Creator Spotlight: How creators like Derrick Gee are changing the music discovery landscape

It’s no secret that the internet has changed how we find new music. Instead of relying on radio DJs or music magazines, many people now turn to online creators, who share music they love on social media and build communities of listeners. One such creator making waves in the music world is Derrick Gee, a former online radio DJ turned Instagram sensation and the creator of the Private Listening Club on Patreon.

Challenging the myths of musical discovery

Derrick Gee's journey as a creator began with a mission to challenge the common belief about music discovery being connected to age. In a recent video, Gee shared some startling statistics:
"This study shows that music discovery peaks at age 24 and this study shows that by age 35 you don't even think good music comes out anymore. But let me tell you why I don't think that's true."
Gee's experience and the community he's built stand in direct opposition to these statistics. He argues that our relationship with new music doesn't diminish with age; rather, our lives become busier, and we lose touch with reliable sources for musical discovery.

From internet radio to social media stardom

Gee's path to becoming a digital creator was not a straight line. As he recounts:
"Years ago, I started an Internet radio show thinking to myself, surely there's enough people in the world that have similar music tastes to me now. I didn't know if anyone was listening, but I kept the faith." This persistence paid off. After years of unpaid radio hosting and thousands of songs shared, Gee made the leap to video content. The response was overwhelming, transforming his passion into a full-time career.

The art of musical connection

Gee sees himself as a kind of elder-brother figure to his audience, aiming to broaden their musical horizons. "If I can turn you, a seventeen-year-old Korean American, on to U.K. garage, I've done my job," he says, referencing the influential British electronic dance music genre that has made an impact on contemporary K-pop.

While Gee has found success on social media, he's turned to Patreon to build a more intimate, community-driven model for his work. He shares: "The best part of this is I get to hang out with these guys every single week at my private listening club on Patreon. I have listeners that are 17, listeners that are 70. I get to play with my favorite new discoveries and hidden gems. They get to request themed episodes. I shout them out. They shout me out."

The Private Listening Club is a weekly 60-minute hybrid radio show where Gee creates an immersive musical experience for his community. During these sessions, he spins vinyl records, shares rare tracks that aren't available on streaming services, and introduces listeners to his all-time favorite songs that he reserves specifically for this intimate setting. The show features collaborative elements like group music video watching, and includes shoutouts from listeners around the world. Each session is accompanied by specially curated playlists, allowing members to revisit and discover more about the featured music.

The future of curation

The rise of curators like Derrick Gee signals a broader shift in how we discover and engage with music. In this new landscape, the curator who can not only spotlight great content but also build a community around it stands poised to shape the cultural conversations of tomorrow - and remind us that the joy of musical discovery is truly ageless.