Getting any party vibe to work just right requires passion and poise that only a great DJ can bring. The DJ moves the crowd and creates the vibe for the occasion. Without the best music, a DJ may not have what they need to create the perfect moments. As BPM Supreme founder and CEO, Angel “AROCK” Castillo leads the world’s leading resource for helping DJs move the crowd.
“I remember seeing the way the DJ could move the room when I was at a school dance. Just by choosing the right songs and mixing them in a certain way. I was immediately intrigued and knew I wanted to know everything there was to know about the lifestyle,” said AROCK.
In earlier days, DJs were supplied by record pools from record labels in order to create the perfect blend of music for an event.
But… what’s a “record pool”?
According to Wikipedia,
“A music pool or DJ record pool is a regionalized and centralized method of music distribution that allows DJs (disc jockeys) to receive promotional music to play in nightclubs and other events such as weddings, festivals and on the radio. Record labels worldwide send their newest releases to the pool of DJs; in exchange, the pool provides feedback on each release as well as exposure in the clubs and other venues they play in. DJs typically pay a monthly subscription to join the service provided by these record pools. Music pools originated as vinyl record pools in 1974 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. (Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_pool)
As physical record pools have become obsolete in our digital environment, DJs have had a more difficult time working with record labels to get the music they need, not to mention the complex legal roadblocks DJs can encounter when working with new music. This can quickly become a burden.
This is where AROCK, a former DJ and music lover, started a niche company, called BPM Supreme, in 2006 to supply DJs with the music they need from record labels, making the process simple. BPM Supreme dominates the market in providing exclusive new releases, content, and tracks to DJs, helping them to do what they do best: build DJ sets and rock crowds.
AROCK explains to MixMag:
“I used to work as an intern at a record pool. Back then, a record pool service revolved around vinyl. But when Serato was introduced in maybe 2004, I saw the evolution to digital on the way. I brought it up to my colleagues and said, ‘Hey, we have to introduce a digital service. It could be something similar to what we are doing, but we’ve got to introduce the MP3 to the DJs’. At the time my colleagues weren’t really thinking, innovation-wise; they weren’t really there. That was cool, I got it, but I wanted to try it out for myself and really focus on the digital side of things. So, I guess it was Serato that inspired me to find a new way to get the music out to the DJs. (Source: https://mixmag.net/feature/key-player-angel-arock-castillo-ceo-of-bpm-supreme)
He explained to People, “It was very difficult for me to source my music and I didn’t have a platform where I could browse, search, preview a song. All the labels sent everything via email, so I wanted to figure out a way to simplify that, not only for myself but for other DJs.”
AROCK also explains some of his journey in creating BPM Supreme to Thrive Global:
“When I first created BPM Supreme, the technology was brand new and a lot of people just didn’t understand what I was trying to create. It took about two years to completely develop the digital download platform, and then even longer to begin marketing and creating the brand you see today. There were moments when I wasn’t sure if what I was doing would work but something told me to just keep going. Now it’s been about 20 years in the industry and I can’t imagine my life any other way.”
AROCK also leads the brand’s two other music subscription services, BPM Latino, a Latin music-focused download service, and BPM Create, an online sample library built for music production and creative DJing.
Today, BPM Supreme is the world’s premier resource for DJs and has helped countless DJs create rocking events through easy access to the music they need. As a music lover himself, AROCK is excited about where BPM Supreme is heading as it impacts the digital music world.
AROCK told DJ Booth in a recent interview, “What makes us stand apart is not only the quality of the content and platform usability but also our passion for merging technology and music. We are always looking for ways to improve functionality and add more useful features. We want to build on our successes and continuously evolve the platforms. Ultimately, our goal is for producers and DJs to use BPM’s platforms daily. We want to be a go-to resource for building a successful music career.”
You can keep up with AROCK on Instagram, Facebook, and Audiomack.