Is mixing important as a radio DJ?

[RYUK]

A lot of radio DJ's I know actually don't mix at all - where as others I know do. How important on a scale of 1 - 10 would you think mixing is as a radio DJ.

[GREMM1S]

I think the term dj is wrong for radio jocks, they are more music selectors than djs

[Gandy]

not really, often between songs they play ads or just literally cue up the next song and hit play, radio disc jockey is a lot different to a club dj

[Mitch]

Agree that club dj and radio dj is totally different

However jjj do have live dj sets sometimes which is using decks, And is a more club style set.. I'm sure some other stations do too

[overit]

Radio djs are presenters. They lead in adverts, news, songs etc.

They also sometimes lead in guest mixes from mix djs, who hardly ever speak and nearly always mix.

Some DJs can do both things.

But the two jobs are very different.

[OxyKon]

With most radio djs it's not needed to how to mix, but then you get people like myself with an 1hr radio slot every Saturday on Internet radio and its 100% mixing, you'll find most late night radio shows as well also mix live all the time, kinda depends what kind of radio your doing on what station and at what time of the day/night

[eggssell]

what radio DJs do is usually jockey from disc to disc

[russell]

Specialist shows will require mixing skills. However, these are usually shows that touring DJ's do anyway so they already have the mixing down.

Your everyday radio presenter doesn't require mixing abilities.

[overit]

Just remembered: I once did a guest slot on BBC radio Leeds. {insert cereal guy.jpeg)

They didn't even have any decks in the studio. I had to take my own decks to mix.

All they had in the studio was a bespoke computer system that playlisted all the songs, ads, news breaks etc so all the radio presenter did was talk on the mic and press play for whatever the software had lined up for him next.

The actual playlist was decided by the radio station management team who obviously did research regarding what their listeners wanted to hear, and what there sponsors wanted to have played.

When it was my go i played through a line in in the studio after being introduced by the presenter.

[GREMM1S]

A live dj set on the radio is obviously different, i think they have separate people to play the ads and songs these days or it might even be automated

[Skank]

i dont think its important at all especially with commercial radio, all you need to do is keep the energy up and the pace moving along

[LabRat]

Mixing as a radio DJ is just as important as mixing in a club. Commercial radio stations will play adds after a certain time. All the promo things (if you listening to nova for example and there's a dude that says, "nova, Saturday night") is usually triggered by the DJ by a separate system. It's a 50/50 on that stuff I guess but the main thing is that your mixing is tight