The 1990s are often remembered as the golden age of DJing and mixing. Yet with sales of beginner mixing equipment rising by 36 per cent over the last two years, the question is being asked once again: could another mixing boom be on the horizon?
The previous boom
During the 1990s and early 2000s, DJing surged in popularity thanks to rapid changes in media formats, the expansion of the club scene and the rise of rave culture. Prior to this, the high cost of equipment, reliance on vinyl and rigid genre boundaries meant mixing remained relatively niche.
That began to change as digital platforms emerged. When software such as Serato allowed DJs to store entire music libraries on USBs, it transformed the way DJs worked. The heavy dependence on vinyl and CDs faded, lowering costs and opening the door for a new generation of mixers.
Music from this era also lent itself perfectly to mixing. Tracks such as No Limit and Sandstorm became club staples, engineered for energy, tempo changes and crowd reaction. Decades on, they continue to feature heavily in DJ sets.
However, shifts in musical taste, the rise of indie music and growing financial and licensing pressures on clubs eventually took their toll. DJing slipped out of the mainstream once again.
The resurgence
Now, mixing appears to be returning, but in a different form. While clubs still play a central role, DJing is no longer confined to nightlife venues alone.
Advances in beginner technology have made mixing far more accessible. Aspiring DJs no longer need to spend thousands of pounds on equipment to learn the basics. Entry-level controllers such as the Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4 have transformed the market, offering professional features at a fraction of the historical cost.
A post-pandemic revival
Since the end of the pandemic, the UK club scene has experienced a sharp resurgence as people have returned to social spaces. The music industry has adapted quickly. Genres such as house and drum and bass have pushed back into the mainstream, featuring regularly on platforms like BBC Radio 1.
Mainstream artists have followed suit. Collaborations such as Stormzy working with Chase and Status reflect this shift, while more unexpected pairings, including Billie Eilish and Charli XCX, highlight how electronic influences are filtering into pop culture more broadly.
Old music, new life
This revival has not come at the expense of older music. Instead, many classic tracks have been reworked for modern dancefloors. Remixes of songs from the 2010s and earlier now sit comfortably alongside contemporary releases, while reimagined versions of disco and pop classics dominate club playlists across the country.
Original tracks have also retained their place. Songs such as Better Off Alone and even Bohemian Rhapsody remain reliable crowd-pleasers, proving that nostalgia and mixing continue to work hand in hand.
The university DJ
My own experience reflects this wider shift. I have been mixing since childhood, yet for years very few people around me shared that interest. By 2025, that has changed dramatically, particularly within university circles.
University life may now be one of the best environments for hobbyist DJs. Pre-drinks, house parties and student nights are frequently soundtracked by someone behind the decks, and many institutions now host dedicated DJ societies. Mixing has become part of student culture.
Learning has never been easier
The pathway into DJing has also changed. YouTube has become an essential learning tool for beginners, while structured mixing courses offered by professional DJs are more widely available than ever. Short-form platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have further fuelled experimentation, creativity and skill-sharing.
Taken together, these cultural, technological and social shifts suggest that mixing is not simply enjoying a nostalgic revival. Instead, it may be entering a new era, one defined by accessibility, creativity and a generation eager to take control of the music once again.
