ-500 to CDJ-3000.
In 1994, Pioneer DJ launched the world’s first CDJ, the CDJ-500. At the time, no one could have predicted how influential this DJ equipment would become. Today, CDJs are the preferred machines for DJs worldwide. Pioneer DJ has launched a limited-edition fanzine named ‘Deckades’, highlighting the series’ evolution through numerous interviews and editorial stories to commemorate this legacy.
The fanzine walks you through the transition from vinyl to CDJs, showing how this shift influenced and impacted club culture. Initially, Pioneer DJ faced backlash, with many vinyl DJs resisting the change when it first launched. However, as years passed, the technology gained widespread adoption, eventually becoming the number-one choice for DJs worldwide. By comparing all versions from the first CDJ-500 to the latest CDJ-3000, readers can trace the rich history of this revolutionary machine.
‘Deckades’ fanzine is split into three decades: 1994-2004, 2004-2014, and 2014-2024. The 42-page ‘zine’ explores the history and evolution of the CDJ, recalling how it was born—all from advancements in technology within in-car audio. Each decade of work has been termed differently, with the 1994-2004 era being called “The Big Bang“, 2004-2014 as “The Digital Wilderness“, and 2014-2024 as “Power To The People“.
Apart from the history and evolution of the machine, the fanzine also includes interviews with world-leading DJs such as Fatboy Slim, Fabio from Fabio & Grooverider, Anna Tur, Kikelomo, and TSHA. For gear enthusiasts, the fanzine also includes an interview with the creator of the CDJ-500, Kou Atsumi. It also features early concept designs and drawings of the machine.
Whether you are a DJ or just a music fan this magazine walks you through an important piece of history and how it originated. The brand-new fanzine is now available for free, with only 1,000 print copies available, alternatively, the digital edition is also available now for free.
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