What Vancouver’s DJ Circuit Can Learn from The WWE About Putting People Over

The failure to build new stars is killing the scene faster than fentanyl.

By SAF

“In the late ‘90s, pro wrestling had a golden rule: if you want to build a thriving scene, you have to put the next generation over.” “That meant veteran wrestlers had to lose. On purpose. In public. In spectacular fashion.”

Why? Because the audience needs fresh heroes. Because growth is only possible through humility. And because dynasties rot from the inside if they don't evolve. Compare that to Vancouver’s DJ circuit in 2025, and you’ll see exactly how not to do it.

For a city known for its natural beauty, Vancouver has a shockingly unnatural music scene. Rigid, gatekept, and deeply incestuous, the local DJ culture clings to a dying formula. Older DJs — many of whom haven’t produced a track in their lives — still occupy the prime-time slots. These are the same names that have been recycled for over a decade, kept alive not by innovation but by LinkedIn friendships with promoters and a deep fear of being forgotten. But here's the brutal truth: being a DJ in 2025 and not producing music is like being a chef who doesn’t cook. AND you CANT'T SCRATCH?

“You can’t just reheat other people’s ideas forever and expect to be called an artist.” “If you’re not pushing sound forward — or at the very least mentoring someone who is — you’re not ‘holding it down.’ You’re holding it back.”

The Dumping Ground Effect

Meanwhile, the few local promoters outside that orbit who are trying to do something different? They're snubbed into oblivion. Vancouver has become what pro wrestling would call a jobber territory — a place where touring headliners do easy shows in front of passive crowds, with little threat from the local undercard.” “Live Nation, Ticketmaster, and Blueprint have effectively turned the city into a testing market.

“International acts pop in, extract value, and vanish. Locals are given scraps — early sets with bad sound, no guest list, and zero promotional support — and then are told to be grateful.” - Read our piece entitled " Live Nation and TicketMaster, Vancouvers' Dumping grounds and Blueprints' Velvet Rope"

This creates a culture where nobody gets put over; except the ones created by the old guard, No REAL new stars emerge. No narrative arcs develop. No heat. Just rinse and repeat.

Booking Isn’t Curation — It’s Storytelling. Music isn't made in a fucking Gallery, its made in bedrooms and studios that double as bedrooms.

“For every Stone Cold Steve Austin, there was a rising The Rock. For every Mick Foley, a new wave of Hardys, Kanes, and Angles coming up.” “The older guys made the younger guys look good. Even if it meant getting hit with a chair and pinned in front of thousands.”

In Vancouver, too many older DJs are allergic to this concept. They hoard slots, protect egos, and treat newcomers as threats rather than collaborators. If they do put someone on, it’s often a safe pick — someone non-threatening, brand-friendly, and unlikely to outshine them.

“We don’t need more ‘gatekeepers’ — we need producers.” “We need people who build. People who listen. People who fall back to let others shine.”

The Fix Is Simple, But Uncomfortable

1. Veterans: Take a step back. Give your prime-time slot to someone with real hunger. Stick around, play the early slot, and watch the room fill for them.
   

2. Promoters: Curate arcs, not just nights. Book with storylines in mind. Who’s coming up? Who deserves a shot? How can you create rivalries, collaborations, and moments that matter?
   

3. Audiences: Demand more. Don’t just show up for international names. Show up for your friends. Share their mixes. Talk about what you don’t like — critique is love when it’s honest.
   

If Vancouver wants to be more than a backdrop for touring acts, it needs to invest in its own mythology. That starts with recognizing that the same 10 guys and gals behind the decks since 2012 are not the future. They’re the intermission.

And if they won’t step aside? Well — in true WWE fashion — maybe it’s time someone grabbed a mic and cut a promo. Or maybe this was that. GRAB TICKETS TO OUR UPCOMING AUG 01 PRIDE RAVE HERE