“The highest paid DJs decided not to contribute”: DJ revenue-sharing platform ​Aslice closes down

Aslice, the music revenue-sharing platform launched by DJ and producer DVS1 in 2022, has announced its permanent closure.

The platform, which is billed as a way to create a “fairer music ecosystem”, announced the news on Instagram yesterday (September 3), citing financial struggles across the industry.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce our closure,” they said. “We are very proud of what we have achieved together with the electronic music community.”

Using a system that encourages DJs to report their setlists and pay a percentage of their fee to the artists whose music they play, Aslice saw huge support from the dance music industry following its launch in 2022.

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In a wrap-up report titled ‘A Slice Of Fairness’ led by Audience Strategies, it revealed that Aslice has helped to distribute more than $422,000 to over 27,000 producers from 57 countries since its inception.

“In less than four years, Aslice proved that real change in the music industry is possible,” they said in a statement. “Our community platform was built by artists for artists.”

“We developed a revenue-sharing software that worked–without any corporate funding or influence. Aslice has always been dedicated to ensuring music producers are compensated fairly, driven by a simple yet profound principle: share with the artists you love.”

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In the wrap-up report, Aslice also pointed to wider financial issues across music, and “the challenging dynamics of the electronic music industry”. It noted that during its tenure, Aslice did not make a profit, but large losses on operational costs.

In a statement posted on Instagram yesterday, DJ and label head Sam Barker called Aslice “the last hope for dance music producers in this comically unfair economy”.

“I’m also angry. Because the reason it’s ceasing operations is because many of the highest paid DJs in the world decided not to contribute,” he said.

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“DJs earning eye watering sums for a gig, sometimes thousands each time they press play, seemingly took no interest in supporting those making the music. It really couldn’t have been made any easier for you people.”

Read the full ‘A Slice of Fairness’ report here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter