Record pool
A music pool or DJ pool is a regionalized and centralized method of music distribution that allows DJs to receive promotional music to play in nightclubs. The music industry sends its newest releases to the pool of DJs; in exchange, the pool provides feedback on each release as well as exposure in their clubs. The person who runs the pool is usually called the "pool director". Music pools originated as vinyl record pools in 1975 New York City, evolved into CD distribution networks, and later online music distribution between DJs (digital pools). A music pool may have a "brick and mortar" office or may be entirely virtualized.
The first record pool was started by David Mancuso in concert with Steve D'Aquisto and Paul Casella in 1975 in New York City as a grassroots effort to design an efficient pipeline for swapping information between the music industry and working DJs. Largely used in the United States, the promotional pool system has never really been established outside of that country. The number of record pools peaked about 150 regional organizations during the 1980's and 1990's, but that number dropped off steadily during the shift from vinyl records to CD's then to digital formats.
The broad term "music pool" eventually arose, reflecting the advancing state of music distribution technology and the shrinking number of vinyl promotional releases, shifts that have caused pools to undergo major transformations in membership and in nature. There are approximately a dozen remaining music pools in operation as of 2017, which collectively produce a monthly chart of their most popular distributed music (Published in DJ Times Magazine). Almost all remaining music pools now provide product to their members in digital format exclusively. The longest continually operating music pool is New York Music Pool (originally known as Long Island Record Pool also founded in 1975 and not to be confused with New York Record Pool founded by Mancuso, which ceased operations about two years after its launch).
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