How the #RespectTheCreators Campaign is Changing the Music Scene

A new initiative, #RespectTheCreators, which is backed by AFEM (Association For Electronic Music) and supported by key figures in the electronic music world, is launching with one clear goal: to set a fresh industry standard for giving proper credit to music featured in social media videos and content uploaded by DJs, artists, labels, and brands.

Social media—especially live event footage—plays a huge role in discovering and promoting new talent, but only when the artists behind the music are properly credited.

The campaign’s organisers believe that now is the right time for the industry to embrace a new standard of transparency and respect when crediting others’ work. They’ve outlined best practices that are already backed by major names in the industry, including DJ/Producer Mason, BAM! Popauteurs, fabric, Mobilee, Glasgow Underground, Good Company, Buma/Stemra, Data Transmission, Neighbourhood, LabelWorx, Your Army, and Aslice.

In a passionate keynote speech at IMS Ibiza, Dutch DJ and producer Frank Nitzinsky highlighted some key stats: on average, only 3% of a DJ’s set is music they’ve personally produced, and a whopping 90% of DJ content shared on Instagram doesn’t credit the music being played. These emotional, high-energy video clips are the backbone of marketing campaigns for artists, labels, promoters, and more, often reaching millions of potential fans. Yet without proper credit, it’s only the DJ or the account posting the video that benefits—not the original creator of the track.

That’s where the #RespectTheCreators campaign comes in. Its goal is to educate artists, fans, and industry pros about the importance of giving credit where it’s due across social media.

So why isn’t music being credited? The reasons range from simple apathy or ignorance to the old-school DJ mindset of keeping the best tracks a secret. But the campaign’s organisers argue that respect for other creators has always been part of electronic music culture—and it’s time that this respect extends to social media, too.

The campaign stresses that a healthy music ecosystem relies on supporting talent from the ground up and that artists have a fundamental right to be recognized for their work. DJ culture can’t be the exception—whether you’re a creator or a curator, there’s a shared responsibility here.

Whether it’s using tools on platforms like Instagram and Facebook to tag the music via stickers or simply including the artist and song title in your post’s caption, the campaign urges everyone in the industry to think about how they can respect the creators of the music they love every time they post online.

So, how can you #RespectTheCreators?

It’s easy:

• DJs: When you share a video from a gig or mix, and the music isn’t yours, tag the artists and list the track names prominently.

• Online Platforms: Ensure track lists are clearly visible below videos or audio content.

• Promoters: Make sure the music featured in your event promotions gets credited.